About — St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church

IN THE LORD’S SERVICE

About Our Pastor

Father Michael

Fr. Michael Loza is a native of Philadelphia. At the age of 12 he left for Rome where he attended at the Ukrainian Pontifical Minor Seminary (1973-1979). He later studied Philosophy at the Pontifical University Urbaniana and the Ukrainian Catholic University (Rome) under the patronage of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj. In 1982 he transferred to Holy Spirit Seminary and attended St. Paul University (Ottawa), where he completed a Masters of Theology degree.

With the blessing of Bishop Isidore Borecky of Toronto Michael was ordained in 1988 in the underground Church of Ukraine by Metropolitan Volodymyr Sterniuk and Bishop Pavlo Vasylyk.

His wife Oksana, his first pastoral assignment was as associate pastor of St. George’s Ukr. Catholic Church in Oshawa (1988-2001). During that time he also worked as a high school chaplain for the Durham Catholic School Board. In 1998, together with a group of parents and clergy, he founded the eparchial “Break for Jesus” catechetical camp at Mt. Mary in Ancaster. In 2001 Bishop Cornelius invited the Lozas to investigate the potential for a new parish community along the Oakville Mississauga border. He was subsequently appointed to the small, but active parish of St. Joseph’s in Oakville. Through the sacrifice, generosity, hard work and dedication of many parishioners, the community outgrew its existing church property and accepted the challenge to build a new church and parish centre to serve the spiritual needs of future generations.

Fr. Michael is currently the Dean of the Hamilton-Niagara Deanery and sits on the Eparchial Presbyteral Council. His wife Oksana has been a tremendous pastoral partner and an integral part of the parish’s leadership team.

IN THE LORD’S SERVICE

About Father Boris

Fr. Boris Hemon

IN THE LORD’S SERVICE

About Father Mykola

Fr. Mykola Barna

History & Archives

BEGINNINGS

Parish History

St. Joseph’s was founded in 1956. The first Liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Gregory Shushkewych on Ukrainian Christmas (January 7, 1956) at St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church in downtown Oakville. In the early years this small mission parish was served by the Redemptorist Fathers from their seminary in Meadowvale. In 1964 a 1-acre parcel of land was purchased on Maple Grove Dr.

1956 - 1960 Redemptorist Fathers: Rev. Stephen Bachtalowsky, Rev. Joseph Bala, Rev. Michael Bzdel, Rev. Roman Chomiak, Rev. Michael Ferens, Rev. Michael Hrynchyshyn, Rev. Stephen Shawel, Rev. Stephen Shyry, Rev. Gregory Shyshkowych, Rev. Nicholas Yakymyshyn, Rev. Joseph Korba, Rev.Michael Baraniecki, Rev. Bosko, Rev. Nicholas Kopiakiwsky
1960 - 1965 Rev. Paul Dzulynsky
1963 - 1964 Basilian Fathers: Rev. Patrick Byce, Rev. Myron Chimy, Rev. Maksim Markiw, Rev. Cornelius Pasichny, Rev. Eugene Richlark, Rev. Volodymyr Shewchuk, Rev. Siermaczeski, Rev. Victor Soroka, Rev. Leon Yakubow.
1965 - 1968 Rev. Morris Bosey
1968 - 1969 Rev. Lutoslav Kussey
1969 - 1972 Rev. Stephen Kuzma, Rev. Basil Filevich
1973 - 1973 Rev. Volodymyr Sharanewych
1974 - 1974 Rev. Vasyl Humeniuk
1974 - 1994 Rt. Rev. George Kowalsky, Rev. Joseph Krupp
1994 - 1995 Rev. Ted Harasymchuk
1995 - 2000 Rev. Roman Michalko
2000 - 2000 Rev. Victor Nazartchyk
2001 - 2001 Rev. Anton Semchuk
2001 (to date) Rev. Michael Loza
1956 - 1957 Jacob Boyko
1957 - 1962 Ewstachi Hodlyk
1963 - 1964 Petro Babiak
1964 - 1966 Ewstachi Hodlyk
1967 - 1968 John Kaziuk
1969 - 1970 Andrij Boruschak
1971 - 1972 Ivan Boyko
1972 - 1973 Roman Stefaniw
1973 - 1974 Ivan Boyko
1974 - 1976 Ewstachi Hodlyk
1977 - 1978 Petro Babiak
1979 - 1980 Roman Stefaniw
1980 - 1981 Ivan Boyko
1981 - 1995 Andrij Boruschak
1995 - 2004 Steve Dacko
2004 - 2006 Bohdan Wynnyckyj
2006 - 2007 Bohdan Baluta
2007 - 2008 Bohdan Klufas
2008 - 2010 Marta Romaniak-Dlugosh
John & Olga Andrusyshyn, Dan & Zeta Babiak, Petro & Wilma Babiak, Andrij & Erna Boruschak, Jacob & Anne Boyko, Anthony & Anne Cheslock, Gregory & Julia Dniprenko, John Gural, Ivan & Julia Harisymovich, Ewstachi & Marta Hodlyk, Josafat Hrabowyj, Stefan & Eugenia Hrynchuk, John & Feliksa Kaziuk, Joseph & Maria Kira, Wasyl & Sonia Lesiuczok, Mychajlo & Anna Loha, Walter & Anne Lubinsky, Alex & Mrs. Shypka, Mychajlo & Olga Solilo, Dr. Norman & Anne Spikula, Stan Tokarchuk, Wasyl Wynnyczuk.
The chapel on Maple Grove Drive served the parish well (1966-2011). In 2008 a 4-acre parcel of land was purchased (corner of Trafalgar Rd & River Oaks Blvd). Two years later construction began on a 43,000 sq.ft. facility. which included a new church, a daycare and a modern parish centre. A small number of seniors who were founding members in the 1950s attendeded the blessing of the new church in April of 2012. A chapel located off the narthex of the church has been dedicated to honour all our pioneer families.