Parish: Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Location: Skaro, Alberta

History of the Parish: EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS Parish – Церква Воздвиження Чесного Хреста
Location S.E. 1-57-20-4. Ukrainian settlements in the region were organized in 1898. The first church was built in 1911; the second in 1945-1950 (72’x30’, brick, bell tower, cost $46,190.92). The church was consecrated on August 11, 1963 by the late Bishop Neil Savaryn and with the assistance of Fathers: Ivanec, Dmytruk, Hurko and N. Swirsky, OSBM. The whole church property, cemetery included, has 20 acres.

The 40 acres of land assigned by the county for the church and the cemetery was blessed by Fr. Paul Tymkevych on August 6 th, 1898. Nobody would have ever dreamed that the Russian Orthodox Church would divide the community into two groups. The county refused to divide the land, so the Ukrainian Greek Catholics would have their peace of land. Mr. Ivan Kit, a leader in the Ukrainian Catholic community, together with IUrko Onushko appealed to the government, stating their right to be partners in the land. They hired a lawyer and the Ukrainian Catholics won half of the property (north portion was given to the Orthodox and southern portion to the Ukrainian Catholics. By 1911 there was a building fund with the first donors. We must remember that at the same time in Star there was a similar confrontation and that after many good and honest efforts the Ukrainian Catholic side lost their appeal in the courts. Many of the people were forced to pay the court expenses in hundreds of dollars. Today we admire the parishioners of Skaro for their courage and pride in looking to the future. The good parishioners survived all the obstacles and with dedication achieved their goals.

The Parish welcomed on September 27, 1917 and April 3, 1923 Bishop Nykyta Budka; September 27, 1929 Bishop Basil Ladyka; August 26, 1951 Bishop Neil Savaryn. The Parish had two priestly vocations to the Basilian Order: Fr. Martyrius Vincentaylo and Basil Skubleny ; one Sisters Servant of Mary Immaculate, Sister Theophane Malowany, SSMI.

Fr. Nestor Dmytriw celebrated the first Divine Liturgy at Limestone Lake School in 1897. Fr. Paul Tymkewych served in 1898-1899 and Fr. John Zaklynsky in 1900-1901 and 1903.

The following Basilian Fathers provided the services: Fr. Athanasius Filipiw and Fr. John Tymochko (1904-1910); Fr. Anthony Strotsky (1911-1916); Fr. Naucratius Kryzanowsky and Fr. Basil Ladyka (1917-1919); Fr. Sozont Dydyk (very often), Fr. Matthew Hura, Fr. Naucratius Kryzanowsky, Fr. Basil Ladyka, Fr. Porphyrius Bodnar, Fr. John Teodoroych, Fr. George Zydan and Fr. Sophron Diakowich (1920-1929); Fr. Naucratius Kryzanowsky, Fr. Josaphat Tymochko, Fr. Damascene Popovych, Fr. Paul Olinsky (1930); Fr. Nicon Horechko, Fr. Paul Olinsky, Fr. Sophron Diakowich, Fr. Damascene Popovych, Fr. Josaphat Tymochko (1931); Fr. Theodozy Dobko, Fr. Paul Hewko, Fr. Nicon Horechko, Fr. Basil Kamenetsky and Fr. George Zydan (1932); Fr. Theodozy Dobko, Fr. Paul Hewko, Fr. Nicon Horechko and Fr. Neil Savaryn (1933); Fr. Theodozy Dobko, Fr. Mark Romanowych, Fr. Matthew Sianchuk (most of the time) (1934-1935); Fr. Lazarus Palenkach, Fr. Paul Hewko, Fr. Sebastian Shewchuk, Fr. Damascene Popovych, Fr. Athanasius Chimy and Fr. Nicholas Kohut (1936-1938); Fr. Nicholas Kohut and Fr. Ignatius Lesiuk (1939); Fr. Athanasius Chimy, Fr. Lawrence Dzygolyk, Fr. Nicholas Kohut, Fr. Christopher Kondratiuk, Fr. Markian Pasichnyk and Fr. Neil Savaryn (1940); Fr. Christopher Kondratiuk (1941-1942); Fr. Ambrose Wynnyk and Fr. George Zydan (1943); Fr. Epiphany Paschak (1944); Fr. Gregory Chmilar and Fr. Andrew Truch (1945-1946); Fr. Hilarion Adams, Fr. Eugene Bilyk, Fr. Sergio Fedyniak, Fr. Marian Horishny, Fr. Damascene Popovych and Fr. Volodymyr Shewchuk (1947-1948).

Then came a period of the Eparchial clergy: Fr. Basil Chopey (1949-1957) and Fr. Peter Iwanec (1957-1972).

rom 1972 the Basilian Fathers continued their services to the community: Fr. Raphael Melnyk, Fr. Soter Pidskalny and Fr. Severian Yakymyshyn (June 25 – Sept. 10, 1972; Fr. Josaphat Konchak (Oct. 1972 – Oct. 3, 1973); Fr. Myron Chmilar and Fr. Stephen Chmilar (Apr. 1, 1973 – Oct. 3, 1982); Fr. Sylvester Kuzel (Apr. 1, 1973 – Oct. 3, 1982); Fr. Vincent Prychidko (Feb. 2, 1986 – Jan. 19, 1986); Fr. Ignatius Holowaychuk (Nov. 5, 1986 – Oct. 12, 1988); Fr. Daniel Wach (Oct. 6, 1988 – Aug. 20, 1991); Fr. Paul Chomnycky (Oct. 6, 1991 – Oct. 4, 1992); Fr. John Sembrat (Oct. 4, 1992 – Nov. 6, 1994); Fr. Josaphat Tyrkalo (Dec. 11, 1994 – Feb. 4, 1996); Fr. Myron Chimy (March 25 – Aug. 15, 1996); Fr. Theodosius Machinski (Oct. 6, 1996 – Sept. 1999); Fr. John Sembrat (Sept. 1999 – 2000); Fr. Matthew Drury (2000-2006); Fr. Gabriel Haber (2006-2012), Fr. Daniel Wach (2012-).