My Genealogy and History Page of
 BIENFAIT
 SASKATCHEWAN
&  AREA
 Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
 

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UKRAINIAN
GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH

 


Located 1/2 way between Souris Ave
 and Carbon Ave on East Side of Main St

History below from the 1955 History of Bienfait Book
The first Greek Catholic Priest to visit the Bienfait District was
Father Androchowich.  He held his first mass
in the school at the M&S mines. 
Though the place of worship was not at church, 
but a school, mass was held there once
every three or four months for about 10 years. 
Father Androchowich made trips down here from Winnipeg, 
the City which is considered to be "The centre of Canadian Ukrainians".
In 1921 it was decided to hold mass at the Ukrainian Library in Bienfait
instead of the M&S School.
In the same year Father Androchowich started to teach Catechism. 
With the help of a few Nuns, he prepared the first group of children 
to receive their first Holy Communion in Bienfait.
Father Androchowich was also the one to perform
the first Easter mass for the Greek Catholics in Bienfait.
Following Father Androchowich came Father Ritioshelo
followed by a line of Priests from different parts
of Manitoba and Saskatchewan 
until at the present (1955) there is Father Obarianyk
At the present time (1955) the Greek Catholic people of Bienfait 
have mass usually the first sunday of every month, 
performed by Father Obarianyk
at the Bienfait Ukrainian Library.
This year (1955) was the first time the Greek Catholic people
of Bienfait and district went to a midnight mass at Christmas time.
In connection with the Greek Catholic Church there was a school organized
for Ukrainians to learn to read and write in Ukrainian. 
Also a music school was organized under the leadership
of Mr. D. Metelsky. 
This school was a great success as it attracted other children 
of different nationalities to join this band. 
In time they became a very well known group in this District.
Mr. Metelsky also organized a group of adults and formed a band. 
At that time this was the only band of this kind in Saskatchewan.
When Mr. Metelsky left there was no one to take his place, 
the group broke up but it did its part in organizing the youths of that time.
At the present (1955) time there is no such organization connected 
with the Greek Catholic Church in Bienfait. 
There is however a sort of re-organization that takes place
every three or four years. 
A special teacher or nun is sent to teach the children
to read and write Ukrainian as well as prepare
some children for their first Holy Communion.
Father Obarianyk does his best to be in Bienfait as often as possible. 
He conducts lectures and tries to inspire the people
to build their own church here in Bienfait. 
This might be done in the near future.


Marjorie Turton (nee Smerek)
donated the following pictures to me, with Thanks!
She added this note about  her Father:
Dan (Dmytro) Smerek helped build this Church. 
 He designed and built the domes
 and participated in the construction of the interior.

 

 

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No Reproduction in Whole or in Part may be made
without the express Written Permission
 of Doug Gent

Page created by Doug Gent © 2016
Revised Mar 24, 2008

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