Sault's Ukrainian Catholics celebrate 90 years

 

The faith of Ukrainian Catholics is intertwined with the culture, life and ethnic identity of its people, says Archbishop Lawrence Huculak of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg.

This is why Ukrainian Catholics "are called to go out into communities like Sault Ste. Marie" and share the blessing of inculturation, Archbishop Lawrence (pictured) says.

The archbishop, metropolitan of Canada's Ukrainian Catholic community, was in Sault Ste. Marie on Sunday to celebrate the 90th anniversary of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic parish.

The archbishop led a celebration of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the equivalent to the mass in the Roman Catholic Church.

"The Ukrainian Church is unique as a member of the Catholic Church," Archbishop Lawrence said.

"It stands side-by-side with the Roman Catholic Church, in Canada and throughout the world, although we're smaller in size," he said.

Nevertheless, the Ukrainian Catholic Church is a self-governing church with its own liturgy and tradition, standing equal in dignity with the Roman Catholic Church as part of the Catholic communion.

Mayor John Rowswell agreed that the Ukrainian Catholic Church is important to Sault Ste. Marie.

"This city was founded on all the immigrants who came here," Rowswell said.

"As a child growing up with a Polish grandfather and a Ukrainian grandmother, I saw the hardships they dealt with to help build this community to where it is today," he said.

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