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The churches
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at Dupré District
by Nick Baron
| Official
Opening of Dupré Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church |
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There was a respect for people's strength and courage; their ties and feelings that "God is love" among us homesteaders. When my father Mike Baron, the first pioneer died in 1937, we the younger generation began to organize the church. Fred Baron donated three acres of land for the church and cemetery on 1/4 sec NE 9 62 6 4M.
In 1939 on Christmas some of us, Mike Zaporozan, Klym Shyry,
George Tiahlo, Dmetro Kahanyshyn, Fred Baron, Matt Pshyk,
Walter Chyz, Norman Antoniak, Harry Shostak, Frank Strumecki,
Steve Sharon, Andrew Baron and myself. Nick Baron organized
a "VERTAP" concert portraying the Birth of Christ,
acting as shepherds, angels, three Kings, a Jew and mean
men and Christmas caroling.
| Ukrainian
Greek Catholic Church |
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In 1939-40, we had a total of $148.00 in church funds. In
1940, we paid one dollar and were granted a permit to cut
ten thousand feet of lumber to build a church. Mr. Fred
Wasser sawed the logs into 4 x 5 and 4 x 6 dimensions and
charged $5.00 per thousand board feet.
We were in good terms with Father Lapointe and I personally
asked him for funds to buy windows, doors and floor to finish
the church. We asked for $1,000.00 and were granted $650.00
to buy the materials at Hayward Lumber Yard. We ran short
of funds to buy the windows and had raised the balance ourselves.
Before our church was built we held mass in our homes and
sometimes in the school house, by Fathers from the Bonnyville
Roman Catholic church and by Fathers of the Ukrainian Greek
Catholic church from Mundare. Some of the first members
were of Greek Orthodox faith. They withdrew, organized their
own parish and built a church at Dupré.
Since 1973, most of the families retired and moved to Bonnyville.
Younger families have cars and have become members of the
new church in Bonnyville.
Mt. St. Anne Chapel
The little mission of Mt. St. Anne at Rife, Alberta, had
its humble beginnings back in 1932. A few faithful souls
under the direction and encouragement of the late Fr. Lepage
envisaged the plan of such a mission. Prior to this, there
had been no Mass; just an occassional visit from Fr. Lepage
or some other missionary passing through.
| Mt. St. Anne Chapel |
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In the spring of 1933,
Mass was celebrated at the home of the Destrubés.
The congregation consisted of the Nicholson family, Destrubés,
MacLeans, Malbeaufs, Flannigan brothers and Mrs. Perry.
Fr. Lepage, in failing health, was unable to continue his
duties, so our efforts were more or less at a standstill.
Father died October 1933, a great loss to us all.
In December of that same year, we received word that a new
pastor from St. Vincent would celebrate Mass at Destrubés
on a certain day. That day turned out to be a very cold
one, 30 or colder. However we received a very warm welcome
from the new pastor, Fr. Chalifoux.
Through Father's encouragement, zeal and inspiration, we
again took up the cause of a Mission Church, which effort
flourished from the start. We began with the idea of a humble
log building to take care of our needs.
In the meantime, Father Chalifoux held Mass at Destrubés
and at our home. Afterwards Catechism was taught, then all
the parishioners would stay for lunch.
Father received a grant of $500.00 from the Church Extension,
which amount, augmented by the proceeds of a two day picnic
at Moose Lake, provided us with funds for the erection of
a little Chapel.
Matt Leslie, a more recent settler in the district, donated
the church site on his land along Highway 28A.
The plans of the church were drawn by George Destrubés,
and the contract for a frame building went to Fraser Brothers
of Bonnyville. The work of the excavation and foundation
was done by local volunteer labor. Father Chalifoux helped,
working side by side with the parishioners.
Leading the donors in our early undertaking were Suzanne
Destrubés and her father M. Fenouille of France,
and their friends. One of their gifts, the inscribed bell,
"Agricola" is a cherished one. Fr. Chalifoux donated
an organ.
"Les Filles de la Sagesse", an order of nuns I
had known, sent altar linens and lace. Later, Mrs. Madeline
Press came to the Rife community, as our organist and soloist.
Mrs Press donated altar vestments, gifts from friends.
The Stations of the Cross were donated by an Art Store in
Winnipeg, and framed by Malbeoufs, who also made the sanctuary
fittings, table and cupboard.
Later, we were placed under the supervision of the Bonnyville
Parish. During that time, Father Barbeau received a further
grant of $350.00, which was spent on the completion of the
interior. Father helped with the work, remaining in the
community while doing so. He 'stayed' with Matt Leslie.
Fr. Ricard served us from Mallaig for a number of years.
Later, Fr. Tardiff took charge, then Fr. Lerouge, and later
Fr. Laberge. The Rife community worked "hand in hand".
Although of various denominations, we put on plays and other
social activities as a group for the benefit of the churches
and Community Hall. About this time, John Browning, in memory.
of his father Canon Browning, presented us with an inscribed
Chalice.
Later, the chapel was moved to Bonnyville, near the Bonnyville
Lodge.
At the formal dedication in 1961, Fr. Chalifoux spoke works
of praise for the pioneering spirit of the Rife Community
and extended his blessings, prayers, and Best Wishes for
the future of the little Chapel.
St. John the Baptist, Greek Orthodox Church at Big Meadow
by Patricia (Ogrodiuk) Mielnichuk
This church is situated on the south bank of the Beaver
River, 10 miles from Bonnyville on the Lessard Highway.
It is reported that the first Ukrainian settlers in this
area were Metro Denys and Peter Yarema in 1918 and 1919.
| St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church |
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In 1927, the Alberta Government
donated four acres of land to this community for a cemetery
with the stipulation that a building be erected to house
the bodies of the dead until burial. The river brought many.
In order to accomplish this, a Board of seven people was
required. The Board was made up of Peter Yarema, Metro Denys,
Alex Demko, Ambrose Ogrodiuk, Steve Marchuk, Johnny Levesque
and Jack Walter. The last two stated they were not wanting
membership in the church but would let their names stand
for the sake of having a cemetery in their community. A
small group of citizens contributed materials and labour
and erected a log building. These people were Peter Yarema,
Metro Denys, Ambrose Ogrodiuk, Alex Demko, Steve Marchuk.
It was also in 1927 that this group of people planted a
cross on that land. The first church service was held in
a private home with Reverend Myba celebrating the mass.
The congregation proceeded to the cemetery and the cross
was blessed. The building was later adorned with church
decor and became a place of worship for this infant Greek
Orthodox community.
In late 1937 or 1938 as more Ukrainian people moved into
the community it was decided the building should be enlarged
and adorned in the traditional Greek Orthodox style and
two sections were added on. Again faithful citizens donated
materials and labour to renovate their church. These people
were Alex Stusiak, Mrs. Hafia Yarema, Metro Denys, John
Illchuk, Steve Marchuk, Mike Yakowiniuk, Metro Slevinsky,
John Necaul, Walter Chyz senior, Joe Laschuk, Alex Yurak
and Nick Ogrodiuk. The ladies helped with the whitewashing
and the cleaning and helped with the adorning of the church.
Now they had a fine place in which they could gather for
worship.
An itinerant priest came once a month to minister to the
people. The church brought community members together for
baptisms, weddings and funerals and served their spritual
needs as well as their social needs. It was a gathering
place for families. The annual Church feast on St. John's
Day was always a highlight in the lives of the adults as
well as the children and visitors from outlying areas joined
this congregation on this memorable day. These church memories
still linger in the minds and hearts of the faithful.
Some of the priests that served this congregation were Rev.
Myba, Rev. Horbay, Rev. Wasyliw, Rev. Senyshyn and Rev.
Trufin.
| Congregational
procession of the feast of St. John the Baptist |
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The church still stands today but is no longer used on a
regular basis as many people have left the area and the
remaining flock and new members built a new church in Bonnyville
in approximately 1960, St. Elia Greek Orthodox Church. The
little church at Big Meadow still holds an annual service
on St. John's day as well as the occasional wedding and
funeral.
May the faith and Trust in God which sustained the pioneers,
continue to flourish in their descendants.
Russo Greek Orthodox Church
by L. Woloschuk
The parish was organized in 1944. The first members of the
parish were Mike Babkewich, Mike Koziol, Sam Nichiporiuk,
Andrew Yewchuk, Sam Yewchuk, Roman Yewchuk, Peter Yewchuk,
and L. Woloschuk. Mr. Babkewich donated some land on his
farm and the church was built in 1944.
In 1952, the parish council decided to move the church to
Bonnyville. They bought two lots in town for $450.00. It
cost them $350.00 to move the church to town.
Ukrainian Pentecostal Church
by Shirley Kalinski (born Plamondon)
| Ukrainian Pentecostal Church |
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A school house that was
built in 1937 in the Hoselaw district was purchased by the
Ukrainian Pentecostal Congregation. This school house was
moved into Bonnyville in 1957. (Plan 4485 H. W. Block 2,
Lot 8). Later it was renovated into a church. The first
wedding took place there on Dec. 19, 1959.
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Plamondon's daughter, Shirley Mary
was united in matrimony to Nick Kalinski, the son of Mr.
& Mrs. Moses Kalinski.
Other Churches...
| Ukrainian
Greek Orthodox Church at Dupré District, 1940 |
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Chapel "Notre Dame de la Visitation" at Anshaw |
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| Anshaw
Ukrainian Catholic Church |
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