It has been 100 years since the St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic church has been established. From a small group of 25 pioneers who wanted a place to worship, the church has grown into an important part of the community.
Father Peter Pidskalny, pastor at St. Mary's, says the weekend of celebration is about looking at those who had the vision to start the church 100 years ago.
"It's looking back to the pioneers who, 100 years ago when this was a very small community, with very few Ukrainians in the area. They had the vision and the courage to go and build the parish, so we had a place to gather."
The growth that the church has seen since its founding has made it a major community centre, Pidskalny says. He notes that the Catholic schools in the city, and the St. Mary's Cultural Centre had their roots in the initial parish, with the schools beginning as classes in the basement of the monestary.
"It all started with just a very small, humble parish, where people wanted a place to worship, and education for their children," Pidskalny says.
The Ukrainian community in Yorkton has grown since the church was established, from a small handful of people to a vibrant community in the city. Pidskalny says this is thanks to the people who decided to settle here, rather than in communities further north.
"From those few families putting down their roots, we are now reaping the rewards."
The next step for the church is to get future generations excited about their faith and involved in the church, Pidskalny notes. St. Mary's will be hosting a five-day mission to get people in the church to be more involved and encourage them to put a bigger emphasis on their faith.
"As the ancestors did 100 years ago, you have to regain that faith, reach out to people of all ages, not only the older people, but especially to young people, their own children and grandchildren. Get them knowledgeable and excited about their faith, and be proud that they are worshipping here, and proud of the Christian heritage that goes back hundreds of years, and thousands of years," Pidskalny says.
