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The Holy Spirit church is located on the edge of the town of Derwent. The land was bought in 1941. The church was built in 1948. The cemetery was acquired in 1942 (1.6 acres of land). The Parish also bought a residence in 1941 with 6 rooms, 1 acre of garden and a double garage for approx. $6,000.00. The parish was very active with their BUCC, UCWLC and UCYC branches. The first Parish priest was Fr. Markian Pasichnyk, OSBM. In 2004 there were approx. 12 families.

The Eparchial clergy who served the faithful: Fr.John Cherkawsky (1948-1985), Fr. Joseph Royer (1985-1992), Fr. Mark Bayrock (1992-1993), Fr. Roman Dobriansky (1994-1998), Deacon Richard Nibogie (administrator) (1998-2000), Deacon Ed Lemko (2000), Fr. Slavko Dumeč (2000-2008) and Fr. Vasyl Nykyforuk (2008- ).
 

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GPS Co-ordinates: 53.655902,-110.969977
Affiliation: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton

Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Church – Derwent, AB

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The Ukrainian Catholic Parish of Holy Eucharist at Elk Point, Alberta was established about 1935. In this year the Ukrainian Catholic priest Rev. Father Ambrose Wynnyk OSBM from Mundare, Alta. came here and met with twelve Ukrainian families. These were Wasyl Yakymec, Wasyl Andrishak, John Libich, Wasyl Soldon, Nick Sakowsky, Kost Pawlyk, Paul Stepa, Harry Faryna, Wasyl Wysocki, Mike Kowaichyk, Paul Gusnowski and Joseph Gusnowski. With these families Rev. Fr. A. Wynnyk OSBM started the church services in the Roman Catholic Church in town. During the next fourteen years the church services were held by priests from the Basilian Fathers' Monastery at Mundare, Alberta, - Rev. Fathers Kohut, Pasichnyk and Shydan.

In 1949 a priest came from the Ukraine, Rev. Fr. Michael Hawryluk. He became parish priest of Glendon, Alta., and also travelled to Elk Point. He initiated the idea of building our own church. This idea was accepted enthusiastically by the Church Committee under the guidance of the chairman Paul Lesyk with the members Anton Zazulak, Kost Pawlyk, Mike Nykyforuk and Dmytro Hucal. Paul Lesyk, Peter Kozicki and Kost Pawlyk went to the Roman Catholic Bishop Bodouaux in St. Paul, Alta., and asked him to sell a place close to the Roman Catholic Church for the building of our church. The deal was made and we became the owners of our church lots for the payment of $300.00.

The building of the church was started in 1949 under the supervision of the church contractor Walter Gulka from St. Paul. In August 1949 there was a solemn consecration of the corner-stone by Most Rev. Bishop Neil Savaryn from Edmonton and a Pontifical St. Liturgy (Mass) with the assistance of the neighboring clergy. The choir of Derwent sang the Mass. 

The next priest who served our parish was Rev. Michael Gural, parish priest of Glendon. Then on February 25, 1954, Rev. J. Cherkawsky, parish priest of Derwent, Alta. was appointed by Most Rev. Bishop Neil Savaryn as priest to our church. Under his direction the choir and solosits of the parishioners performed a concert in March 1955 in honor of Taras Shewchenko a great poet of Ukraine.

On August 3, 1969, the church, including the main altar, was dedicated by Most Rev. Bishop Neil Savaryn assisted by other priests. Solemn Pontifical St. Liturgy (Mass) was conducted with the assistance of the choir from Derwent under the direction of Rev. J. Cherkawsky. After the church ceremonies there was a banquet in the Elks Hall.

Credits: Elk Point Historical Society 

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GPS Co-ordinates: 53.89589,-110.904884
Cemetery Co-ordinates: 53.89044, -110.92183
Affiliation: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton

Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church – Elk Point, AB

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The church is located in Innisfree, a town some 160 km. east of Edmonton. The property was purchased from the Roman Catholics on April 12, 1951. The first services were held in private homes. Finally in 1954 the community started to build a new church. The church structure (48’ x 28’ x 10’) was designed by Micholas Fliak of Edmonton. Volodymyr Stoyko of Fidelity was the contractor. By the end of 1972, the construction costs of the last enlargement of the church were estimated at $20,000.00. The biggest donations came from Paranka Sadova and Fred Pshyk, however, every member was committed to donate at least $50.00.

Innisfree town had a diverse Ukrainian population. Some Ukrainians were close to communist ideology and some belonged to the masonry with their own hall “Ad-fellows”. The work of the Church and their clergy was very hard and great prudence was expected from the faithful. Some individuals wanted to run the parish life based not on the laws (canons) of the Church, but by adopting some rules that eliminated the whole Ukrainian Catholic structure of administration.

In the early years the Basilian Fathers from Mundare held services in private homes and later in the Roman Catholic church. The first permanent priests came from Ukraine after World War II: Fr. Nicholas Diadio (1949-1950), Fr. Bohdan Hanushewsky (1950-1953), Fr. Yaroslaw Fedunyk (1953-1956), Fr. Roman Starodub (1956-1985), Fr. Benny Ambrose (1986-1995), Fr. Ron Hollohan (1996), Deacon Michael Schaplowsky (1997-2000), Fr. Stanislav Bjeli (2005-2008), Fr. John Sembrat, OSBM (2008- ).

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GPS Co-ordinates: 53.381581,-111.531788
Affiliation: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton

St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church – Innisfree, AB