History of St Andrew's Parish

Approximately 5,000 Ukrainians, mostly refugees from communist persecution settled in Sydney after World War II from 1948. In 1950 Fathers Nicolai Kopiakiwsky CSsR and Francis Boski CSsR arrived to serve the faithful in Australia. Ukrainians were scattered far and wide in various camps and hostels in Bathurst, Greta, Cowra and Nelson Bay. As many of the faithful began to settle in and around Sydney
Fr Kopiakiwsky concentrated his work in Sydney. The first Ukrainian Catholic Divine Liturgy was celebrated at St Brigid’s Church in Millers Point. The choir consisted of five members.

In 1952 Fr P. Diaczyszyn arrived from England and immediately began working towards the erection of a Ukrainian church. In the meantime the local Roman Catholic Church kindly offered the faithful St Joachim's Church which was used until 1961.

St Andrew’s Church was built during the years 1959 –1961 as a memorial to Ukrainians who had lost their lives in World War II. It was built following the Byzantine – Ukrainian traditional style of architecture with the help of Sydney architects, Kevin J. Curtin & Partners.

The church, designed to hold a congregation of 600 (350 seated and 250 standing) was opened for use on 17.12.1961, and was consecrated on 25.4.1971 by the Most Reverend Bishop Ivan Prasko D.S.E.O. from Melbourne, who was the Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania.

It was the vision of Fr Peter Diacsyszyn to build 3 other parishes in Sydney as the faithful were scattered long distances away from Lidcombe. Indeed services were held at Millers Point in Sydney for a number of years until Sydney became the centre of worship for Ukrainians. However, when Fr Peter Diaczyszyn was tragically killed in a car accident 4.8.1962 his plan fell by the wayside and Ukrainians by default came to accept Lidcombe as the centre of Ukrainian life in Sydney.

Following Fr Peter Diaczyszyn’s death a priest from Canada, Fr Michael Melnyk came to Sydney and remained as the Parish Priest until his untimely death in 1967. In March,1967 four nuns of the Order of St Basil the Great arrived from Argentina and began their work in Sydney before venturing to the other states.

With the death of Fr Michael Melnyk the parish welcomed the arrival of Fr Ivan Szewciw from Perth who remained in Sydney until his retirement in May,1995. Fr Ivan continued the great works which had been started by the other priests and encouraged the faithful to get behind other major building programmes such as the erection of the Presbytery, Parish Hall, Ukrainian Parish School, the Convent for the Basilian Sisters and so on.

His staunch patriotism and love for the Ukrainian church was the driving force for many Ukrainians. His initiatives to support Ukrainians spiritually as well physically were also complemented by his vision to help Ukrainians financially and so we saw the foundations of a Ukrainian Credit Union, Karpaty, which today is a very successful enterprise.

Our current Parish Priest, Fr Zenon Chorkawyj, who was born in Ukraine but, lived in Melbourne after emigrating to Australia as a young boy. After many years as a parish priest in Geelong, Victoria, Fr Zenon was transferred to Sydney taking up the post of Parish Priest in 1995.

One of Fr Zenon’s great talents lies in his great skills as an iconographer. Although based in Sydney, Fr Zenon still maintains a zealous attitude towards the upkeep of the Museum in Melbourne which is a showpiece for all who are interested in religious artefacts as well as traditional folkloric art and culture.

The parish boasted two choirs (youth choir under the direction of Mrs Mary Duma and the adult choir under the leadership of Mr Taras Figol) each approximately 50 strong. Mrs Oksana Wasylyk who came from Canada and settled here after marrying one of our parishioners today leads the youth choir.

In addition to the parish priests Sydney because of its vastness has had a number of assistant priests.Fr Gorczynskij and Fr Nycola Ivanco were among one of the first assistants.

Fr G. Crespo, a Spanish convert to our rite also assisted for many years before being transferred to Melbourne. Under Fr Ivan Szewciw’s leadership one of our parishioners received Minor Orders and became our first local Deacon. A few years later Deacon Zdan Kolomyjec was ordained and became our first married priest in Sydney. Fr Zdan Kolomyjec worked in a number of parishes outside the environs of Sydney where many Ukrainians still have significant although not large communities. Presently he is the administrator for the Parish of Newcastle.

Our present assistant priests include Right Reverend Dmytro Seniw and our married priest Fr Oleh Stefanyshyn from Ukraine. The priests of Sydney Parish look after the needs of the parishioners in the Parish of Wollongong.

Since the beginnings of our parish it has been the tireless endeavours of its parishioners, which has maintained the church buildings. The Brotherhood has been responsible for the upkeep of the church as well as other activities such as fundraising and so on. Today Mr George Sywak, who has been an active member of the Parish since his childhood, ably leads this dedicated group of parishioners.

In 1997 after the initiative of Most Reverend Bishop Peter Stasiuk parishes all around Australia are in the process of forming Parish Councils. The parish in Lidcombe is well on the way to reforms and a renewal of parish life.

Chronological History of St Andrew's Parish

1950 Fr Nicolai Kopiakiwsky CSsR and Fr Francis Van den Boch (Bosky) CssRarrived in Sydney to serve the faithful in Australia.
9th April, First Ukrainian Catholic Divine Liturgy celebrated on Ukrainian Easter Sunday at Millers Point, Sydney.

1952   Fr Kopiakiwsky appointed parish priest of Brisbane
           March 16^th - Fr Petro Diachyshyn arrived in Sydney
           March 24^th - Fr George Spolitakevich arrived in Sydney
           Fr P. Diachyshyn established Sydney Brotherhood

1953 Divine Liturgy was celebrated in St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney as part of the Marian Congress.

1957   Conference of clergy held in Sydney resulting in a letter written to Cardinal Gilroy requesting a bishop.
           Land purchased in Lidcombe, with a view to building a church.
           Sydney Brotherhood numbered 194 members, of whom 33 were founding members.

1958 Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk came to Sydney to visit the Ukrainian communities.
The Bulla for the establishment of the Exarchate in Sydney was read on March 10^th.

1959   Fr Josef Gorczynsky arrived in Sydney from Romania
           Fr Ivan Szewciw arrived from England May 18^th to work in Sydney.
           August 28^th - St Andrew's Church foundation dug. Land purchased for 5,000 pounds.

1960   "Church and Life" quarterly newspaper was established as an information service for the Exarchate.
           First edition published in April from 57 Church St, Lidcombe.
           March 24^th Exarchate officially gazetted in NSW, thus becoming a legal institution.
           The Catholic Students' Organisation, 'Obnova', established at the Sydney Parish with 43 members.

1961 St Andrew's Church was built in Sydney.
December 17^th the blessing of St Andrew's Church took place.

1962 Fr Petro Diachyshyn died tragically in a car accident on August 4^th.
Fr Michael Melnyk appointed parish priest of Sydney.

1963 Fr Michael Schudlo C.Ss.R. began parish missions in Australia.

1966 August, the change from Slavonic to Ukrainian was announced.

1967 Fr Ivan Szewciw was appointed parish priest of Sydney.
March 28^th the Sisters of St Basil the Great arrived in Sydney.

1968 October, Major Archbishop Josyf Slipyj visits Sydney.

1969 Annual General Meeting of OYKOA held in Sydney with Mr P. Lopata elected president.
December 14^th, Bishop Ivan Prasko celebrated a Pontifical Liturgy for the first time in the Ukrainian language in Sydney on the occasion of the Parish Feastday.

1970   March 1^st, Bishop Ivan Prasko blessed the new school and parish hall in Sydney.
           October 4^th, The convent of the Basilian Sisters was blessed in Sydney.
           December, the first Soborchyk was held in Sydney.

1971 April 24^th St Andrew's Church in Sydney was consecrated.

1973 February, Patriarch Josyf Slipyj revisits Australia.

1976 July 25^th, under the direction of Bishop Ivan Prasko a new convent was built in Sydney for the Basilian Sisters.

1977 November 6^th, the convent and chapel for the Sisters of St Basil the Great was blessed.

1988 Millennium monument built in Sydney.

1993 April 4^th official farewell Liturgy and banquet of Bishop Ivan Prasko in Melbourne.
Bishop Peter Stasiuk visited all parishes in Australia.

1997 Priests' Soborchyk held in Sydney.

1999 July 2^nd - 5^th, Sydney Parish hosted fifth Youth For Christ gathering.
October 25^th, Fr Theodor Klish died in St Joseph's Hospital. His funeral was held over two days on Wednesday and Thursday.

1999 December 11^th & 12^th , Jubilee Celebration of Ukrainians in Australia held over two days at St Andrew’s Parish.

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