PARISH HISTORY

      In the late 1940, post-war political refugees from Ukraine began to settle in Burlington, Ontario. In May 1953, a group of nineteen families from the Ukrainian Catholic community and the Very Reverend Archpriest Anthony Simbalist decided to purchase the “century old” St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church on the corner of Pearl and Pine streets for $10 000.00 (original asking price was $22 000.00 but it was significantly reduced after negotiations). The Ukrainian community raised only $847.00 (the average hourly wage at this time was 60 cents) and made a down-payment. The rest of the amount was issued as a loan. The church was named the Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church.

      The interior of the church was remodeled according to the Byzantine Rite and on May 31, 1953 the First Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Very Reverend Archpriest Anthony Simbalist. The official day of the Parish founding is October 25th of 1953, when the Parish was officially blessed by the Most Reverend Isidore Borecky, Apostolic Exarch of Ukrainian Catholics in Eastern Canada. During 1953-1956 years Pastoral Care of the Parish was taken over by Holy Spirit Church in Hamilton, and from 1956 to 1962 by The Redemptorist Fathers monastic clergy.

      In 1958 Parish members built the Parish Hall, and in 1959 the Ukrainian School “Ridna Shkola” was established under the direction of Mr. Oleksa Chewpa.

      From 1961-1964 Right Reverend Father Pavlo Dzulynskyj led the Parish. At this time the house next door to the church on Pearl Street was purchased for the parish Rectory and was later demolished to make way for the building of the present Church Temple.

      From 1964-1967, the new Pastor, Father Vasyl Lavryshyn paid particular attention to the church interior. He was renowned for his expertise in embroidery work, so most of the church linen was embroidered at this time by members of the Parish branch of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada. Also at this time, the Ukrainian dance school was initiated by the Parish Community.

      During 1967-1970 Right Reverend Father Ljutoslav Kussy led the Parish. At this time, the Parish created the building plan for a new Church Temple.

      In 1970-1972 the new Pastor, Father Steven Kuzma started to celebrate a bilingual Ukrainian/English Divine Liturgy. Also at this time, the Parish started a fundraising process for the building of the new Church Temple. In 1972-1973 the Parish continued fundraising with a new Pastor, Father Volodymyr Sharanewych.

      During 1973-1974 Father Vasyl Humenyuk led the Parish. The basement for the new Church temple was excavated and the building of the new Church temple began. In 1973, His Beatitude Patriarch Josyf Slipyj had a visit to Hamilton. So, Parish members took the cornerstone for the new Church Temple to Hamilton and it was blessed.

      In 1974 the Parish was assigned a new Pastor, Right Reverend Father Juriy Kowalsky, who had been performing the services for more than 10 years. At this time the new Church temple was built and blessed on October 18, 1975 by his Grace the Most Reverend Bishop Isidore Borecky, Eparch of Toronto and Eastern Canada. This occasion was attended by clergy of Latin and Eastern Rite and other Honoured guests from the Canadian, Provincial, and Municipal governments.

      The church temple was built over more than 2 years thanks to the titanic efforts by all Parish members, but especially the Tychansky brothers, the best Burlington bricklayers in 1970s. They came to the construction site after working their main job to volunteer and lay several brick rows. Many other Parish members worked until late night after the end of their work day to store bricks near walls for future usage.

      During this time, all members of the Parish worked diligently to raise funds for the construction project. These people lived very poorly, often renting unheated garages instead of apartments, but donated generously from their meager savings for construction of the church.

      In the spring of 1976, the well over “century old” church building was demolished to make way for the parking lot. In 1977, the roadside Cross was erected to mark the spot where the old Church temple stood.

      In the fall of 1976 our Parish Community was blessed by the visit of His Beatitude Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Patriarch Josyf kept his promise to visit the newly built church and blessed the new Altar during Pontifical Divine Liturgy.

      In 1983 the Parish marked its 30 Anniversary. In commemoration of this date, the Church temple was provided with new oak pews. In 1984, a new Pastor, Father Andrij Kormanyk restarted a bilingual English/Ukrainian Divine Liturgy. In 1988, the Iconostas was erected to commemorate 1000 years if Christianity in Ukraine.

      From 1991-1994 Father Roman Curkowskyj led the Parish. It was during this time, in 1993, that the Parish celebrated its 40th Anniversary. This event began with a Pontifical Divine Liturgy, concelebrated on the 16th of October by their Excellencies Bishop Isidor Borecky, Eparch of Toronto and Eastern Canada, and Bishop Roman Danylak, Apostolic Administrator.

      The day 16th of August, 1994 was made special by the visit of the Metropolitan of Lviv, His Grace, The Most Reverend Volodymyr Sterniuk. Metropolitan Sterniuk celebrated the Pontifical Divine Liturgy.

      During 1994-1995, Parish was under the Pastoral Care of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Toronto, and from 1996 to the present time the Parish is led by Father Zenon Walnycky.

      In 2000, the glass doors and side panels to the entrance of the Church Nave were decorated with the etched icons of Angels and Cherubs designed by Mr. Bohdan Holowacki, Iconographer, who also made the icons for the church iconostas

      In 2003, the Parish celebrated its 50th Anniversary. In order to commemorate this extraordinary achievement, a year-long program of special events took place during this Jubilee Year. To honor all parishioners who have made our Parish, a special commemorative book was published. On the 25th of October, 50 years to the day that our church was consecrated, a special banquet honouring our founders followed. The next day the Parish celebrated a Pontifical Divine Liturgy with His Excellency Bishop Stephen Chmilar, Eparch of Toronto and Eastern Canada.

      In May 2014, His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk paid a short visit to our Parish on his way from Toronto to The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate congregation in Ancaster, Hamilton. He blessed the new-made Virgin Mary Doors of Mercy icon.

      We pay homage to all our administrators and pastors as well as our parishioners for their faith in God, Ukrainian heritage, sacrifices, donations and hard work that made possible the existence and evolution of our Parish. Also we pray for the deceased and ask that the Lord receive them to His Kingdom. By the grace and compassion of our Lord God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and the faithful protection of our Patroness, the Holy Mother of God, we will continue to build our community for MANY HAPPY YEARS!