Our Parish
75 Years of Faith
Ukrainian Catholic Church is the largest of the 23 Eastern churches, which together with the Latin (Roman Catholic), by far the largest, comprise the Catholic Church. Although each church has its unique liturgical, theological, and canonical traditions, they all are in full communion with the Pope of Rome and with each other.
They are sui iuris churches. Sui iuris, translated from Latin, means “in one’s own right, self-rule.” But this autonomy is relative because it is under the authority of the Roman Pontiff.
75
Years of Faith, Community
& Tradition
2025 marks a special milestone for the Ukrainians in Denver, Colorado. Seventy-five years ago, thirteen families laid the foundation for the Ukrainian community in Denver.
1948 – 1950
The Beginning
75 is more than just a number. It is a testament to steadfastness in faith, because it was founded by people who overcame great challenges and trials during World War II. They built not only a church, but also laid a foundation for a community centered around the church which provided them with a sense of identity and belonging.
In 1948/49 all the refugees who came to the United States came under the Displaced Persons Act and had sponsors. The vast majority settled in the metropolitan areas of the East and the Midwest, where there were already flourishing Ukrainian communities with churches, schools and organizations. A few, however, found themselves far removed from anything familiar.
This was the case with three families who arrived in Denver. After months of letter writing to the Ukrainian newspapers and numerous telephone calls to friends in the East, they connected with others who were in Colorado and petitioned the Ukrainian Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky of Philadelphia to send them a priest. Bishop Bohachevsky assigned Fr. Dmytro Blazejowsky from Omaha, Nebraska to minister to the spiritual needs of the Ukrainian community in Colorado.
On October 8, 1950, 13 families — 37 people — gathered in St. Paul’s Chapel at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate the first Divine Liturgy in Ukrainian.
1954
A Home of Our Own
Father Blazejowsky arrived from Omaha and went to work organizing the parish. The small Ukrainian community received a warm welcome and help from the Roman Catholics, both clergy and laity. Thanks to their generosity, we were able to purchase, renovate and in 1954, move into our church, a former Quaker meeting house in the Sunnyside neighborhood in north Denver. While all this was going on, our parish was allowed to use the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver and St. Joseph’s Polish Church in Globeville.
1958 – 1983
Years of Growth
In 1958 the parish welcomed its second pastor, Father Pavlo Small, who came from Miami to continue the work of his predecessor. As more Ukrainians settled in Denver, the years that followed were years of growth and development.
In 1960 the parish purchased and renovated the house next to the church to serve as rectory. A small hall and stage were added in 1964. To learn about their heritage, the children were encouraged to attend Ukrainian language classes on Saturdays and to join Plast, a Ukrainian Scouting Organization. The women organized a branch of UNWLA (Ukrainian National Women’s League of America). There were picnics and dances, and various other events for people to attend and socialize.
Father Small continued to work tirelessly until his retirement in 1983. In 1981, in gratitude for his many years of pastoral care, the parish celebrated Father Small’s 40th anniversary of his ordination with a banquet at the Brown Palace Hotel.
1984 – 1988
A New Energy
Father Stephen Chmilar, OSBM arrived from Canada in 1984. Being a young and energetic priest, he engaged many young people to participate in parish life by organizing a bingo night, Ukrainian American Club, and getting together with young people. Parish life flourished. The parish purchased some real estate with the intention of building a new church. Through skillful negotiations, Father Steve also had Mount Olivet Cemetery reserve some burial plots in one section exclusively for the parishioners of our parish.
In 1988 our parish marked the millennium of Christianity in Ukraine with a concelebrated Divine Liturgy with J. Francis Stafford, Archbishop of Denver, at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, followed by a banquet at the Brown Palace Hotel. Soon after this, Father Steve returned to Canada where he became the Ukrainian Bishop of Toronto.
1990s
A New Wave
His departure left a huge void. For several years there was no resident priest in the parish, but the parishioners managed. In 1993 the parish hosted a group of young people from Ukraine who arrived with Bishop Irynej Bilyk for World Youth Day.
Father Pavlo Babiak and a host of revolving door visiting priests served the parish as it experienced an influx of new parishioners, due to the fourth wave of immigrants. They came from Ukraine in the 1990s, after the fall of the Soviet Union.
2007 – Present
Continuing the Legacy
Father Vasyl Hnatkiwsky was assigned to be the shepherd of the flock in 2007. Parish life was vibrant once again.
When Father Vasyl left the parish in 2018, Father James Karepin, OP assumed the pastoral responsibilities. He was able to serve only three years due to his passing away from Covid-19. Father Nicholas Kostyk arrived from Chicago to serve the community until September 2021 when Bishop Benedict entrusted the new pastor, Father Valeriy Kandiyk, to continue the work of his predecessors to pass on the legacy of faith and traditions to a new generation in an era of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and globalization.