Sacred Heart Church
Box 340
Ituna, Saskatchewan S0A 1N0
Youtube page: Sacred Heart Ituna Saskatchewan
Pastoral Administrator Father Basil Malowany
Bishop Emeritus, Michael Wiwchar, C.Ss.R. The History of Sacred Heart Parish, Ituna
Land was secured in 1915 for a new parish. The northwest quarter was destined for the construction of the church and monastery. Forty acres of this quarter, separate
d by the road leading into Ituna, was earmarked for the Sisters and an orphanage. Funds were painstakingly gathered and in the autumn of 1918, preparations for building the church began in earnest. In 1919, a beautiful church in a unique Ukrainian style, with two high Byzantine spires, appeared on the northern outskirts of the village of Ituna. The cost of the structure was roughly $15,000.00. Budka solemnly blessed the Sacred Heart Church on June 20, 1920. During his years in Ituna, Father Achilles Delaere was instrumental in attracting a number of Ukrainian Redemptorists to come to Saskatchewan from Ukraine. Meanwhile, the parish found itself in financial difficulties. At a special meeting of all parishioners and the Ukrainian Redemptorists, the decision was made to transfer ownership of all parish possessions to the Redemptorist Fathers of the Yorkton Province. All financial obligations were also transferred to the Redemptorists. This wooden church lasted for over 40 years. On February 21, 1963, Father Stephen J. Shawel, who took up the challenge of replacing the church, announced that tenders for construction had been accepted. On March 4, 1963, the Buchko Bros. On May 9, 1963, His Excellency, Bishop A. Roborecki solemnly blessed the church building site. Construction began the following day. On April 19, 1964, His Excellency, Bishop A. Roborecki, solemnized the Official Opening of the newly constructed Church of the Sacred Heart. A parish hall was added to the church, monastery, and the orphanage in 1926. It was a focal point of cultural and social activities in the Ituna area. This hall burned down on February 23, 1935 under highly suspicious circumstances. A new hall was started on June 14, 1936. It remained in service until 1972. In December of 1972, proceedings were opened for a total reconstruction of the existing hall. The parishioners built the hall themselves and celebrated its grand opening June 1-3, 1973. This third hall served the parish and community well until another fire on November 12, 1985, extensively damaged it. The decision was quickly made to rebuild. On April 14, 1986, the contract for the construction was awarded to Hahn Construction of Fort Qu’Appelle. Construction was completed on October 21, 1986. The official opening of Sacred Heart Parish Centre was held on December 6, 1986. While insurance paid about one third of the $792,260.00 cost, well over $500,000 was needed to complete the project. Donations for over half this amount were received from the Sacred Heart Bingo Committee, the UCWLC, Parish Council, and private donations. Within four years of the grand opening, the mortgage was paid off and an official Mortgage Burning Celebration was held in April, 1990. Father Achilles Delaere moved to Ituna on October 11, 1919, to supervise the construction of the new monastery. He came from Belgium as a newly ordained Redemptorist. He served as the first pastor of Ituna’s Sacred Heart Parish. A new monastery to replace the smaller wooden one built during the time of Father Delaere was completed in 1952 and its cornerstone was blessed in 1953. The Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate opened their first home in Ituna in 1920. Anne’s orphanage was constructed in 1938 to care for the material and spiritual needs of orphans and provide them with a basic education. During the time the orphanage was in operation, the sisters cared for 2000 children. In 1994, the child-care apostolate was terminated, and the home became a residence for retired sisters.
