St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish | |
---|---|
![]() For the Glory of God and Future Generations! | |
![]() | |
41°58′14″N 87°50′14″W / 41.97056°N 87.83722°W | |
Location | 5000 N. Cumberland, Chicago, Illinois |
Country | ![]() |
Denomination | Ukrainian Greek Catholic |
Churchmanship | Byzantine |
Website | http://www.stjosephukr.com |
History | |
Founded | August 1956 |
Founder(s) | Joseph Shary |
Dedication | Bishop Jaroslaw Gabro |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Heritage designation | Ukrainian |
Architect(s) | Zenon Mazurkevich |
Architectural type | Ultra-Modern |
Groundbreaking | 1975 |
Completed | 1977 |
Construction cost | $1,750,000 |
Administration | |
Diocese | Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Chicago and the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia |
Deanery | Chicago |
Clergy | |
Archbishop | Stephen Soroka |
Bishop(s) | Richard Seminack |
Priest(s) | Volodymyr Kushnir |
Pastor(s) | Mykola Buryadnyk, Thomas Glynn (associate) |
Laity | |
Music group(s) | "Irmos" Choir, Kheruvym Chamber Choir |
St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church is a Ukrainian church located in Chicago, Illinois and belonging to the St. Nicholas Eparchy for the Ukrainian Catholics. The building has an ultra-modern roof, comprising thirteen gold domes, symbolizing the twelve apostles and Jesus Christ as the largest center dome.
Church building
Interior
The interior of the church is completely adorned with Byzantine style icons (frescoes).
In the second level of the new structure are relief geometric patterns of crosses etched into the walls. These were left bare until in 1996 and 1997 the then new Pastor, Fr. Pavlo Hayda had them painted, and the gold domes restored. The iconostasis inside the church is a traditional Byzantine iconostasis with two tiers and is in the Modern Cossack Baroque Style.
In the rear, on the west end of the altar server and priest sacristy is the diminutive St. Paraskevia Chapel, named after the saint from whom Fr. Shary's (see History) mother took her name. Daily morning services take place here, and the main sanctuary is used for celebrating Divine Liturgies on Saturdays, Sundays, and high holy days. The iconostasis in the chapel is the original for the church on this site.
Grotto
Across the way from the church is a grotto (Shrine) set up to Our Lady of Hoshiv with an altar sometimes used for outdoor services (such as Pascha Blessing). In 2006, Fr. Pavlo's wife, Christine, led a restoration and relandscaping of the grotto into a memorial garden to deceased parishioners.
History
In August 1956 Archbishop Constantine Bohachevsky appointed Fr. Joseph Shary to organize a new community. The first two Liturgies were celebrated at St. Patrick's High School Auditorium, with the first church being built at its current location. This building stands north of the current church building and is used as a Parish Life Center that houses offices, classrooms, and a hall. It is also home to the Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union's northwest branch.
As the community quickly expanded, Fr. Shary realized a larger church building was needed. He saw this as an opportunity to build a spectacular Church for "The Glory of God and Future Generations." The church, designed by architect Zenon Mazurkiewych of Philadelphia, was dedicated and consecrated by Bishop Jaroslav Gabro on May 22, 1977.
Milestones
The history of St. Joseph begins with Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia officially establishing St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church on August 1, 1956. Father Joseph Shary was sent here as the organizing pastor, who upon his arrival to Chicago was met with an energetic group of Ukrainian Catholics, who were anxious to expand the Chicago community into the Northwest Side.
Timeline
August 21, 1956, Cardinal Samuel Stritch, permitted using St. Patrick's Christian Brothers High School facilities on Belmont Avenue, until the newly formed parish was financially in a position to purchase land to build a church. His Eminence promised all possible assistance in this endeavor.
In 1958 building began on Cumberland Avenue. The upper portion became the church, with the addition of pews, altars, etc. all gifts from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.
The lower hall became the hub of numerous events and activities such as many cultural, social and fund-raising functions. Parish praznyks, sviachenes, bake sales, choir rehearsals, rummage sales, children's programs, Ukrainian dance lessons, dances, and countless other activities.
On October 1, 1975 building the new church edifice began.
On May 22, 1977 Bishop Jaroslav Gabro dedicated the church.
Among the things that attracted a great deal of attention was the large rock near the ramp leading up to the entrance of the church. It is a piece of the Canadian Shield that found its way to the site where the new church was built. It was retrieved by the contractors during excavation of the foundation. The pastor saved it and had it placed in its present position after construction was completed in 1976.
In 1984 — a hand-carved iconostasis, designed in the Byzantine-Ukrainian tradition by Borys Makarenko, was installed in the church.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/St._joes_center.jpg/250px-St._joes_center.jpg)
The Altar Rosary Society (ARS) has been a vital part of this parish. For fifty years this group of women promoted various Ukrainian cultural activities. Social events were also provided, bringing the varied groups together in a social atmosphere.
When the church was erected, The Altar Rosary Society covered the cost of the installation of the marble floor and apsidial wall. They also sponsored the royal throne, the altars, and the tabernacle. Additionally they provided and maintained the altar linens and many of the vestments
The Altar Rosary Society sponsored fashion shows, bake sales, yearly pascha sale, turkey raffles, bazaars, white-elephant sales, family picnics. Additionally, the members staffed the kitchen, and equipped the church hall kitchen for dinners, picnics, carnivals, breakfasts and other activities.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/St_Joseph_the_Betrothed_080202.jpg/250px-St_Joseph_the_Betrothed_080202.jpg)
St. Joseph Church Choir was established in August 1956.
For one and a half years, the choir was trained and directed by Father Shary. Julian Pozniak, a qualified and trained cantor and experienced choir director, remained the sole director and cantor for St. Joseph’s until his retirement. Jaroslav Stefaniuk, with Julian Pozniak's guidance, became choir director and cantor, until his death in March 2006.
Each Sunday the choir sang Divine Liturgy, caroled at Christmas time, and sang at various functions and events throughout the year, not only for the Ukrainian community, but at numerous events throughout the city, from many Roman Catholic parishes to the Museum of Science and Industry.
St. Joseph’s choir joined with St. Nicholas Cathedral Slavuta choir to become known as the Metropolitan Andrej Sheptytsky Choir of Chicago. The choir recorded an album of a newly commissioned composition of the Divine Liturgy, by Andrij Hnatyshyn. One of the most momentous performances by the choir was for the visit of Pope John Paul II in Grant Park, in 1979.
The successful week long ACRES OF FUN Festivals, and the Friday night BINGOs. They along with the PYROHY sales were by far the largest financial supporters of the parish, due in large part to the efforts of many volunteers who were recruited from the entire parish.
Many of the young parishioners were in the STS. CYRIL and METHODIOUS Youth Group, were altar servers, or belonged to both. They actively participated in the life of the parish, volunteering and helping at events, as well as participating in liturgical services. They volunteered in soup kitchens, participated in retreats and organized city wide youth nights.
Priests over the years
St. Joseph Parish is noted for being assigned pastors when they were in their twenties. The first pastor was Fr. Joseph Shary (after whom the parish is named, along with St. Josaphat in Munster, Indiana).
Pastors
- Rev. Joseph Shary 1956-1982
- Msgr. William Bilinsky 1982-1983
- Rev. Andriy Chirovsky 1983-1985
- Rev. Mykhajlo Kuzma 1985-1987
- Msgr. William Bilinsky 1987-1995
- Rev. Pavlo Hayda 1995-2007
- Rev. Mykola Buryadnyk 2008–Present
Current priests
Fr. Mykola Buryadnyk (2009–Present) - Pastor Fr. Mykola Buryadnyk was assigned as pastor of St. Joseph parish in February 2008. Since he came to the parish, he helped establish and revitalize several parish organizations such as the Ukrainian Language Bible Study Group, the martial arts School of Combat Hopak, the Vyshyvanka School of Dance, and the Homin Theater Group, among others. Fr. Mykola, along with his pastoral ministry, also led the church's roof repairs and gold leaf reapplication the church's interior.
Very Rev. Canon Thomas Glynn (1989–Present) - Associate Pastor Fr. Thomas Glynn was assigned as associate pastor at St. Joseph parish in 1989 after spending several years in Detroit earning a Master's degree in Chemical Dependency and Social Work. During his time at St. Joseph parish, Fr. Tom established an English Language Bible Study Group, coordinated the local Alcoholics Anonymous group, and has written extensively on the subject of Eastern Christian Spirituality, especially focusing on the liturgical calendar.
Fr. Volodymyr Kushnir (2010–Present) Fr. Volodymyr was ordained to the priesthood in October 2009. He is married to Oksana (Mendiuk), and they have a daughter Olya, who was born in 2004. He was assigned to St. Joseph parish, as associate, in 2010.
Fr. Pavlo Hayda (1995-2007)
Fr. Pavlo Hayda served as pastor of St. Joseph parish between 1995 and his untimely death in 2007. In the parish's fifty year history, Hayda was the first pastor to die while pastor. Part of his legacy includes a shift back to the Ukrainian Church's Byzantine roots despite the Church's tendency of Latinization. Despite his influence on the politics of the Church, he is most remembered as working on the social and personal issues of the members of his local community.
Gallery
-
View from the Choir Loft
-
St. Paraskevia Chapel Located behind the Apse of the main church
-
Ceiling of the church from the altar showing the dome
-
Iconostasis detail depicting the Theotokos.
-
Thirteen domes representing the twelve Disciples and Christ Pantocrator