Holy Cross Ukrainian Catholic Church

Holy Cross Ukrainian Catholic Church We are the largest Ukrainian Catholic parish in Northwestern Ontario, established in early sixties within the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto.

Did you know?September is officially designated as Ukrainian Heritage Month across Ontario. Bill 215 (Ukrainian Heritage...
09/07/2026

Did you know?

September is officially designated as Ukrainian Heritage Month across Ontario. Bill 215 (Ukrainian Heritage Month Act, 2024) passed in late 2024, formally proclaimed every September as Ukrainian Heritage Month in the province.

September holds deep meaning for the Ukrainian-Canadian community. September 7 marks the anniversary of the first documented Ukrainian immigrants, Vasyl Eleniak and Ivan Pylypiw, arriving in Canada in 1891. Soon afterwards, Ukrainian immigrants began arriving in Ontario in larger numbers and today, Ontario is home to over 340,000 Ontarians of Ukrainian descent, contributing significantly to its cultural, economic, and social fabric. And in Canada, there are over 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent.

Many Ukrainians fled their homeland to find freedom from oppression and a better life in Canada. Both Ontario and Canada have recognized the genocide by famine that occurred in Ukraine from 1932 to 1933 under the Soviet Communist regime of Joseph Stalin. On August 24, 1991, the Ukrainian parliament declared Ukraine as an independent democratic state from the Soviet Union, and Canada was the first nation in the Western world to recognize Ukraine’s independence.

Communities across the country host flag-raising ceremonies, educational lectures, and cultural exhibits. Toronto hosts the massive annual Toronto Ukrainian Festival, one of the largest celebrations of Ukrainian culture in North America in Bloor West Village.

Bishop Bryan has expressed his desire for the parishes in Thunder Bay to interact more. To this end, our parish is joini...
08/31/2026

Bishop Bryan has expressed his desire for the parishes in Thunder Bay to interact more. To this end, our parish is joining Transfiguration Parish for a Blessing of Children for the New School Year on Sunday, September 6 following the 12 noon liturgy there, 639 McIntosh St. (@ 12:45 p.m.) Students are welcome to bring their backpacks and supplies to be blessed. Afterwards, there will be activities and food in the parish hall. Please note: the Pacific Avenue bridge remains closed to the public. You can access the East End via the Main St. bridge.

Tradition says that when the Mary, the Mother of God fell asleep, Thomas was the only apostle not present. After a few d...
08/17/2026

Tradition says that when the Mary, the Mother of God fell asleep, Thomas was the only apostle not present. After a few days, when he was, her tomb was opened and all that was found were fragrant flowers and herbs. To keep with that tradition, Fr. Andriy performed the blessing following the Divine Liturgy on Saturday evening. Afterwards, those present on that day (and Sunday morning), were invited to take a flower (or two) home as a remembrance of the occasion. FYI: The balloon seen was also to mark Teresa Humeniuk's 65th birthday (actually on August 17). She was also the one who brought the large vase of flowers to be blessed. Many thanks Teresa and many more happy years as well!

She is higher than the heavens, more glorious than the Cherubim, and more honourable than all creation. Her outstanding ...
08/15/2026

She is higher than the heavens, more glorious than the Cherubim, and more honourable than all creation. Her outstanding purity became the dwelling place of eternal divinity. Today she places her all-pure soul into the hands of her Son. With her, the universe is filled with joy, and the grace of salvation is given to us.

Come, all you ends of the earth, let us praise the blessed passing of the Mother of God. She delivers her sinless soul into the hands of her Son; through her holy Dormition the world is given new life. With psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, the whole world celebrates in joy together with the angels and apostles.

(from the Lytia of Great Vespers of the Dormition of the Mother of God)

Many thanks to Catherine (Watral) Corbett for adding the message to the Mother of God banner just in time for the feast ...
08/14/2026

Many thanks to Catherine (Watral) Corbett for adding the message to the Mother of God banner just in time for the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.

Seeing the pure one's falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.

Kontakion, Tone 2:

The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God, unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage, for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Fr. Andriy will bless flowers and herbs following the Divine Liturgy on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.

Our parish has recently been gifted with a number of hand-made rosaries from Totus Tuus Rosary Makers Canada featuring b...
08/14/2026

Our parish has recently been gifted with a number of hand-made rosaries from Totus Tuus Rosary Makers Canada featuring beads of Ukrainian colours, blue and yellow. There is ample supply for all parishioners and are now available in the narthex. All parishioners are encouraged to pick up one. For more information go to www.totustuuscanada.org. Despite the website tabs being in French, click on Home or Qui sommes-nous (Who are we) for details. Most of the other tabs are bilingual as well.

It was another festive liturgy and joyful commemoration this morning as parishioners gathered together to celebrate the ...
08/07/2026

It was another festive liturgy and joyful commemoration this morning as parishioners gathered together to celebrate the feast of the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ. In his sermon, Fr. Andriy touched on the fact that the apostles recognized Moses and Elijah speaking with Christ. This means that the conversation between Moses (who led the people of Israel in an exodus from Egypt) and Elijah (who departed in his exodus from life in a fiery chariot) talked with Jesus about His coming “exodus” in His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. This is how Peter most likely recognized that it was Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus.

Kontakion, Tone 7:

You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God, and Your disciples saw Your glory as much as they could; that when they saw You crucified they might know that You suffered willingly, and might proclaim to the world that You are the brightness of the Father.

And the list never ends.
08/07/2026

And the list never ends.

Our sincerest thanks to Stan & Lois Myslicki and family for hosting another BBQ at their home this past June 28 and for ...
07/03/2026

Our sincerest thanks to Stan & Lois Myslicki and family for hosting another BBQ at their home this past June 28 and for providing the burgers, wieners and sausages. Thanks also to those who brought food — from appetizers to desserts — that was enjoyed by all ages. All in all, it was a fun and enjoyable afternoon for our parishioners of Holy Cross and those from Transfiguration parish. Check out the wonderful pics supplied by Jaclyn (Myslicki) Strehlow.

Among the saints in the Holy Bible, St. John the Baptist stands out because he bridges the gap between the Old and New T...
06/24/2026

Among the saints in the Holy Bible, St. John the Baptist stands out because he bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments. He closes the door to the prophets and opens it to the apostles. He is not only a prophet, but also a precursor of Christ, a baptizer and a martyr. John, already cleansed of original sin in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, is the only person to whom the privilege of baptizing “the One Whose coming the other prophets foretold but did not live to see.”

His life was an unbroken chain of sacrifice and penance. He preached to the people new doctrines never proclaimed before: a baptism of repentance, the nearness of the kingdom of God, the presence among them of Jesus, their Messiah and Saviour. St. John the Baptist fearlessly exposed and denounced all sin and scandal. His holy life and teaching was crowned by his heroic death. Therefore, he remains for all times an everlasting symbol of an heroic champion of all that is holy, courageous and sublime.

The great esteem he enjoys in the Eastern Church is evident from the fact that during the Church Year as many as six feasts are celebrated in his honour: the feasts of his Conception, his Nativity, Beheading, the First, Second and Third Finding of his Head, and the Synaxis following the feast of the Theophany of Our Lord.

Troparion, Tone 4 from the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24)

O Prophet and forerunner of the coming of Christ, we, who lovingly honour you are at a loss to praise you worthily; for your mother's barrenness and your father's silence were both ended by your honoured and glorious birth, and the incarnation of the Son of God is preached to the whole world.

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415 Victoria Avenue West
Thunder Bay, ON
P7C1G8

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