St. John the Baptist Parish – Borschiw

St. John the Baptist Parish in Borschiw, located in the Haight area of Beaver Hill County, was established in 1903 and soon became a strong centre of Ukrainian Catholic life. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in 1905 by Fr. Platonid Filas, OSBM, and the parishioners worked hard to secure land for a church, a National Hall, and a cemetery. Their first church was built for $1,500, and in 1939, a new five-domed church was constructed in the shape of a cross, beautifully finished and painted.

The parish developed into a vibrant faith community with a choir, dedicated cantors, and many children attending services. It also became a place of spiritual growth and vocation, giving rise to future Bishop Basil Filevich of Saskatoon, Fr. Peter Hrabec, OSBM, Fr. Evtimy Wolinski, a Studite monk, and Sister Cassianna Slywka, SSMI. Over the years, many bishops visited the parish, recognizing its importance in the life of the Ukrainian Catholic community.