return to Ituna-Wadena home page

go to Photos

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Mary the Protectress,
 Melville, SK

The following information was compiled and submitted by Ted Starchuk, president of the congregation, and Mrs. May Pankiw, president of the women's association:

• 1923 - Proposal to build a Ukrainian Orthodox Church (U.O.C.) in Melville, Saskatchewan by Rev. S. Hrebeniuk and S.B. Mykytiuk, school teacher. The first congregational service held in the Anglican Church.
• 1925 - the first episcopal visit; Right Reverend Bishop Theodorovich.
• 1929 - new U.O.C. built in Melville, Sask. - blessed and adopted the name of St. Mary the Protectress -  clergy officiating: Rev. A. Melnychuk, Rev. E. Ulyan, and Rev. V. Sluzer.
• 1986 (April 7) -  our U.O.C. and property on which it was built was designated as a Heritage Site. - major renovations to the windows completed.
• 1991 - cairn erected by city works foreman, Myron Thompson; the steel cross was built and donated by donald Blahay; - the steel entrance gate to the church was constructed by Barry Pankiw in memory of his father, longest serving present, Nick Pankiw.
• *Note* A history book titled ITUNA-WADENA DISTRICT PARISH, 1923 - 1983, was compiled by several members of the Melvill U.O.C. congregation.
• Clergy serving in the Melville Parish from time of printing of the book until this internet submission in 1998:
  Rev. Soroka, Rev. Buciora, Rev. Czurak, Rev. M. Domaradz. - A new pictorial directory for the Ituna-Wadena Parish should be ready shortly.

Annual Meeting, November 28, 1999

Faith-Hope-Courage-Trust-Love

          The past year was an eventful one. Under the experienced leadership of both Ted Starchuck, president of the St. Mary the Protectress congregation, and Mary Pankiw, president of the Ukrainian Women's Association (UWA), a joint 75^th Anniversary celebration was the major event. Other activities included the setting up of the Memorial Fund, the Internet was recognized as a vital and necessary facility and the Birmingham Orthodox Cemetery (BOC) became an extension of the St.Mary the Protectress UO Church of Melville.

            As the first year secretary-treasurer of the congregation, it's very gratifying to be included among those  reinstated wholly, completely without a single dissenting vote as the "Old became New" Executive for the Millennium-2000. This decision was made at the Annual Meeting, Sunday, Nov. 28,1999 on a motion by Mary Pankiw seconded by Kay Solomon. What a memorable way to be so honoured! On behalf of the Executive I wish to thank the congregation for their complete trust in us capped with the blessings of Fr. Michael.

            Robert Nathan (1894-1985), an American novelist once wrote:

                        Give thanks for sorrrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage-and give exceeding thanks for the mystery which remains a mystery still-the veil that hides you from the infinite, which makes it possible for you to believe in what you cannot see.

            With many of our members now deceased let us not face the future with irresolution nor in hopelessness, but with renewed courage and an invigorated faith--faith in ourselves, faith in each other, faith in our church, faith in our inheritance, but above all the faith in our God who guided and sustained us heretofore will surely be our beacon and mainstay henceforth.

                        And Jesus answered him, The first of all commandments is, Hear, O Israel;
                        The Lord our God is one Lord:
                        And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
                        And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as Thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.(Mark 12:30-31)

Na Mnohi Lita

and

God Bless Us Everyone

Russell C Sawchyn, Sec-Treasurer
cllessur@sk.sympatico.ca

St.Mary the Protectress UO Church

The following executive and committee positions for 2000 have been filled as follows:

President: Ted Starchuk POBox 939 Melville,Sask. SOA 2PO (728-2865)

First Vice-President: Bunny Halyk POBox 875 Melville, Sask. SOA 2P0 (728-4227)

Second Vice-President: Harry Sawchyn POBox 2292 Melville, Sask. SOA 2P0 (728-3072)

Secretary-Treasurer: Russell C.Sawchyn POBox 62 Fenwood, Sask. SOA OYO

Sacristans(on voluntary basis): Mike M.Kozakewich, Alex Winjack, Mike Pankiw

Hosts and Hostesses(on voluntary basis): Mary Pankiw, Sophie Kozakewich, Mary Pilipow

Visiting and tending to the sick(on voluntary basis): Bunny Halyk, Mary Pankiw, Mary Pilipow, Sophie Kakewich, Kay Solomon & Parish Priest --Rev. Fr. Michael Domaradz, P.O. Box 269, Ituna, Sask. S0A 1N0 (306) 795-2583 uor@sk.sympatico.ca

Ukrainian Women's Association(1999 committee returned):

President:Mrs. Mary Pankiw
Vice-President:Mrs Anne Yuzick
Treasurer:Mrs.Mary Pilipow
Recording Secretary: Mrs.Sophie Kozakewich
Auditors: Mrs.Katie Kozakewich; Mrs.Marg.Starchuk

return to Ituna-Wadena home page