KOPERNIK (Nowy Sokal) – ASCENSION Parish

KOPERNIK (Nowy Sokal) – ASCENSION Parish – Парафія Вознесіння Господнього

The church is located 33 km. from Holden: NE Sec. 16-47-15-W4N. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the house of I. Solovij in 1904 by Fr. Sozont Dydyk, OSBM. The whole property of the church has 40 acres of land. The first Ukrainian settlers arrived in 1903. The first parish council was elected in 1904; there were 54 founding members and among them: I. Solovij, D. Faryna, Y. Shkolnyi, I. Harasym, H. Polehoykyi, V. Marko, Ch. Tkhir and O. Kryshka. The first church was built in 1904 (18’ x 30’) and the building was sold in 1914 for $205.00. The same year a larger church was constructed (72’ x 32’) for $6,400.00 ; the corner stone was blessed in 1914 and the church was consecrated in 1917 by Bishop Nykyta Budka. The incorporation was done in 1915. The church, painted by the artist Lypynskyi, burned down on December 30, 1951. The new brick church (82’ x 32’ and 75’ high) was built in the years 1953-1960. Bishop Neil Savaryn consecrated the church in 1969. A national hall of Taras Shevchenko was built in 1933 thanks to the efforts of Fr. Sophron Diakowich, OSBM. Attached to the church lot is the cemetery on 2 acres of land, blessed by Fr. Matthew Hura, OSBM., who was a great promoter of the parish. The parish gave our Church the following vocations: Fr. Ambrose Wynnyk and Fr. Stephen Wynnyk, both Basilian priests; and three Sisters Servants: Pancratia Solovy, Marcella Wynnyk and Teklia Daciw.

Basilian Fathers who served the parish: Fr. Matthew Hura, Fr. Matthew Sianchuk, Fr. Innocent Rychkun, Fr. Sozont Dydyk, Fr. George Zydan, Fr. Damascene Popovych, Fr. Sophron Diakowich, Fr. Gregory Chmilar, Fr. Jerome Chimy, Fr. Victor Soroka, Fr. Neil Savaryn, Fr. Naucratius Kryzanowsky, Fr. Athanasius Filipiw, Fr. Josaphat Tymochko, Fr. Methodius Hannas, Fr. Basil Kamenetsky, Fr. Basil Ladyka, Fr. Juvenalis Slota, Fr. Theodozy Dobko, Fr. Sebastian Shewchuk, Fr. Andrew Truch, Fr.Nicholas Kohut, Fr. Eugene Bilyk.

The Eparchial clergy who served the community: Fr. Demetrius Baziuk (1951-1957), Fr. Bohdan Lozynsky (1957-1963 ), Fr. Roman Hankewych (1963-1964), Fr. Oles Zachariasewych (1969-1984), Fr. Richard Zuback (1985-1986), Fr. Myron Pyszcz (1987-1990), Fr. Peter Brezden (1991-1992), Fr. Mihajlo Planchak (1993-1998), Fr. Ron Hollohan (1999), Fr. Vasyl Nykyforuk (2000-2008), Fr. Slavko Dumeč (2008- ) .

The parish is now served by the resident priest in Camrose.