Based on “The Ukrainian Catholic Church In British Columbia” (documentary chronological survey) Published by the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster, BC 1997.

New Westminster is located on the north bank of the Fraser River, twenty kilometers east of Vancouver. It was founded in 1859 and established by Governor James Douglas as the capital city of the Crown colony of British Columbia. Queen Victoria named the settlement after Westminster in England and, for that reason it has been called the Royal City. It remained the capital of the province until 1866 when Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia were united. In 1868, the capital was moved to Victoria and New Westminster’s brief moment of glory was over.

New Westminster started to grow and prosper after it was linked to the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1887. It was linked to the United States by the Great Northern Railway in 1891 and to Eastern Canada with its connection to the Canadian National Railway in 1915.

On 10th of September 1898, the heart of the city was almost completely destroyed by a disastrous fire. The city was rebuilt in 1902.

In the past, the main sector of New Westminster’s economy was the forest industry which employed over forty percent of the manufacturing force in local mills. Later, with the decline of industrial plants, New Westminster has become more of a residential centre. It boasted a population of 44,443 in 1991. (See Canadian Encyclopedia….)

A small number of Ukrainians settled in the New Westminster area during the early 1900s. Some of these early settlers included Yurko Syrotiuk who settled in Port Haney, and Myroslav Stechyshyn, a well-known journalist and socialist activist. More Ukrainians began arriving, first from the Prairie Provinces after the Great Depression and later from the Prairie Provinces and Europe after World War II.

Led by the late John Piskorik, the first local Ukrainians to petition for the celebration of liturgical services according to the Ukrainian (Greek) Catholic rite were the Transcarpathians (former citizens of Czechoslovakia). They built the Church of the Holy Spirit in the Queensborough area in 1943. It was blessed by Vancouver’s Roman Catholic Archbishop Duke. Father Christopher Kondratiuk, OSBM, celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in Byzantine rite in June 1944 and continued to serve the parish, traveling from Vancouver every Sunday during the following year. The church was later taken over by Roman Catholics because the title to the land was registered in 1943 to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Vancouver by Father Edward Malayter, OMI.

The first Ukrainian parishioners of this mission in New Westminster were Jack and Pauline Makara and family. The pioneers of mission included J. Piskorik, J. Makara, Charles Gerak, Nick Shewchuk, Ignat Roman, Anna Hlagi, John Lunter, Andrew Hresko, John Calko, George, Matt, Mike and Andrew Skurla, Andrew Safranko, Martin Myckatyn, John Petrunia, William Shewchuk, Stephen Lobay and Joseph Hnatiw.

After Father Kondratiuk’s departure for the United States, Father George Zydan, OSBM, served the parish between 1945-51, commuting from Vernon and Vancouver. As well, Father Nicholas Silady visited the parish from Victoria several times during 1949. Father Basil Martynyk, the pastor in Richmond, began serving the Church of the Holy Spirit in 1952. Father Markian Bilyk arrived to assume his post as the first resident pastor in the middle of 1953.

The parish began to organize along more formal lines. A full Parish Committee was formed in 1952 with Charles Gerak as its first chairperson. He was assisted by Jack Makara who, together with his wife, worked to organize various functions to raise money for the building fund. Makara was, in turn, replaced by William Young, another enterprising member of the parish.

Also in 1952, the women organized into a Sisterhood which, thanks to the initiative of Father Bilyk, became the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League in 1954. Their first chairperson was Anna Hlady who was assisted by Pauline Makara. Nicholas Bilchak formed and conducted a mixed choir during this same period. Between 1953-54 an altar boys’ group, a Ridna Shkola (Ukrainian language school) and catechism classes were organized by Father Bilyk and Natalia Danyliw. Due to a lack of space, the children were taught in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Myckatyn.

Father Bilyk visited his parishioners in Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Surrey and in the area along both banks of the Fraser River from Vancouver to Hope. He compiled lists of Ukrainian Catholics and Greek Catholic Slovaks and encouraged them to attend the liturgical services.

Construction of a church in New Westminster finally began on 1 October 1956 at the corner of 4^th Avenue and Louellen Street. Plans were drawn up by the architect, Nicholas Flak of Edmonton. Mr. L. Kowalchuk supervised the building of the basement but construction was soon stopped because of financial difficulties. Despite the difficulties, efforts were made to finish the basement during 1960-61. The dept of $10,000 incurred with the purchase of the land and construction was eventually paid off, in part by Bishop Neil Savaryn, Eparch of Edmonton, and in part by the parish.

At the beginning of 1960, Fr. Markian Bilyk was transferred to Vernon at his own request. After his departure, attempts at holding liturgical services and meetings in the basement of the planned church proved unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the parishioners still sent their children to “Ridna Shkola” and to catechism classes. Various activities were coordinated to promote understanding within the community and raise money to maintain the parish, complete the construction of the church and strenghten parish life. The Basilian Fathers from Vancouver continued to visit the parish during this period and usally celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Roman Catholic Slovak Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius on East 8th Avenue in New Westminster.

In February 1962, Bishop Savaryn transferred Father Stephen Chehovsky from Victoria to New Westminster with instructions to finish the basement or, if the parishioners disagreed, sell it and purchase another site for a church. Father Chehovsky purchased a house for $18,000 at 323 Queens Avenue. Several parishioners donated $1,000 each, including Eva Babec, Jack and Pauline Makara, and John and Helen Kilik. The balance was borrowed from two parishioners, Jack Makara and John Babec and repaid in 1966.

Outside the doors of the parochial house on 323 Queens Avenue after Sunday Divine Liturgy, 1966

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated upstairs and other parish activities were held on the main floor in the living room and kitchen. Shkola came under the direction of Olha Kotelko in 1962. She, together with her daughter Nadine, also taught catechism classes. The course of studies included religion, Ukrainian language, and traditional folk arts such as dancing, painting Easter eggs, embroidery and singing hymns and folk songs. The classes were taught in the parish house under adverse conditions due to the inadequate heating in the building.

In April 1963, Father Bohdan Hanushevsky was appointed pastor of New Westminster, Chilliwack and Richmond. Bishop Savaryn’s instructions concerning the completion or construction of a church now applied to him. As pastor, he began publishing a bi-weekly bulletin, “Nedilnyi Dzvin” (Sunday Bell). Complementing his spiritual duties to the parishioners, he taught singing, catechism and the senior classes of “Ridna Shkola”. In 1965 he organized a branch of the Ukrainian Catholic Youth and a church choir in 1966. Father Hanushevsky’s daughters, Anna and Maria, directed the choir.

The property at 4th Avenue and Louellen Street was sold in 1966 and a house at 321 Queens Avenue, next door to the residence, was then purchased. Requests to rezone the property were made with the intention of constructing a church and assembly hall. The negotiations had been prompted by a threat from the city to close the parish house, citing that it was unsuitable for public gatherings. Furthermore, the parishioners had become frustrated with the old building, which was cramped and lacked proper heating facilities.

The parish did not have enough funds to start building a new structure, but Bishop Savaryn promised a loan. As the Church Committee opened negotiations with the architects, Petzhold and Maar, it became clear that the city council was opposed to the construction of a church on the site. Four members of that council did support the project and the law firm of Petrunia and Clark encouraged the parish to pursue the matter with the city. Despite individual negotiations with each counselor and a petition signed by 300 neighbors of the parish who favored the construction of a church, permission was refused.

Eighteen months and a large amount of money had been spent in vain. The controversy regarding the building of the church received considerable attention from the local newspapers, “The Columbian”, “The Vancouver Sun” and “The Province”. Popular opinion supported the parishioners who continued to hope that permission for building a church would eventually be granted, albeit on another site.

After a new application was rejected on June 19th  1967, ten families from Surrey and Delta left the parish and, with the permission of Bishop Savaryn, established their own parish in Surrey. In 1966, Bishop Savaryn had complied with Father Hanushevsky’s request and relieved him of his responsibilities at the Richmond parish. He was entrusted in 1967 to serve the new parish in Surrey while continuing his activities in New Westminster.

Activity in the parish houses did not cease. School, choir practice and various other courses were conducted, including folk dancing under the leadership of Vasyl Avramenko and Orysia Babec. Banquets and dances were held twice a month in Dontenwill Hall, which was owned by the Latin rite parish of St. Peter. Annual Mothers’ Day and pre-Christmas concerts and parties, Shevchenko commemorations and other gatherings were also held.

In August 1967, Theodore Doroszczak showed Father Hanushevsky a site at 4th Avenue and 5th Street on which stood three old houses. Shortly thereafter, the parishioners began yet another campaign to purchase the site and obtain permission to build a church on it. Fred Lackmanec was especially helpful, drawing a sketch of the future church and hall. After a few revisions, the sketch was incorporated into a plan proposed by the architect, B. Maar, and accepted by City Hall. On 5th of September 1968, after renewed negotiations and the rejection of a petition by thirty neighbors who opposed its construction, permission was granted to build a church.

Bishop Savaryn had already inspected the site and undertook to borrow $59,000 to purchase the property plus any additional monies, building requited to complete the building of the church. The three old buildings were torn down and Father Hanushevsky, assisted by Father Isidore Dziadyk, OSBM, of Vancouver, blessed the site and turned the sod.

Fr. Bohdan Hanushevksy and Fr. Isidore Dziadyk, OSBM, blessing the grounds prior to the start of construction of the church, September 21st, 1968

The actual construction was fraught with problems. The foundation had been poured and the framework was being erected when severe snow and frost conditions forced construction to be halted for a month and a half. A strong gale in March 1969 blew down the framework making it necessary to rebuild.

The cupola was ready by the end of the first week in April 1969. The first service to be held on the church site was the blessing of a six-foot cross on April 7th 1969 (the cross was later mounted atop the cupola). Father Hanushevsky in an overflowing church celebrated the first Divine Liturgy on Easter Sunday, April 14th 1969. The mixed choir sang under the direction of his daughter Maria.

With the permission of Bishop Savaryn and the agreement of the parishioners, Father Hanushevsky renamed the church under the patronage of the Holy Eucharist. In the first week of June, the interior of the church was finished and painted, leaving only the carpets to be laid and the pews to be installed.

The official opening of the church and hall took place on Sunday, June 8th 1969, on the Feast Day of the Holy Eucharist. A Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated followed by the blessing of the cornerstone. Bishop Savaryn and Father Hanushevsky delivered the sermons. A large banquet followed with a program of speakers and a concert performed by children of the “Ridna Shkola”. The master of ceremonies was Peter Rebeika.

The church was now a reality. In order to save money it was painted by the parishioners under the supervision of Michael Blazeiko. William Bachewich built the altar, the tetrapod, the offertory and side tables as well as the tabernacle according to a design by Father Hanushevsky.

Bishop Savaryn made additional loans to the parish totaling $188,000. The parishioners donated about $20,000. Both houses on Queens Avenue were then sold.

A residence for the priest was also needed and the parish offered to purchase a house located next to the church. The property was unaffordable at that time but, after paying off the debt for the church, it was eventually acquired for $125,000 in 1987.

On December 2nd 1984 the height of the sacristy was reduced and a storage room was constructed according to the plans of John Chupik with the help of D. Burdeniuk, N. Kostur, E. Kozak, G. Kozak, L. Wozney, G. Paltzat, R. Saranchuk, B. Zadik and B. Lashin, who installed the electricity.

Many significant events took place during the following years, the most notable being the ordination and installation of Bishop Jerome Chimy, OSBM, as Eparch of New Westminster on September 5th 1974. His enthronement took place during a Divine Liturgy on September 6 with the main celebrant being Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk, CSsR. Bishop Chimy chose for his cathedral the parish in New Westminster in which he celebrated his first Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on September 8, 1974. He appointed Father Hanushevsky as the first administrator of the Cathedral. Another meaningful event was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the parish, which was celebrated on October 30th, 1977. During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Chimy ordained sub deacon Michael Sabara to the deaconate.

Bishop Jerome Chimy, OSBM – first Bishop of the New Westminster Eparchy.
The cathedral parish has fulfilled its financial obligations well. With the formation of the New Westminster Eparchy, the parish was obliged to repay the loan to Bishop Neil Savaryn of Edmonton. The parish had already paid off $102,000, leaving a balance owing of $86,000. The parish borrowed $80,000 from a local bank, which was transferred to Bishop Neil Savaryn together with $6,000 willed to the parish by the late Peter Winstall. This debt was reduced through the generosity of the parishioners and especially the charity of one special parishioner who extended an interest free loan of $25,000 for three years.

On March 18th, 1979, a lenten renewal was concluded by Father Maxim M. Markiw, OSBM, who was marking his fiftieth anniversary as a missionary serving Canada, the United States and South America. His visit coincided with the celebration of the granting of the miter to Father Hanushevsky.

The parish has welcomed several priests since 1978. In October 1978, Deacon Paul Stephaniuk and his wife Zenia transferred from the Toronto Eparchy to New Westminster where the Deacon assisted the administrator. After one year, Bishop Chimy assigned him to administer the missions of Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Chemainus and Campbell River on Vancouver Island. Father Peter Kravchuke and his wife Christine arrived from Victoria on November 4th, 1984. Father Kravchuke was assigned to serve as an associate. After six months, he was appointed pastor of the Chilliwack parish, Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

On September 8th, 1984, the tenth anniversary of the eparchy of New Westminster was solemnly celebrated with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral, which was followed by a banquet. Having served the parish for twenty-two years, Father Hanushevsky announced his retirement on April 14th, 1985. On June 2nd, 1985 the parishioners held a retirement celebration for him. Father Pavol Siska was appointed as his replacement.

The ordination to the priesthood of Deacon Bruce Power took place at the Cathedral on May 11th, 1986. After the transfer of Father Siska to Vernon, Father Power was appointed administrator of the Cathedral on November 23rd, 1986. He liked church music and reintroduced such services as vespers on Saturday nights and matins on Sunday mornings. Handbooks for the services were copied in both Ukrainian and English. After Father Power’s transfer to Cranbrook, Father Ivan Kochmanski became the new administrator on July 4th, 1988.

Archbishop Major Myroslav-Ivan Cardinal Lubachivsky began a ten-day visit to the Eparchy on May 16th, 1986. At the Cathedral, Bishop Chimy in the presence of the Knights of Columbus and the parishioners welcomed Cardinal Lubachivsky. A Moleben was sung during which the Cardinal delivered the sermon.

The cathedral parish marked the Millennium by renovating the parish residence, which had been purchased in 1981 and rented out. The blessing of the residence took place after the celebration of the Millennium Moleben by Bishop Chimy on April 15th, 1988. Father Jaroslaw Dybka, CSsR and Father Larry Kondra, CSsR also led a retreat-mission at the Cathedral, from 2-4 May 1988.

To be continued…