UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE OF CANADA - Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Branch
ЛІҐА УКРАЇНСЬКИХ КАТОЛИЦЬКИХ ЖІНОК КАНАДИ
Відділ при Парафії Покрови Пресвятої Богородиці - м. Вінніпеґ
President - Janet Kuchma 204-582-5932
Congratulations on the 75th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada
We would like to thank the parishioners for your support of the league and our activities. Much gratitude and thanks are extended to our spiritual advisers, to our leadership, and to all the membership in the years 1946 – 2021 for working for the Glory of God. May our Protectress, our Blessed Mother, guide and protect us all.
The Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada (UCWLC), Blessed Virgin Mary Branch was first installed 75 years ago in 1946. The first meeting was held on February 23, 1946. The first spiritual advisor was Rt. Rev. Mitrat Stephan Semczuk. The Rt. Rev. Mitrat Stephan Semczuk and Mary Dyma were the founders of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada in 1944. Mary Dyma was the first National President. At present there are 26 members including 1 Honourary Life Member - Evhenia Sherman. We are proud that our branch was able to provide: - Two National Presidents: Vera Bucznsky and Evhenia Sherman - Six Archeparchial Presidents: Anastasia Semotiuk, Anna Yakimischak, Isobel Sudol, Vera Bucznsky, Evhenia Sherman and Stephanie Bilyj - Five Regional Presidents: Vera Bucznsky, Anne Dudar, Olga Memrick, Pauline Litynski and Elsie Kosowan Monthly meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month except for July, August and January. The meetings are preceded by a religious service such as: Divine Liturgy, Moleben, Stations of the Cross, or praying the rosary, and are celebrated by the spiritual advisor, the parish priest. The main aims of the UCWLC include: Catholic Faith, Ukrainian Culture, Social Development, and Charitable Activities. The Blessed Virgin Mary UCWLC has carried out its organization's aims through many activities. Members participate in spiritual and cultural activities held within the parish and community. Catechism classes and children's activities are supported by the branch. Some members have been Catechism Co-coordinators and Catechism Teachers. Through the years, members have prepared many Praznyk, Christmas, and Easter dinners, as well as Teas and Bake and Craft Sales. We have hosted: Regional Meetings, National Plenary Sessions, Clergy Conferences including one with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav, UCWLC Conventions, Bishop's New Year Levees, and other special occasions as they arose. Commitments to our church have been carried out, such as: making and cutting communion bread (prosphora), looking after and changing altar linens, looking after the priest's vestments and altar servers' vestments. Altar linens have been embroidered by UCWLC members and parishioners. The UCWLC members beautify the church and the church grounds with flowers that are purchased with donations from the parishioners.
The branch has supported UCWLC obligatory funds. We have supported many charities either through monetary donations or through volunteerism throughout the years. Some of the charities that we supported are: the Red Cross, League for Life (Life's Vision), The Welcome Home, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Holy Names House of Peace, L'Arche, Habitat for Humanity, Caritas Foundation, Osvita Foundation, Agape Table, Missionaries of Charity, Seven Oaks Hospital, Main Street Project, Siloam Mission and Ukrainian Canadian Congress. For our 65th Anniversary Project we donated 65 volunteer hours to organizations where we would not normally volunteer. For our 75th Anniversary Project, with the help of some parishioners and friends, we knitted and crocheted 75 prayer shawls and 75 lap blankets which we are donating to the 3 nursing homes, Holy Family Home, Maples Care Home, and Fred Douglas Lodge. The branch has supported various Lenten projects such as “Help us Help the Children” - Anti-trafficking in Ukraine. The UCWLC has sent monetary donations and many parcels of clothing to Ukraine and Brazil to help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Seminarians in Ukraine and Brazil were also supported. Orphanages have been helped in Ukraine with monetary donations, clothing, and medical supplies. We have also supported the “Flood Relief Fund in Ukraine”. This is just a sampling of the charitable work that has been done by the branch throughout the last 75 years. The members of the Blessed Virgin Mary branch have volunteered at Fred Douglas Lodge and Maples Care Home to help take residents to Liturgy. We also take our turn with other branches to take residents from Holy Family Home to Sunday Liturgy. Members also participate at the Cook's Creek Pilgrimage every August. A member is also in charge of scheduling the travelling icon for our parish. The UCWLC has also carried out major projects within the parish such as: sponsoring Divine Liturgy prayer books for the parish printing 500 hard cover hymn books sponsoring an iconographer to write the icon of “Christ the Teacher” furnishing the Family Room in the church replacing the window curtains in the church auditorium Throughout the past 75 years, the UCWLC of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Branch has been busy and very committed to our church and community, participating in many activities and projects.
BVM Parish Branch 2021 Membership
Teresa Bielak. Barbara Kutcher Frances Bodnar Jean Michasiw Zita Buchko Helen Moroz Marian Garrity Adeline Natyna Maria Gorbay Lorna Nelson Millie Haligowski Irene Pilipowicz Mary Henkewich Sylvia Prokopanko
Mary Hull Sylvia Romanchuk Bernice Hurrie Mary Shabbits Sharon Johnston
Jean Sherman (HLM) Diana Kochanski Kornik Bertha Stoyko Janet Kuchma Agnes Yasenko Bernice Kulbaba Jean Zalitach