I was born in Chicago on March 28, 1961 to Jaroslaw and Anna Hrycyniak, both parents being of Ukrainian descent. We lived in the Ukrainian Village area of the city for the first six years of my life, sharing an apartment with my paternal grandmother and living in close proximity to my maternal grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. My only sibling, Christine, came along in 1963. We had a very close-knit family, and I was particularly close to my maternal grandfather and remember spending as much time as I could in his presence. I especially recall the simple joy of sitting around the kitchen table listening to family stories, especially of the struggles of coming to this country and making it through the Great Depression.
Midway through first grade, my parents purchased a new home on the northwest side of Chicago and I began to develop great friendships with the kids in the neighborhood. We spent a great deal of time in the forest preserves building forts, playing baseball, and just hanging out. I attended public grade school at Arthur E. Canty Elementary School. We were fairly regular churchgoers and attended St Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, where I attended Saturday religious instruction, made my first communion, and served as an altar boy. I was close to the parish priests, who ultimately inspired me in my vocational choices. I attended High School at Holy Cross in River Grove and then went away for a semester to a minor seminary in Rome, Italy at the ripe old age of sixteen.
I attended Loyola University for a brief time until my mother suffered a life-threatening aneurysm, which resulted in a period of profound confusion in my life. I dropped out of school and found a job in a religious bookstore by the name of Earthen Vessels and began what was to be a twenty-two year career in books. Sue and I married at 22 and 23, respectively, and within a year we started having children. The tug to ordained ministry persisted and I spent three years studying in a diocesan house of studies, which resulted in my ordination to the diaconate at 25 years of age.
Our son Joseph was born in 1984 and our daughter Julie in 1986. In 1990, we moved to southern Indiana so that I could take a position at St. Meinrad Archabbey. It was our first and only experience of small town living. Our son Michael was born in 1991. We moved to southeast Wisconsin in 1996 so that I could take a position as the Director of Theological Bookservice in Franklin, Wisconsin. Our daughter Elizabeth was born in 1998. Our conversion to Orthodoxy took place at this time, which was the greatest blessing in our lives.
Academically, I hold a B.S. in Organization and Leadership from Marquette University and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and Quality from Marian University in Fond du Lac. I hold a certificate of advanced studies in spiritual direction from Loyola University, where I also work one day a week as a public relations consultant to the Institute of Pastoral Studies. I continue as a part-time student both at Loyola and in the Antiochian House of Studies where I am pursuing additional graduate degrees in pastoral studies and applied Orthodox theology, respectively.
We enjoy living in Kenosha where I am excited about pastoring this vibrant Orthodox Christian community. It is also a blessing to live in close proximity to my ailing parents and my sister and her family, all of whom live in town. I love serving the growing flock, which God has entrusted to my care. I invite you to call upon me if I might be a resource in your spiritual journey.
