The Ukrainian Catholic Church

As proclaimed by His Beatitude, Myroslaw:

Our Lord Jesus Christ before his ascension into heaven instructed his disciples, saying: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mat 28:18-29). This commission of Christ to proclaim the Good News was given not only to the first disciples, the apostles, it is directed to the Church in all times, even to the end of the ages. The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, in fulfilling this commission of our Divine Savior, speaking through the Bishops of its Holy Synod five years ago, defined “Holiness of a united people of God” as the goal of her ministry. Holiness is God’s gift, and the vocation of every Christian. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification,” St. Paul reminds us in the letter to the Thessalonians (1 Th 4:2-3).

Our Parish

Early History: By the end of the first decade of the 20th century, two Ukrainian Catholic Churches had been built in the north part of Winnipeg. However, since Ukrainian immigration continued at a steady pace, it became necessary to build a third church in the area.

1922: Due to overcrowding in the existing churches of North Winnipeg, (St. Nicholas and Sts. Volodymyr and Olha), arrangements were made to celebrate Divine Liturgies at Institute Prosvita on Pritchard Avenue and Arlington Street.

1925: Rev. Panteleimon Bozyk called the first organizational meeting for building the new church. Building lots for the Church were purchased on Boyd Avenue and Artillery Street.

1926: The cornerstone for the Church was blessed on September 5th by Bishop Nykyta Budka. Invited guests included the Archbishops of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Winnipeg and of St. Boniface. The Church was built by year's end.

1927: January 2nd, the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Bishop Budka in the new church, named Blessed Virgin Mary the Protectress Church.

1929: A parish hall (Prosvita) was built adjacent to the church on the initiative of Rev. Stefan Semczuk.

1930-37: Parish priest Rev. John Holowka introduced the Lenten Service Khresna Doroha/ The Way of the Cross to the parish.

1937: On his return to the parish, and during his tenure, Rev. Semczuk established various organizations and committees such as; The Brotherhood of St. Nicholas, The Children of Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mary Branch of the UCWLC.

1946: February 23, the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Branch of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada was founded.

1950: A new parish hall was built. The cornerstone was blessed on October 1st. Among the dignitaries present were the Mayor of Winnipeg, Garnet Coulter, and Winnipeg City Councillor, Slaw Rebchuk.

1956: On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the construction of the original BVM church, Mr. & Mrs. Ivan Zarowsky donated the large steel cross which stands between the church and the rectory.

1957: Rev. Roman Dobriansky was appointed parish priest. To date, he is the longest serving priest of our Church (1957-1994).

1961: On May 7, the last Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the "first" church. During construction, Divine Liturgies were celebrated in the parish hall. Once the foundation of the church auditorium was completed, services were held there until the church was finished.

1962: The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the "new" church on June 24.

1968: Major Archbishop Josyf Cardinal Slipyj celebrated a Pontifical Solemn Divine Liturgy in our church. Through the intercession of Pope John XXIII, in 1963, Cardinal Slipyj had been released by the Soviets after many years of brutal imprisonment.

1969: Monsignor Mitrat Michael Buyachok was ordained.

1984: The new Parish Rectory was built.

1987: Rev. Nestor Yakiwchuk was appointed first Archdeacon.

1989: A monastery for the Sisters of Joseph was built.

1997: Father Taras Kowch was ordained.

2005: Father Edward Evanko was ordained.

2012: This was a very important year in our history. We celebrated the centenary of the arrival of the first Ukrainian Catholic Bishop in Canada, Blessed Nykyta Budka; the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish; and the 50th anniversary of our present church. A book, written by parishioners Rostyslav and Daria Surowy, highlights many events in the Church's history. The Book: Celebrating Our Legacy: Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Church 1922-2012, is available for purchase through the parish office. (204) 582-7535.

2020: Livestreaming of services began.

2022: 100 years!