About the Parish

About the Parish

The cornerstone for the present location of the church was laid September 1955, by Most Rev. Neil Savaryn OSBM, Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, under whose jurisdiction were the Ukrainian Catholics in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. In commemoration of the Marian Year of 1954, the church was named "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary." By December of 1955, high masses were being held in the completed basement of the church which had been constructed to serve as a parish hall and auditorium. On December 8, 1957, the holy day of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the name of the Ukrainian parish was formally changed from "St. Stephen's" to "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary."

Historical Overview

1893	First mention of Ukrainian presence in The Daily Herald
1897	First recorded visit of a Ukrainian Catholic priest to Alberta and Calgary, Rev. Nestor Dmytriw from Pennsylvania
1899	The synod of RC bishops of the Church Province of St. Boniface under the leadership of Archbishop Langevin held in Calgary. Included in the discussion was to find the means to provide adequate religious services to newly arrived immigrants from Ukraine.
1901	Rev. Eugene Zaklynsky from Edna/Star region, the second Ukrainian Catholic priest visited our immigrants.
1909	First parish established as St. Stephen's
1910	Pastoral visit by Metropolitan Andrij Sheptytsky who offered Pontifical Liturgy for his people at St. Mary’s Church.
1911 - 1912	1911 Church edifice constructed on 23rd Avenue NE (Present Day Tuxedo Community) at a cost of $4,500. Building committee Fred Onischuk (Chairman), Michael Novak, Dmytro Stayura, Steve Bahan, Fred Grabas, Basil Syrnyk, Andrew Semkovich. Fred Onischuk donated lots at 1st St. and 23rd Ave. N.E. (present day Tuxedo Park district).
1912 - 1915	St. Stephen's also used by the Roman Catholic Community that eventually became St. Joseph's Parish.
1912	Pope Pius X formally created the Ukrainian Catholic Ordinate embracing all of Canada with headquarters in Winnipeg and named most Reverend Nikita Budka as the first Bishop. October 13, 1912, Bishop Budka was consecrated by the Archbishop Sheptytsky in Lviv, Ukraine, served in Canada until 1928 when he returned to Ukraine and was later martyred in Siberia for His faith.
1913	First of three pastoral visits by First Eparch for Ukr. Catholics in Canada Most Rev. Bishop Nikita Budka
1914 - 1918	During the First World War Ukrainians who immigrated from Austrian empire were classified as 'enemy aliens' under the terms of the War Measures Act (1914). Some members were interned in forced labor camps and as a result of this turmoil the Churrch was closed for about two years.
1926	Church building physically moved from Tuxedo Park to Riverside (1st Ave & 6th St. N.E.)
1926	Jan 31 Pastoral visit by Bishop Nykyta Budka
1928	Bishop Basil Ladyka OSBM named as bishop for Canada
1929	Visit of newly appointed Bishop Ladyka OSBM
1939	Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood of Canada branch established under the guidance of Rev. Yaroslav Czyz
1940	Parish changed from Julian to Gregorian Calendar.
1942	Fire gutted St. Stephen's Church; building of rectory completed
1948	Mrs. Stella (Kozicky) Niedzwiecki teaches English in St. Stephen's basement to post-war Ukrainian immigrants
1948	Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Canada subdivided into four Eparchies; Most Rev. Neil Savaryn appointed first Eparch of Edmonton
1949	Oleksa Mostowy organizes a mixed choir
1950	Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League formed.
1952	Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate established convent in Calgary and begin uninterrupted work in the Calgary community
1952	Land acquired for present location of Church at 7 Ave & 6 St. NE
1953	Building Committee formed for construction of new church edifice: John Cozick (Chairman), Peter Bartman, Oleksa Mostowy, Anton Hawryluk, Sam Sweet, John Shpak, Frank Gawlicki
1954	Parish dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in honour of the Marian year
1955	In September Bishop Neil Savaryn lays cornerstone for new Church (6th Street N.E.)
1955	Christmas Divine Liturgy celebrated in new auditorium
1957	Name of parish formally changed to Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
1957	St. Stephens Church sold and all religious services now held at Assumption
1959	First Divine Liturgy offered in the sanctuary of the newly constructed Church on the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas)
1962	Parish Golden Jubilee celebrated. Dr. Myroslaw Hladyshevsky compiles a bilingual history of the parish, A Jubilee Souvenir. At the celebrations ten original pioneers who all arrived in the first decade of the 1900s were honored for their exemplary membership: Andrew Semkowicz, Fred Grabas, Harry Kozicky, Alex Burak, Michael Warecki, Michael Plecan, Alex Soroka, Steve Bahan, Sam Solodky, and Theodore Yurchyshyn.
1963	Ordination of Father Andrew Kowch, first priestly vocation from parish.
1967	Installation of Iconostas (Canadian Centennial Year Project
1967	Erection of a new convent for Sister Servants at 802 - 7 Avenue NE
1968	A second Ukrainian Catholic Parish established in Calgary under the patronage of St. Stephen's; Rev. Demetrius Greschuk appointed pasto
1968	Visit of His Beatitude Archibishop Major Josef Slipij.
1974	Blessing of new rectory/residence for parish priests.
1975	Stella Niedzwicki authors a book for The Century Calgary Historical Series, Ukrainian Rite Catholic Church, an Account of Church Activities in Calgary
1987	Ukrainian Assumptions Seniors Club formed and commenced contribution to the Parish
1988	Millennium of Ukrainian Christianity observed.
1988	Olympic Games - vigil for persecuted Church in Ukraine.
1991	Declaration of Ukrainian Independence observed.
	1992 Renovation of Auditorium and Church entrance completed. Building Committee: Bill Kravec (Chairman), Mary Bereziuk (co-chairman), Michael Bereziuk, Alex Hunka, Terry Nazarko, Dennis Sokolosky, Steve Lupyczuk, Ron Gnyra, and Michael Lyzaniwski.
1992	Centennial of Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate (SSMI) observed
1996	Iconography Project on Church interior commenced
1997	Lectors installed: Jan Swiatylo, Ivan Heric, George Sadiwnyk, Dennis Sokoloski, Eugene Nahirney, Ivan Weleschuk, and Myron Hladyshevsky to join Andrew Ilnycky, previously installed
2000	Iconography Project completed and blessed by Bishop Lawrence
2000	Golden anniversary of Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League (UCWL) observed

Eparchs Since 1912

	Ukrainian Catholic Ordinate of Canada (Winnipeg):
1912 - 1928	Most Rev. Nykyta Budka
1928 - 1948	Most Rev. Wasyl Ladyka, OSBM
	Eparchy of Edmonton from 1948:
1948 - 1986	Most Rev. Bishop Neil Savaryn, OSBM
1975 - 1990	Most Rev. Demetrius Greschuk
1992 - 1996	Most Rev. Myron M. Daciuk, OSBM
1997 -	Most Rev. Lawrence Huculak, OSBM

Pastoral Care - Clergy who have served the Community

1901	Rev. Evhen Zaklynskyj
1901 - 1910	RC priests Lemarchand, Dubois and two from Oblate order Rev. Paul Kulawy and Rev. O. Syllia held services in St. Mary’s church or St. Mary’s hall or in St. Mary’s Girls’ High School during the non-availability of Basilian Fathers from Edmonton
1903 - 1912	Rev. Sozont Dydyk first Basilian Father came from Edmonton to visit our faithful followed on a monthly basis by Platonid Filas, Antin Strotsky, Ivan Tymochko and Matey Hura. Basilian Fathers continued to make visits to Calgary until 1938 whenever a priest was not in residence.
1913 - 1914	Rev Iwan Dumych, first resident parish priest
1915 - 1916	Rev. Mykola Shumsky
1918 - 1919	Rev. Atanasij Cherepaniak
1921 - 1922	Rev. Tymotej Wasylevych
1923	Rev. Michael Kuzmiak
1924	Rev. Peter Pasichnyk
1914 - 1926	Visiting Basilian Fathers Rev. Wasyl Ladyka, Damaskyn Popowych, Marko Romanovych and others Oftentimes Bishop Kidd, RC personally served the Ukrainian community
1926	Rev. Ivan Kolcun
1926 - 1927	Rev. Ambrose Redkevich
1927 - 1929	Rev Antony Luhovy
1930 - 1938	Visiting Basilian Fathers included Rev. George Zydan, Wasyl Kameneckyj, Joseph Tymochko, Damaskyn Popowych, Sofronij Diakovych, Petro Olinskyj, Teodocij Dobko, Petro Hewko, Michael Sianchyk, and Metodyj Hanas.
1937 - 1938	Rev. Paul Reshetylo
1939	Start of Uninterrupted pastoral service
1939 - 1942	Rev. Yaroslav Chyz
1942 - 1944	Rev. Michael Syrnyk
1944 - 1945	Rev. Andrew Choronzy
1945 - 1951	Rev. Nestor Drohomiretsky
1951 - 1959	Rev. George Kowalsky
1956	Rev. George Spolitakevich assistant, Rev. George Maly assistant
1959 - 1985	Rev. Basil Martynyk
1961	Rev. Basil Galarnyk, assistant
1967	Rev. Philip Shinduke appointed as mission priest
1968 - 1986	Rev. Bohdan Lozynsky, assistant
1985 - 1992	Rev. Paul Lysak
1985 - 1986	Rev. Mark Bayrock, assistant
1986	Rev. Austin Borynec, assistant
1992 - 1993	Rev. Basil Woloshyn
1993 - 2000	Rev. Anton Tarasenko
1996	Rev. Deacon Walter Bialobzyski
2000 -	Rev. Bill Hupalo