St Andrew's Clergy 1950 - 1999

Parish Priests/Admistrators

Fathers

 

 Nicholas Kopiakivskyj CSSR,
Peter Diachyshyn
Michael Melnyk
Ivan Szewciw
Zenon Chorkawyj		 1950-1952
1952-1962
1962-1967
1967-1995
1995-

Assistant Priests

Fathers

 

 

 

 

 

 Ivan Szewciw
Joseph Gorczynsky
Nicola Ivanco
Dmytro Seniw
Nicola Ivanco
Zenon Chorkawyj
Constantine Tymochko
Bohdan Shemeczko
Nicola Ivanco
Vasyl Rozek
Wayne Arnold
Theodore Klish
Zdan Kolomyjec		 1959-1961
1959-1969
1962-1965
1967-1972
1970-1972
1971-1977
1975-1976
1976-1982
1978-1983
1978-1981
1985-1986
1986-1999
1986-

The parish was begun on 26th April, 1950 and established in 1958. Its territory originally included the states of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. Today, it includes all of NSW with the exception of Newcastle. Wollongong, a city about 100 kilometres from Sydney is administered from Sydney.

The First priest to serve the Ukrainian people of Sydney was Fr Nicholas Kopiakiwskyj, CSSR who arrived in Sydney on 22nd March, 1950 together with Fr Boskyj. Fr Boskyj was sent to serve the people of Greta, Bathurst,Cowra and Nelson Bay, while Fr Kopiakivskyj remained in Sydney and its environs.
Divine Liturgy was celebrated in St Brigidine's Church at Miller Point in Sydney. At that time there were approximately 5,000 parishioners.

St Andrew's second Parish Priest was Fr Peter Diachyshyn who arrived in Sydney 24th March, 1952 from England. Among one of his first tasks was to establish St Andrew's Brotherhood the same year. In 1957, with the support of the community he managed to purchase land in Lidcombe, Sydney with a view of building a church.

On 28th August,1959, St Andrew's Church foundation was dug with the building finally being completed in 1961. The Blessing of St Andrew's Church took place on 17th December 1961 on the Feast of St Andrew according to the Julian Calendar.

Tragically for Sydney and indeed for the entire Ukrainian faithful of Australia, Fr Peter Diachyshyn died in a car accident on 4th August, 1962.

His remains were interred in the church that he built upon the wishes of his parishioners.

Following the death of Fr Peter Diachyshyn, Bishop Ivan Prasko appointed Fr Michael Melnyk as Parish Priest of Sydney. Fr Melnyk arrived from Canada in 1959 and undertook the role of administrator of Melbourne parish until his appointment to Sydney. He was a very popular priest especially with the young people whom he managed to attract to the parish. Under his guidance and leadership young church groups such as Legion of Mary became popular with many meetings held in the rooms under the church. Also, the Altar Boys as a group began to emerge with more young boys starting to take an an interest in the Liturgy. He was well loved among the young parishioners who enjoyed his soft approach to people and is fondly remebered for his laughter. Whilst parish priest of Sydney he managed to acquire more property for the parish and pay off some of the debts. He secured the services of a well known Canadian artist, Mr Myron Levytsky to adorn our church and Ikonostas with his paintings. During his work in Sydney the Basilian Sisters arrived from Argentina via Rome.

Sadly, Fr Michael Melnyk took ill and died on ....1967.

Fr Michael Melnyk was born 13.12.1913. He was Advisor to the Apostolic Exarch, Bishop Ivan Prasko, Administrator of Melbourne Parish, General Vicar and Trustee of the Apostolic Exarchy from 1962. In 1966 he was given the title of Papal Prelate.

In 1967, Fr Ivan Szewciw was appointed as Parish Priest of Sydney. Fr Ivan was born 1.11.1926 in Ukraine. Finishing High School in 1944 he joined the Ukrainian Army later spending time in an Italian POW camp. Fr Ivan completed his Theological studies in Rome in 1951 and became ordained the very same year on 3rd May, 1951.

In 1952 Fr Ivan left Rome for England where he immediately took on the role of producing a monthly journal - "Our Church".

In 1959, Fr Ivan was curate to Fr Peter Diachyshyn and immediately became involved in the Catachetical Programme and produced resource books to aid teachers in the numerous schools in Sydney, Canberra,Queenbeyan and Wollongong. Already in 1960 he founded the first Youth Organisation for Students and in 1960 founded the well known Ukrainian Weekly
[Church and Life].

After the death of Fr Michael Melnyk, Fr Ivan Szewciw returned to Sydney where he remained as Parish Priest until his retirement. Fr Ivan was seen as a man of vision who not only was extremely capable as an administrator but, followed intellectual pursuits both personally and for the good of his people. Some of his achievements in Sydney were:

 

Among the many honours bestowed upon Fr Ivan Szewciw is his reception of the Mitre.

In 1995, Fr Mitrat Ivan Szewciw retired but has continued to pursue his love of scholarly pursuits. He is well remembered as a genuine patriot and a fervent believer in truth. His sermons still ring out loud in the minds of many parishioners….No one can say they were boring! We wish him many long years and all the successes with his writing ventures.

In March,1995, Fr Zenon Chorkawyj took over from Fr Ivan Szewciw as Parish Priest of Sydney. Fr Zenon was born on 5th February, 1936 in Ukraine and arrived in Melbourne as a young boy in 1949. Fr Zenon travelled to Rome to pursue his Theological Studies becoming ordained in 1967. Fr Zenon served as Curate in Sydney from 1971 to 1977 until he was moved to Geelong where he was first appointed as Administrator and then Parish Priest.

Fr Zenon is well know for his gift as an iconographer and has painted the chapel in the convent of St Josaphat in Sydney as well as the interior walls of the church in Geelong. His knowledge about icons leads many people to his door always asking for information about various icons around the world. Fr Zenon is also the Curator of the Museum of Religious Art and Artefacts in Melbourne always trying to acquire more for the posterity of Ukrainian people in Australia.

Fr Zenon is leading the parish into the next Millennium with his support for a renewal and revival of spirituality amongst Sydney parishioners. He has supported the revival of Sydney's youth by granting them their own room for gatherings, meetings and prayer times. He is continuing to rebuild the parish library and encourages a more active family role in the parish.

In keeping with the times, Fr Zenon has been intrumental in the development of this website for all to learn about the work of the parish as well as gaining insights into the very nature of an Eastern Catholic Church.

Fr Zenon is well known for his loyalty to Christ, his Church and his people. For his many years of service he been rewarded the Mitre and appointed as General Vicar.

We wish him many years in this parish!

Fr Dmytro Seniw is currently Assistant Priest in Sydney.

Fr Dmytro was born on 17th August, 1940 in Bosnia. After finishing his Theological Studies in Rome in 1966, Fr Dmytro was the first Ukrainian priest to be ordained in Australia. Immediately after his ordination Fr Dmytro went to work assisting parishes around Australia.

From 1967 to 1972 Fr Dmytro worked in Sydney as the young curate until he moved to Canberra where he stayed until 1978. Sensing the need for a new priest in Perth, Bishop Ivan Prasko asked Fr Dmytro to move there where he stayed until 1983. Fr Dmytro returned to Canberra for another six years before his move to Adelaide.

Presently, Fr Dmytro Seniw is the Assistant Priest in Sydney and travels to other parishes beyond Sydney.

For his service and loyalty to the church Fr Dmytro has also received the Mitre.

Fr Josyf Gorchynsky who was born on16th July, 1897 in Ukraine was an assistant priest in Sydney Parish from 1959 till his death in 1969. Fr Josyf came to Sydney to be with his son and is well remembered for his placid nature and gentleness. Many did not know at the time that he had been a serving priest in Ukraine and in Romania where the church went underground. Fr Josyf remained there for many years until he was able to come to Australia.

Besides assisting in Lidcombe, Fr Josyf was largely involved with parishioners in the Cabramatta area. Fr Josyf is buried in the Ukrainian section in Rookwood Cemetery. One day in the near future his mortal remains will be transferred to the Ukrainian Chapel which stands overlooking all the Ukrainian sections.

+ May He Rest in Peace +
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