Parish: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Location: Waugh, Alberta

ASSUMPTION of the BVM – Церква Успіння Матері Божої

The first Ukrainian settlers started arriving from Ukraine in 1902. The church is located 60 km. north of Edmonton. The first church was built in 1904 and the first church members were: S. Gil, J. Sereda, S. Cheknita, N. Woyewidka, J. Strilchuk, Komarnycky, Ozhybko, S. Dasyk, Kostiw, S. Lashkiwsky, N. Kuzyk, Panchiy, Kilarsky, F. Bencharsky, Smerechynsky, O. Zilynsky and Leo Zilynsky. The church was incorporated on June 1, 1934.

A new church building was constructed in 1939 with three domes and a hall under the church. The first visits of our Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Nykyta Budka and Bishop Vasyl Ladyka were in the old church. Presently, there is one Divine Liturgy per month. A cemetery (1 acre) is attached to the church.

The Basilian Fathers were visiting the community from Edmonton: Fr. Sozont Dydyk, Fr. Matthew Hura, Fr. Basil Ladyka, Fr. Paul Olinsky, Fr. Theodozy Dobko, Fr. Methodius Hannas and Fr. Juvenalis Slota.

After World War II the Eparchial clergy provided the services: Fr. Bohdan Lozynsky, Fr. Demetrius Baziuk, Fr. Peter Petryshyn, (+1983), Fr. Basil Woloshyn, Fr. Paul Barabash (1983-1985), Fr. Anton Tarasenko (1986-1992), Fr. Benny Ambrose (1998-2000), Fr. Stanislav Bjeli (2000-2008), Fr. Don Bodnar (2008-2013), Fr. Slavko Dumeč (2013-).