Blessed Virgin Mary

“the Protectress”

Ukrainian Catholic Church

1922-2022

100 Years Serving the Lord!

Three’s the Charm!

By 1922, Winnipeg’s two existing Ukrainian Catholic churches — Sts. Volodymyr and Olga (later to become our cathedral), and St. Nicholas — were nigh filled to bursting, there were so many Ukrainians in Winnipeg and area.

A third church was needed, and none other than Bishop Nykyta Budka from Ukraine (eventually martyred for our holy Faith) not only blessed the venture to construct our church, but tried to purchase specific lots for her, and eventually gave her the beautiful name of Pokrova — the church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Two more things make our lovely church unique: this Bishop-martyr arranged of his own volition to have a beautiful icon written of Our Lady, the Protectress, and then arranged to have this special gift from himself shipped to us.

In addition, another icon was commissioned a century later — this time an icon of the Bishop himself — and hangs today right beside the first.

2022 - OUR PARISH CELEBRATES

OUR FIRST CENTURY

AND WE BOLDLY MOVE INTO OUR

SECOND CENTURY!

Our Parish - like every parish - was established as small (more manageable) part of what is now the Archeparchy of Winnipeg, which in turn is part of the whole Ukrainian Catholic Church world-wide, which, in turn, is part of Christ’s whole living Catholic Church. Our purpose and mission is to achieve - on a local level among our parishioners and within our neighbourhood - the Mission of the Church. This Mission is primarily to see to the eternal salvation of souls. We accomplish this by striving to live our lives according to Christ’s teachings within the Gospel and through His Church. We accomplish this through our prayer, the Sacraments and our charitable efforts. All our activity since the day of our founding, 100 years ago, is focused on that Mission. The approximately 50,000 Eucharistic Liturgies that have been celebrated, the thousands of Baptisms, Weddings and Confessions - are all focused on spiritual renewal with goal of keeping our eyes, hearts and souls set on Christ Jesus Who is our Lord, God and Saviour. Our fundraising and social activities and our continuous charitable activity is aimed TOWARD and stems FROM our lives inspired by Christ and our Faith. Many parishes around the world have been thriving for centuries! God willing, we will be such a parish. But this year, we humbly take stock of the journey so far, we give thanks to God for everything, and we plot our course for the next Century… WE INVITE ALL OUR PARISHIONERS AND FORMER PARISHIONERS AND ANYONE CONNECTED WITH OUR PARISH OVER THE LAST CENTURY TO COME CELEBRATE ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR US AND CONTINUES TO DO….