The Divine Liturgy book is completed   and is currently being sold at St. Mary   the Protectress for a minimum   donation of $10 a copy. This booklet   includes the Divine Liturgy and Great   Vespers direct from the new "Good   Shepherd" prayer book with various   Priest prayers taken out to make the   booklet easier to follow. Please contact   Fr. Peter for more information.

Flock finds a new home

 

 

Father Peter Haugen is the new priest for the local parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in French Creek.

By Steven Heywood - Parksville Qualicum Beach News
Published: June 21, 2010 4:00 PM

After three years services held in the chapel at the Yates Funeral Home in Errington, the small parish of St. Mary the Protectress has finally found a permanent home — and is marking one year since they received that gift.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church members were able to buy the former Church of Christ Scientist in French Creek in June of last year, after that organization grew too small to continue.

According to Father Peter Haugen, the previous owners wanted the building and land to go to another religious congregation, and gave them a great deal.

Haugen himself arrived to take over the flock at St. Mary’s half-way through the renovations to the building. Parishioners, who had lost their previous church location in Port Alberni when the congregation there got too small to support it, were pitching in.

“It was a lot of hard work,” Haugen said, “put in by a lot of people.”

With many members of the Ukrainian Orthodox congregation from the Oceanside area, a location here was vital. So, with a church found and then blessed by Bishop Ilaron earlier this month, the parish is active in the community.

The church, in the Columbia Beach subdivision in French Creek, was updated with more room created. A kitchen was added and an ornate, wood dias put up, from which Haugen performs the services.

Haugen, who looks after the local church as well as St. George’s in Victoria, said services are held in French Creek on the first and third Sundays on each month at 10 a.m.

He added the congregation of about 40 people is slowly growing as more people of Ukrainian Orthodox background become aware of the church.

“We will be looking at ways of becoming more active,” he said. “We would like to start hosting community events such as a supper, perhaps, every six months.”

He added that idea is very preliminary right now.

“We are still trying to find our feet.”

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