Ukrainians immigrating to the United States scattered among the States and other areas of North America, seeking to improve their lot. In Eastern Connecticut, these immigrants settled in Colchester, Norwich, New London, East Lyme, Lebanon, Montville, Salem, and neighboring towns, having migrated from the New York port of entrance. They brought a strong and abiding faith in God, and a strong desire to perpetuate their Ukrainian traditions and preserve their mother tongue. This moved them to unite early, and with diligence, energy and enthusiasm they built a strong and lasting foundation. Later waves of immigrants therefore, found a Ukrainian community, church, cultural, and social organizations already existing to which they have energetically added. The large wave of immigrants from Ukraine at the turn of the 20th century consisted mainly of young persons of limited formal education and occupational development. It was they who initiated movements that eventually brought a Ukrainian church to Colchester. The first known settler to Eastern Connecticut came to Salem via New York City in 1896, and another to East Lyme in 1904. Return to top 1900 - 1920 The settlers of the first 2 decades of the 20th century mainly sought to establish themselves as farmers (mainly dairy and subsistence; poultry farming did not prosper until the 4th decade), and to engage in skilled trades. During this period, there was no church clearly recognized as Ukrainian in Colchester and environs. However, a social brotherhood of Ukrainian and Polish immigrants formed in 1900, a result of commonality of Eastern European Slavic origins, spirit and cognate language; of similar limited education, training and means; and of having extricated themselves from the oppressions and privations under various aristocracies. The Poles, being historically mostly Roman Catholic in their homeland for a longer period, naturally joined existing Roman Catholic parishes, while the Ukrainians sought to establish their own. This began by the formation of St. Stephen's Society in 1917 by some members of this early Ukrainian community, via. Messrs. Shajda, Semko, Konuch, Malioczka and others, among its aims being to bring the Ukrainian liturgy to Colchester. Church services conducted by a priest Iwan Palij, commuting from New York City, took place in the Congregational Church facing the Colchester town green, the generosity of the Congregationalists gratefully acknowledged. Return to top 1921 - 1947  Through the efforts of the Ukrainian Mutual Aid Society, in 1921 a committee of Messrs. Tynda, Boluck, and Fedus acquired a house and small plot of land on Pleasant Street in Colchester. The ground floor of the house was remodeled to serve as the chapel and the 2nd floor provided residence for the pastor. By 1929, the parish was financially sound and had 82 members. Because the community of Ukrainians to be served differed in their religious persuasions, the church was named the Greek Catholic Orthodox Independent Church of St. Mary, serving Colchester and environs. While resident parishioners were artisans and craftsmen (carpenters, masons, painters, garment workers, laborers, etc.), very many, if not most were farmers. For most parishioners, therefore, meant that frequent participation in religious and other church related events required great effort. In travel alone, since the few paved roads were near the town, for them the preponderance of travel was on dirt roads. For considerable portions of the year mud and snow made travel by the small minority, which owned automobiles very uncertain, leaving horse and wagon, the principal means of travel, Inherently slow. 1 tie hardships which these facts imply illustrate and emphasize the dedication and determination of our forbearers and the sacrifices these pioneers made with their limited resources to maintain their identity, practice their religion, and transmit their heritage. Considering the formidable obstacles to beginnings even so modest the parish can take pride and satisfaction in the achievement. We stand greatly in the debt of these pioneers, since the church not only served religious needs, but also became the center and stronghold for unity and culture. The feelings of belonging developed, and the parish grew and prospered. The contributions of the clergy during this critical formative period must not be overlooked nor cannot be overemphasized, for they labored under great hardships, particularly when one considers that in the 1920's fewer than 100 persons constituted the parish, and their financial resources were severely strained (the agrarian depression after WW1 preceded the National Great Depression which engulfed the towns and cities as well in the 1930's). The priests during this period, often married and some with children were heavily burdened, their wives often having to be employed outside the home. An example is that of Fr. Stephen Prokopchuk, who served in the 1930's, a father of 4 children, who labored mightily to bring many church and cultural activities to high levels, notably the young people's choir (sung in 4 parts, music written by himself, leading rehearsals with pitch-pipe and violin); he prepared socials and produced stage plays which achieved an excellence praised highly also among non-Ukrainian multi-linguals of Colchester. He personally repaired the family's precarious automobile. In 1931 he became bishop seated in Philadelphia archdiocese. Among the pioneer families of the parish in the 1920's and early 1930's many of whose descendents presently parishioners are the following: Tynda, Boliuch, several Feduses, Shajda, Malioczka, Krop (3 brothers), Marcinko (2), Vichensky, Dicky, Gorsky, Gural, Myhowicz, Kobyiiuch, Homeniuk, Olinik, Horyczka, Iwachiw, Busil, Kilmak, Zahochewsky, Chemerynsky, Iwanyshyn, Cichailyshyn, Semko, Magril, Naumowych, Wozniak, Tytla, Kuprak, Lulick, Horyczka, Kissel, Hyrczycha.   Return to top 1948 to 2004 Subsequent Ukrainian immigrants added to the size of the parish. The newcomers were better educated and occupationally more advanced. The most recently arrived representing the professions. In 1954, the parish numbered 132 families. In 1948, the parish became a member of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese through the efforts of Fr. B. Izak. In 1953, Fr. Korchinsky Initiated the drive for funds which permitted construction of a new church. The present structure with gilded Byzantine cupola traditionally symbolizing Ukrainian spiritual culture is the result, a product of the dedicated labors of the committee composed of Msgrs. Semkow, Malioczka, Kulynych, Romanowych, Techlowec, Messrs. Semkow, Mal ioczka, Kulynych, Romanowych, Techlowec, Kachorowsky, Dvkyj, and Towpacz. Return to top Church Destroyed On Sept. 10, 2004 a powerful blast destroyed the St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, just before 7am, shaking nearby buildings and sending debris hundreds of feet from the church. Although parishioners were heartbroken, they knew the explosion could have been much worse. That Friday, more than 30 people would have been inside preparing the pierogies for the Stamford festival. No injuries and all workers at St. Mary’s were safe, including pastor Rev. Kiril Manolev and his family. Rev. Manolev, his pregnant wife, Susan, and their young son live in a home adjacent to the church and were evacuated safely. The Rev. Michael Giannitelli, pastor of St. Andrew, opened its doors to St. Mary’s, offering the church its space and its services until St. Marys can be rebuilt. After the Mass, St. Andres’s parishioners hosted a dinner of chicken and pasta for their neighbors. “It’s an unbelievable gesture,” said Tina Inferrera, a St. Mary’s parishioner. “It just shows that when something devastating happens, how good people are.” We have received many acts of kindness from individuals, St. Andrews Roman Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus chapters, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Synagogues, other Christian Churches to name a few. Return to top Rebuilding the Church On Monday, August 15, 2005 on the feast of Dormition of the Mother of God, the patronal feast of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Colchester, pastor Rev. Kiril Manolev together with other clergy of the Eparthy of Stamford dedicated the cornerstone for the building of the new church. The festivities began with the Divine Liturgy in the open, on the grounds where the church once stood. The Liturgy was concelebrated by Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Msgr. John Terlecky, the eparchial econome: Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Ihor Midzak. the vicar general of the Eparchy of Stamford both of them the official representatives of Bishop Basil H. Losten for the event; Rev. Kiril Manolev, administrator of the parish; and a deacon from the Romanian Catholic Church. After the Divine Liturgy, the ceremony of blessing of the grounds and the solemn dedication of the cornerstone was held, followed by a luncheon. Among those present at the event, there were, in addition to the Ukrainian Catholic faithful, the representatives, both the clergy and the faithful, of the Roman Catholic and the Greek Orthodox churches. All the participants also had an opportunity to view the plan of the new church building. The building plans were prepared by architect Peter W. Argiros, of the Greek Orthodox faith, whose fellow parishioners also attended the ceremonies. We are in the process of building the new church which will be completed by Summer, 2006. A Church Risen From Ashes August 28, 2006 By TRACY GORDON FOX Courant Staff Writer Return to top COLCHESTER -- Before she stepped through the doors to worship for the first time in the new St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Stephanie Balacky paused Sunday to pray in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary. "She's home," Balacky said, her blue eyes brimming with tears. Thirty-two years ago, Balacky and her husband donated the statue of Mary, head bowed and hands clasped in prayer. She had no idea it would symbolize hope and rebirth and its survival would one day be called a miracle by the church's bishop. "I think she's behind everything," Balacky, of Colchester, said of the Mary statue. "Without her, none of this would have happened. I believe in miracles."   Return to top Parish Priests Rev. Ivan Mak 1961-63 The Parish house and rectory was built. Rev. Andrij Nazarewycz 1963-64 Commuting Pastor from Willimantic. Rev. Onufryj Ohirko 1967-75 Pastor organized Holy Name Society, worked hard to attract children of older immigrants who were not church members. During Fr. Ohirko's tenure, many English speaking Ukrainians joined the church. Rev. George Lukaczyk 1978 Under this leadership, renovation and redecoration of the church began, to be completed in 1982, consists most notably of iconography by the noted Ukrainian born artist Wolodymyr Bachinsky, work is widely recognized as outstanding. Rev. Bohdan Kin     Rev. Marijan Kostyk 1994-1997   Rev. Christopher Rogalski 1997-1999   Rev. Ihor Papka 1999-2002   Rev. Cyril Manolev 2002–present Under his leadership, the new church and hall was built after a devestating explosion on September 10, 2004. Dedication was on August 27, 2006