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[Music] Hello Blue Jays and welcome to the nest stories about life after Manor College. I am your host Kelly Peiffer vice president of marketing communications and this is the best part of my day. My hope is that this podcast will encourage, inform, and inspire you, making you feel like at Manor College you belong here always. Before we get to today's guest, it's time for a segment of the show I like to call Did You Know? where I will share some fun facts about Manor College that you may or may not know. So, did you

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know that Manor College's current president, Dr. Jonathan Peri, is the first lay person to lead the college? He has been at the helm since 2015, and under his leadership, Manor has launched bachelor degree programs, expanded humanitarian efforts, particularly in support of Ukraine, and solidified our place as a top value institution in the region. We have been mentioned in the New York Times, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Wall Street Journal as being one of the top schools in um the Northeast region for intergenerational

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mobility, which really means bringing students and families from one socioeconomic um area or level to a higher one. So really changing that family tree through the power of education. But Dr. Perry is part of a rich legacy of leadership at Manor College. Before him, Sister Mary Cecilia Jurasinski led the college for an impressive 30 years. From 1985 to 2015, she helped transition Manor into a fully co-educational institution and expanded its many academic offerings amongst many, many other accomplishments.

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Fun fact, Sister Mary Cecilia Jurasinski was an avid Phillies fan and I remember um her having a bright red Phillies windbreaker that she would wear often around campus. So way to support the Phillies. Going back further, Sister Miriam Claire Kowal served from 1976 to 1985, introducing key programs such as Vet and paralegal studies, both still popular degrees. Before Sister Miriam Claire was Sister Olga Kish um and she welcomed the first male students and helped our growing evening course programs. Sister Jerome Roma was the

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president in the 1960s and she guided Manor to having full accreditation and oversaw the opening of our beautiful library. Each of these leaders helped shape Manor into the student centered mission-driven community that it is today. Today we've got an awesome guest on the show. I'm particularly excited for this guest because it's our first alumni who's a priest born in Ukraine coming to the United States at the age of 10. They've made their home right here in Philadelphia, graduating from Northeast High School. Our guest then

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pursued his associates degree in liberal arts with a focus in philosophy and religion, graduating from Manor College in 2015. Then they transferred to the Catholic University of America to attend seminary. Today he serves as a priest in the St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Shenandoah. Please join me in welcoming Father Bohdan. Welcome, Bohdan. Thank you so much for being on the show today. Thank you, Kelly. Thank you so much for having me. I'm very excited. It's my first official

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interview like this. Oh, well, I'm honored. I'm honored that Manor College is your first and that's so that's so special. Um, so kind of start us off. How did you hear about Manor College and why did you choose to attend Manor? Well, at that time I was attending there's a just few blocks over a St. Michael in Jenkintown Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and so every time every Sunday you would go to church we would pass by Manor College and oh boy it has a beautiful territory Manor College. So

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you always stop and you look at it. Um, and among the Ukrainians, I guess that Manor College was quite known. Everybody knew about it, but everybody knew about the sisters. Um, so I guess there wasn't much choice in deciding. I just it was Ukrainian, it was Catholic, and that's kind of where I wanted to go. And I had a beautiful experience there. Oh, that's great. So, we checked off, we were Ukrainian, we were Catholic. Easy easy decision. all of that and especially it's kind of you go where also try to see where your

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friends are going at that time my English was not that well not that good so I saw where all my friends most of them went to Manor college so I was like yeah why not oh perfect good oh that's good college as well oh good so you came in already with some familiarity to like the culture the campus and that kind kind of stuff. Yes. Yes. Oh, that's great. That's always so helpful when students can kind of start um with like a little little step ahead, you know, they're not starting from completely from zero because starting

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college is already pretty intimidating and a really big life life moment and life change. So, that's awesome to hear. So, you were a liberal arts student. Kind of what was your Manor experience like? What how were your classes? and kind of kind of take us back. What was it like being a student? I always give a big credit to Manor College because at that time before I came to Manor College, I was in Northeast High School and that's that was the time when I guess the school district lost a lot of money. You had

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the same teacher teaching different subjects because they had to lay off a lot of professors. Uh so going to Manor College it was just so beautiful classes were small uh the professor professors were able to put a lot of emphasis a lot of focus on individual students so it was much different you actually got to feel very special in Manor College and just the atmosphere itself it's a beautiful territory it's very peaceful there um oh that's great yeah and um delight in being there. Oh, that's awesome.

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I love how you were saying how comparing it to your high school experience where it was maybe like crowded and congested and large, you know, and a lot of students and only one teacher, but yet Manor, it's a smaller um we call that a student student-to-teacher ratio or faculty to student ratio where it's maybe 10 or 12 students in a class and only one faculty. So, they definitely get to know you and vice versa. They still rem they still have that. But I it was something one of the biggest things that I

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remember that that focus that you have that extra time you have just to speak with the professor afterwards. Definitely. I think um having like supportive faculty members and you know really getting to know the students and not just oh their name or their major but really getting to know oh he's from this town and he has this backstory and he struggles in this and really getting to know the students is definitely something that makes Manor unique and special and something that I hear a lot from alumni that really stuck out to

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them as just so helpful in in getting that support that you need to maybe finish your degree or get a job or go on to another institution for another degree. So, um were you involved in any campus activities or athletics or any kind of clubs when you were a student? Unfortunately, not. I was present there. I was all over, but I never officially signed up for anything uh with my timing because my schedule was always changing. always had to do something, be somewhere. Uh, so did you work? Did you

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work while you were a student as well? No, I did not work, but it was just like a family stuff and especially being the only one in a family who was able to translate to go to support uh everybody else. So, sure. I guess, you know, I never really thought about that a ton and and this is just my own ignorance, but like being the only kid maybe in a family and you're you're you know, you're a son and being the the person who has to translate for an entire family, that's that's kind of like a job right there.

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Oh my goodness. Yeah. You got to go with mom or dad or siblings or other family members to be their translator. That's um has others in your family learned English since then or is that still very much um something that you help with? It seems like it's not just my family but anybody else like that older generation. They get got to the point where they can understand say basic responses but they don't speak. I mean there's a lot of now especially in Philadelphia, northeast Philadelphia, a

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lot of stores, a lot of doctors, anybody that knowing the language is not so essential anymore as it used to be that you had to know in order to survive. Now it's much more I would say opened to other right there's things like online check-in and like more technology that maybe makes it less face to face. Well, even like Ukrainian stores, Russian stores, you have Ukrainian banks and everything. So, it's much easier now. You can you're able to get along now much better than how it used to be. That's good. That's a That's a cool um

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I've never thought about that. Facilities like even doctors, all of them have those I don't know blue phones or what they call that. You call a translator, you have it there and now it's much it's much easier now, I think. Oh, that's great. Yeah. Well, that's that's awesome to hear that we've made those kind of strides in a society so that um people like you don't have to always be like a physical translator um because you know you got to do your own stuff in your in your day as well. Um so when you were a student at Manor, was

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there any professors or staff who were particularly influential on you that you recall you had a class with and you really enjoyed their class? Anything like that? Yes. At that time uh there was a professor called uh his name was Michael Sims and he taught religion class and I think for my two years there I think every semester I had some sort of class with him. I think by last by the the last year of my my staying there in Manor College they ran out of all the classes of religion so I had one-on-one

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class with him. Uh but why I'm emphasizing that religion class? Because from middle school to high school, I went to the public high school and middle school, you don't have religion class. So that was so different just to be able to express to speak about this topic. It was just you felt different. You felt um I don't know how what's the best way to describe it, but kind of relief you feel just to be able to speak about this. And we even though the Manor college was uh Catholic not everybody was Catholic we

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had atheists we had other religions there as well present so there was no pressure but you express you go through the history of religion and that plays a huge impact on people how they see the world how they communicate how they live their lives sure absolutely I think it's it's so cool that you were able to realize like I never had religion classes and then I come to Manor and I have a few of them. Um, sounds like you had an independent study where you were just like the only one in the class. So, Michael Sims had

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nothing else. Right. Right. But that's but sometimes those are the best kind of scenarios you can really go at your own pace and you get really um in-depth with a topic. So that's kind of neat. So that's a great transition into. So, you graduate from Manor and you decide that you're going to go to um Catholic University and did you know at that point you wanted to go into seminary or kind of what was that decision like? Yes. Yes. Uh I already was working with the well with um at that time they already I had my

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first interview with the metropolitan at that time who was Metropolitan Stefan Soroka uh and he told me stay here see if you want to still pursue that career and in little time come and talk to me again and we'll have something set up for you. So I was really considering that path of seminary when I was uh in Manor College. That's why I kind of pushed myself for the religion courses more as well. Right. Right. That seemed like a natural a natural fit. Oh. So, um, so you go to seminary and is seminary like we are setting up to

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become a priest or is seminary still, um, we're we're still learning and we're not entirely sure what the career is going to be at the end. Well, a seminary is you already know what you're set for. So, the way for us it was you live in a seminary. uh you have in the morning you have divine liturgy in evening you would have vespers night prayer uh that would be pretty much every single day and right after the liturgy you'll have it I think it was 7 a.m. And after that you would go to Catholic University which is just

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across the street. You'll have all the first if you enter right away from high school from not high school from college you would have four years of philosophy and then four years of theology. So with philosophy, you'll have general classes as well, language classes, but you still you pray every day, you learn something, you strive for that life as a future priest hopefully. But that's also kind of your time to get to know yourself. If this is the actually the path that you want because some people also think

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that that's what they want, but they find out I feel like I've been called for something else. Maybe I feel like I can do more as this person or that person, not specifically a priest. It's kind of also way to find yourself there. So in that experience when you were in seminary, did you feel obviously you felt confirmed or what is that feeling like of like confirmation like oh no, this is what I'm supposed to do? Like can you explain that? In uh in high school, I really I loved technology. I liked working with

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computers. I loved photography. I I loved something with technology, more or less, putting things together, photoshopping things. I was all over with that stuff. And I was I was quite good. Um but I didn't feel like this was enough. I felt like there was something more I want like this doesn't matter that much. I applied right after high school. I applied also to the right university. I received it was a very big scholarship from them. Uh they accepted me and everything. And then I met one priest

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and he asked me so what are you doing? And I explained that to him. I love computers. I love this. I want to do that. It's like, no, you got to be a seminarian. So, he kind of and it's like I loved being in church. I felt calm. I especially later on when they asked me to serve. That was a great joy for me. I found very big peace in that. It's not something easy to explain, but it's just like you feel like when you're at home, like I like this. I like what how what I'm doing and he's like no when I

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met that priest like you got to be a priest. So he took me to the metropolitan and he said this is going to be your future priest and that kind of set my goal. So all my plans changed. I never went to the ray. I went to Manor College. I went to Catholic University and then uh last I was transferred for theology to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Mhm. Isn't it amazing how like one person like that that one person said to you, "Oh, no. You're going to go to seminary and and I'm going to help you." And he's like, "I'm going to help

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you get there." It sounds like and like that one person just sees something in you and it kind of changes everything. Isn't that I think that's so incredible um that that happens. And I'm so cool. I'm so glad that that happened for you. It sounds like he was the right person to to speak into that, you know, and I think that's how it is cuz a lot of people assume going to seminary it's such a big deal. Oh no, it's only if you're holy, if you're this. It's no, it's not that on your holiness. It's you work on

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that. Nobody is holy right away. Something you have to fight for. I'm not holy. But it's it's a beauty when a priest can call children who they who they see are active in churches like come do you want to serve at the altar do would you want to pursue in this you look like you find interest in this and that opens up because none of us think about it I I wouldn't say a lot of people growing up I'm going to be a priest like that it's something you just come through especially with the mentality of people. It's like no, you want to be

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successful, you want to make money, you want to be wealth, you want to that doesn't go well with the priesthood. So it's like nobody tell their kids you want to be a priest. So it's good when a priest can actually speak to the kids and say this is open to all of you. Anybody can enter seminary, anybody can go through this. At um especially we as Ukrainian seminary, we were very small. We were very tiny. The Roman Catholic seminary was huge. I remember meeting some of those seminarians and one of the

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guys said something that really got to me. He said, "Even if we were to leave the seminary today, what we got, what we learn is going to stay with us. You cannot get rid of this." That's a dedication to God you go through. And a lot of them left because they wanted to be married. Um, but the way they still live, you see, they still have that in their heart. It's very beautiful. Mhm. Find that. Yeah. I mean, what great like discipline obviously, but also it's teaching you a closeness to God.

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Regardless of if you go through and become a priest or not, it's still um and that's, you know, totally invaluable for your life and for others. Um I I love that. So, what's something about being a priest that maybe is a misconception that people think one thing and you want to like debunk it? you want to set the record straight. You know, what's something that um you want to people maybe think like, oh, priests are this is something that I thought but it's actually not true. Anything like

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that? There is one thing that was very popular and the people still say, "Oh, priest doesn't do anything. He has so much free time." That's not true. He doesn't have any time. Okay. Oh, he said the liturgy. He said the mass. He prayed. He's done. He doesn't do anything. He goes home and he sleeps. No, there is so much financial. There's so many things you have to do. There's constantly work that needs to be done in the office and then constantly you're on or awareness. If somebody calls to visit, they're sick. In the hospital,

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bring communion to those who are home. There's always something. Even here, I am blessed. I have two great secretaries. They're helping and we're still so busy with two parishes. And that's every single priest. It's like he barely they get any free time. So, I think that's a big miscommunication. Oh, you don't do anything. There's always so much uh that you have to prepare for, do, and set up for church even. Sure. Yeah. There's no like scheduled, you know, 9 to5 hours and it's kind of it's kind of on call.

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That's a good one. Well, thanks for mythbusting that one. That's a good one. Um it's been so interesting to talk to you, father. It's really it's really just fascinating I I find to hear your story. So, kind of as we wrap up here, um two more questions. So what why would you recommend Manor College um for others? Why would you recommend it as an institution? It's a it's a it's a beautiful area and like we spoke about the student to a professor ratio. You are seen in class. You are heard in class. You get

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an opportunity. Professor knows you. They give you time and they help you grow. You're not just lost in a huge classroom. In Catholic University, I know I had one classroom when I was there was like 200 students. I don't think the professor ever knew me there at all. If you stay quiet, they'll never even know about you. That's not with Manor. Manor works with you. And there are many other opportunities that you can get there. I know when I was there, it was only a two-year college. Now it's a four-year college. Mhm. I also know

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they had great resources. I love to spend time in a library and anytime I needed a break, there's a beautiful park nearby. Even at Manor College, you can find nice space outside just to sit, reflect, enjoy life. Oh, that's great. I think and it's so true. like you said when you were at another institution you know a class of 200 if you just kind of hang hang back and don't make a lot of um you know noise you could totally go under the radar at Manor even if you hang back and don't make a lot of noise you're

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still not going to go under the radar we're still gonna we're gonna even actually for the quieter one sometimes I feel like we know even more so um it's kind of the opposite um that's that's so true and we do have attention because I was a quiet one like how you do it, how you do it. I always get asked, right? Right. Um so the my kind of my final question here is about um what's happening in Ukraine currently? Obviously someone who was born in Ukraine and has a lot of ties to Ukraine. Um what is something

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that we as you know Manor College where the we're a campus community, our our history and tradition is founded in Ukraine. We care deeply about the people of Ukraine. We also care deeply about Ukrainian Americans who are in the states right now. Um, what do you recommend that we do to help the war that's happening in Ukraine and just show support that that was not easy what happened with Ukraine. And one of the things that I would say this is how Ukraine actually became known through the war because not many

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people knew where Ukraine is, what is Ukraine. But remember where the war escalated, everybody was talking only about Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine. So that was a very nice thing. And then the support that we got was incredible. It was incredible. I know uh this actually happened to me in a store. It was American store and it was me and my mom were talking at the register as we were in line and somebody just turned out are you Russian? It's like no Ukrainian. Good. Good. It's like they they seen that unfairness.

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What I want to emphasize the most is the prayer for Ukraine. M you might not think it does much but in the beginning where the whole world started stop stopped and prayed for Ukraine all these spoke about this the miracles that happened there the Russian invasion when they were supposed to take over Ukraine in a week time few days they were not able to you had bombs landing in people's houses and never blowing up you had many miraculous stories that were shared with me that they say it's unbelievable that that

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happened. That all happened because the whole world started to pray. Prayer is has actually very big power and significance in that for Ukrainians. A lot of miracles did happen. A lot of churches survived. People survived. Bombs did not explode. There had to be Ukraine still stands due to the prayers. That's the most important. And then donations that they received was great great support especially for for the soldiers because even Russia they're much wealthier bigger their soldiers don't have what we have we have volunteers we

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have constant support sending them uh a lot of volunteers a lot of people stood up uh to help Ukraine so don't lose hope that's a thing keep praying and there's a lot of ways to help Ukraine especially donation s I I'm not sure. I'm sure Manor does its own thing as well. I know the biggest uh source that I know is actually the Archer Park of Philadelphia. They've been sending a lot of support to Ukraine and yeah, that that is great. I think I think emphasis on prayer is huge and I'm a firm believer in that as well.

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And obviously finding resources to support if you can, whether it's through the Archie Parchie at church or whether it's through other humanitarian efforts. I know we have at the college, we have a a support Ukraine web page where we have a list of kind of our top ways to support and some of it's through donation, some of it's through um giving in in other ways. So, we definitely can link that in here in the show. But I think just not losing hope is really key. So, I'm glad you shared that.

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Um and just keep praying because pray prayer is working and it's helping those miracles continue to happen. Um but thank you so much father for joining us today. It has been truly a joy talking to you and um I hope our conversation uh like I like to say in my intro encourages, inspires um others who are listening as well, whether they're Manor students or alumni or just Manor fans. Um, we certainly want to continue to spread the word that Manor College is a great place for people to be and to

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get their education from. So, thank you for sharing and I wish you nothing but the best. Thank you so much. Thank you, Kelly. Thank you for having me. Thank you so much for doing what you do. Thank you for getting the voices back to Manor that they still speaks showing that how much Manor influenced others graduated. So, thank you. Thank you for tuning in today. If you like what you heard, listen and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube. And stay up to date with all new episodes by following Manor College

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on Instagram, Manor College. And that's a wrap on another episode of The Nest. Stories about life after Manor College. Remember, Blue Jays, you belong here always. [Music]