The first settler was Anton Tchir (Tkhir) from the village of Ninovych, district of Yaroslav. Shortly after, Stefan and Yuriy Liashkovskyi, Luka Mulyk and others arrived. In 1907 there approximately 22 Ukrainian families. That year the idea of having a church was on the people’s minds. Fr. M. Hura, a Basilian priest who already served an established community in Kopernik, was afraid that it would be a great financial burden on the people.
A parishioner by the name of Ivan Babiak donated 2 acres of land for the church and the cemetery, and in the same year a small church was built. Here are the names of the founders: A. Tchir, A. Komarnickyj, O. Tkachuk, M. Tkachuk, Yu. Liashkovskyi, S. Liashkovskyi, A. Hladylo, T. Malowany, T. Umrysh, I. Babiak, D. Ozhybko, H. Pastushok, J. Mulyk, L. Mulyk, S. Kondro, D. Komarnickyj.
Every parishioner donated at least $100.00 for the construction of the new church in 1916, worth $3,000.00. The same year the trustees S. Laishkovskyi, H. Pastushok and J. Mulyk incorporated the church land. The expenses in building the church structure were paid in cash.
In 1941 there were 41 families in the Parish with 56 children attending the religion and Ukrainian classes held by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. Bishop Nykyta Budka visited the Parish on November 9, 1915 and in 1917; Bishop Basil Ladyka visited them on July 10, 1932 and July 27, 1941. Basilian priests that served the Parish: Fr. Matthew Hura, Fr. Basil Ladyka, Fr. Epiphanius Teodorowich, Fr. George Zydan, Fr. Sophron Diakovych, Fr. Methodius Hannas, Fr. Innocent Rychkun, Fr. Theodosius Dobko and Fr. Eugene Bilyk.
Eparchial clergy that served the Parish: Fr. Demetrius Baziuk (1951-1957), Fr. Bohdan Lozynsky (1957-1963), Fr. Roman Hankewych (1963-1964), Fr. Oles Zachariasewych (1970-1984), Fr. Richard Zuback (1985-1986), Fr. Myron Pyszcz (1987-1990), Fr. Peter Brezden (1991-1992), Fr. Mihajlo Planchak (1993-1998), Fr. Ron Hollohan (1999), Fr. Vasyl Nykyforuk (2000-2008), Fr. Slavko Dumeč (2008-2013), Fr. Greg Faryna (2013-2017), Fr. Mark Bayrock (2017-).
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GPS Co-ordinates: 53.126697, -112.269487
Cemetery Co-ordinates: 53.125999, -112.269138
Affiliation: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton
St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church – Holden (Farms), AB
The Ukrainian settlers first arrived in the Kopernick area in 1903. A Ukrainian Catholic mission parish dedicated to the Ascension of our Lord was established on this 40-acre parcel of land in 1904. It was initially served by the Basilian Fathers from their Monastery in Mundare, Alberta. The first church, a simple log structure, burnt down several months after its completion. It was replaced by a second building in 1905.
A much larger church was built in 1914 to accommodate the growing community. Sadly, it too was destroyed by fire in the early hours of December 31, 1951. The cross displayed onsite was one of the few artifacts salvaged from that fire. The cross was twisted and warped by the intense heat. However, it was meticulously restored to its original condition for the Parish's centenary celebrations in 2004.
The present church was built by the parishioners of Kopernick in 1954. On June 20, 2004, His Excellency Bishop Lawrence Huculak, OSBM celebrated a Pontifical Divine Litury commenorating the 100th anniversary of the Ascension of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Parish at Kopernick.
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GPS Co-ordinates: 53.061063, -112.138313
Cemetery Co-ordinates: 53.06038, -112.13871
Affiliation: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton
Ascension of our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church – Kopernick, AB
The church is located in the municipality of Athabasca, Alberta. Prosperity was also known as Grassland. Mykola Cholach donated one acre of land for the church. The church is located 30 km. from Boyle and 48 km. from Athabasca. The Ukrainian settlers started arriving in 1929. The first service was held in the house of Mykola Cholach in 1936 by Fr. Shopovych, OSBM. Construction of the church (48’ x 20’ x 14’) started in March 1937. Times were very hard but there were 15 willing families to build the church: Andriy Duban, Yakiv Skrypnyk, Hryhoriy Kramar, Mykhaylo Hrycun, Mykola Cholach, Trofym Kuc, Mykola Husiak, Ivan Pysyk, Mykola Rosa, Mykola Bereziuk, Yuriy Chamchuk, Ivan Sheremeta, Zakhar Lubchyk, Dmytro Chamchuk and Mykola Bereziuk.
To have a permanent church service, the parishioners also built a residence for the clergy. The 2 acres of land were donated by Mykola Rosa and on November 25, 1949. It was registered under the title: The Ruthenian Greek Catholic Parish of Holy Trinity Prosperity, North Alberta Land registration District No. 240. To build the residence for $5,100.00, the parishioners of Prosperity, and also our faithful from the surrounding areas, donated their money: Boyle $500.00, Frains $150.00, Craigend $100.00.
In 1932 Mykola Husak donated 2 acres of land for the cemetery. Fr. Juvenalis Slota, OSBM, blessed it in 1933. The following Basilian Fathers served the community: Fr. Damascene Popovych, Fr. Josaphat Tymochko, Fr. Methodius Hannas, Fr. Juvenalis Slota, Fr. Paul Hewko, Fr. Ireneus Procenty, Fr. Nicholas Kohut and Fr. John Chinchenko (1949).
The first permanent resident Eparchial priest was Fr. Bohdan Lozynsky (July 12, 1949-Oct. 2, 1953) followed by Fr. Matthew Pawluk (1953-1964); Fr. Peter Petryshyn (1964-1966), Fr. Euthymius Melnychuk from Boyle (1968-1969), Fr. Bohdan Karychek (1971-1978), Fr. John Kratko (1979-1985), Fr. Don Bodnar (1986-1997), Fr. Benny Ambrose (1998-2000), Fr. Stanislav Bjeli (2001-2008), Fr. Don Bodnar (2008-2013), Fr. Slavko Dumeč (2013-).
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GPS Co-ordinates: 54.835304, -112.827568
Cemetery Co-ordinates: 54.820082, -112.828063
Affiliation: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church – Prosterity, AB
The search is underway to find and post some historical information about this church.
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GPS Co-ordinates: 54.240422, -113.1405245
Cemetery Co-ordinates: 54.240817, -113.138679
Affiliation: Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton
