Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish – Leeshore

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Leeshore is a Ukrainian Catholic community rooted in the faith of the first settlers who arrived from the Yaroslav region of Ukraine (Liubyn, Zveniach, Peremyshl, Ninovych). Early services were held in private homes and were led by the Basilian Fathers, before the parishioners built their own chapel and later a larger church in the shape of a cross with a central dome. The church interior was painted by Petro Lypynskyi, and the parish became a lasting centre of worship, community life, and devotion.

The parish also maintained a cemetery and a church hall, both of which helped strengthen parish and community life for generations. Over the years, the parish was served by the Basilian Fathers, then by eparchial clergy, and later again by the Basilian Fathers. It is also remembered for the vocations of Sister Andrea Synyshyn and Sister Josepha Synyshyn, reflecting the parish’s deep spiritual fruit.