Odpust in Windsor

St. Michael the archangel is the heavenly protector of our church in Windsor, Ont. Many odpusts have been in this church since its founding in fifties of the last century. Windsor used to be a place, where our bishop Michael of blessed memory always liked to visit, and where he wanted to stay after his retirement, but was unable to do so.

It was traditional not only to commemorate all the Michaels of the parish and among people present, but first of all to worship God, who is always the one, who is our guardian number one. He is the one, who assigns each of us, his angel to watch over us.

Sunday, November 11th 2007 bishop Pazak was invited by Fr. Vavrak with hif family and parishioners of St. Michael to be the main celebrant for their annual odpust. With him were at the altar also Fr. Vavrak, Fr. Angyal (Hungarian Byzantine Catholic in Windsor), Fr. Barter from St. Nicholas parish in Detroit, USA, Fr. Mucha from Hamilton and a visiting priest.

Voices of the people followed cantors from Canada and USA and helped make this day a special one. The liturgy concluded with mirovanije but the joyous atmosphere continues at banquet downstairs in the hall.

Photo credits: Fr. Martin Vavrak.

Odpust in Oshawa

One of the oldest parishes in our Eparchy is the parish of the Protection of the Theotokos in Oshawa. This parish was established due to the initial sacrifices of Fr. Michael Rusnak, CSsR (later bishop Michael) and 38 families in 1952. The church itself was built during the year 1955 and dedicated by Most Reverend Isidore (Borecky) from Toronto.

Throughout the years it become a custom to gather here on first Sunday after the feast of the Protection on October 1st. However, this year it was a little change in the date in order to have our hierarch, bishop John attending.

Our Oshawa folks are always attending our major eparchial pilgrimages in Hamilton, and Toronto, and now, it was their turn to welcome guests at their odpust.

Parish is currently served by Fr. Stephen Williams.

We wish our parishioners in Oshawa many more odpusts to come!

Photo credits: Mary Snell - Siroky.

For more photos please visit:

http://picasaweb.google.sk/danielprorok/OdpustInOshawa