Basilian FAQ | Part 6

Winnipeg Basilian Firsts and Bests

First Basilian Priest in Canada - Father John-Damascene Polywka, 1898
First parish in Canada established by Basilian Fathers - St. Nicholas, 1899
First Ukrainian church building in Winnipeg, 1901
First Ukrainian choir in Canada, St. Nicholas Choir, 1902
One of the first Basilian missions in Canada, preached by Father Platonides Filas, March 1903
One of the first permanent Basilian missionary stations in Canada, November 1903
"The Most beautiful Ukrainian church in Canada" (Archbishop Langevin), Second St. Nicholas church building, 1904
First Ukrainian Catholic School in Canada (St. Nicholas) founded by Father Matthew Hura, OSBM, with 2 Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, 1905.
First residence designated as a full "monastery" and location of the Basilian head office in Canada, 1906
First church to welcome and enthrone the first Ukrainian Catholic bishop for Canada, Blessed Nicetas Budka, December 1912
First residence of Canadian Ukrainian bishops, Blessed Nicetas Budka (1912) and Basil Ladyka (1929), at the Basilian Monastery
One of the only two Basilian cemeteries in Canada- Holy Family Cemetery, 1937
First church to adopt the Gregorian Calendar, 1941
First branch of the UCWLC established at the parish, 1945
Longest residence of Basilian Provincial Superiors (1906-1923; 1958-present)
First modern-style Basilian church in Canada, completed 1966
Provincial Monastery hosts the official celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of the Basilians in Canada, 1977
One of few Ukrainian parishes in Canada from from which several former pastors and assistant pastors became bishops (Basil Ladyka, Jerome Chimy, Myron Daciuk, Cornelius Pasichny)
First Winnipeg-born Ukrainian to be ordained bishop- Cornelius Pasichny, OSBM, January 1996
First Basilian parish to celebrate its centenary (1999, 2001)
First Canadian parish to host the Canadian centenary celebrations of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, October 1, 2002
First parish, for many years, to hold a seven-day mission, December 1-7, 2003, commemorating 100 years of Basilian Mission.