BASILIANS ARRIVE IN WINNIPEG
November 14 1903
translations of documents
from the Archives of
the Apostolic Delegation in Canada,
Vatican Secret Archives
Winnipeg needs Basilians
Cardinal Mieczeslaw Ledochowski, Prefect of Propaganda Fide
to Adelard Langevin, Archbishop of St. Boniface
Protocol No. 12250
Roma, 21 Januarii 1901
...Certainly, when the opportunity arises this Sacred Congregation is not
opposed to taking advantage of the possibility of founding a centre of the
Reformed Basilians who would be quite capable of serving the spiritual of
these faithful...
Adélard Langevin, Archbishop of St. Boniface
to Archbishop Diomedio Falconio, Apostolic Delegate
20 février 1901
I have just received a letter from His Eminence Cardinal Ledochowski. Notice
that he intends to send Ruthenian clergy. If these will be Basilians, I will
very gladly accept them.
At the Little St. Nicholas Church
Adélard Langevin, Archbishop of St. Boniface
to Archbishop Donato Sbaretti, Apostolic Delegate
[April 1903]
The visit of the Reverend Father Filas, a Basilian, who came from Edmonton
at my request, was effective in maintaining most of the Ruthenian Catholics
in the bosom of the church…
It is certain that the Ruthenians can be maintained in the Faith if, in the
Spring, one or two Basilians Fathers come to assist the Rev. Zoldak; [a man]
so zealous, so pious, so attached to the Church. Rev. Zoldak is still living
at the archbishop's house. Presently, a house is being built, at my expense,
to serve as a residence for Ruthenian priests in Winnipeg [612 Flora]. Rev.
Zoldak hears confessions in a poor little provisory chapel [the first St.
Nicholas Church]. If a large church could be built, it would be filled with
people.
Five hundred men assisted at the mass said by the Rev. Fr. Filas and they
promised him do wait for the Basilians and to not go into schism, if they
would be given priests of their own rite.
Your Excellency would render us a significant service by helping us to obtain
Basilian Fathers for Manitoba, and also by supporting the request, which was
made some time ago to Cardinal Ledochowski- to send us Mgr. Szeptycki, archbishop
of Lemberg [Lviv] as extraordinary visitator. This vererable prelate desires
very much to come here... Their Lordships Legal, Bishop of St. Albert and
Pascal l, Apostolic Vicar of Saskatchewan, greatly desire to redceive the
visit of this great archbishop, whose attachment to Holy Church is well known
to us.
In any case, I have asked the Father Provincial of the Reformed Basilians
of Galicie to send one or two priests for this spring or this summer, and
I await them with anxiety...
Cardinal Girolamo Maria Gotti, Prefect of Propaganda Fide
to Archbishop Donato Sbaretti, Apostolic Delegate
Protocol N. 16611
Roma 28 settembre 1903.
Mons. Archbishop [Langevin] wants the Propaganda to support his petition to
the Prefect of the Propaganda and to H.M. the Emperor of Austria to obtain
the necessary assistance for the construction of a church in the aforementioned
locality [Winnipeg]...
I will write immediately to the to Superior of the Reformed Basilians in Galicia,
in order to find out of they can send subjects [Fathers] capable of assisting
the faithful in the Archdiocese of St. Boniface.
Two Basilians are on the way
Archbishop Donato Sbaretti, Apostolic Delegate
to Adélard Langevin, Archbishop of St. Boniface
12 Nov. 1903.
No 624
I am very happy to learn that the Basilian Fathers are en route to your archdiocese.
Father Peter Babst, Superior General of the Basilians
to Adelard Langevin, Archbishop of St. Boniface
Leopoli d.13 octobris, 1903.
Most Excellent and Most Reverend Archprelate!
I am happy to inform Your Excellency that, shortly, I will be sending to Canada
two Basilian Fathers: Matthew Hura and Naucratius Kryzanowsky. Since they
are capable, upright and hard workers, i greatly hope that they shall labour
with success. As soon as I receive permission from the Sacred Congregation,
which I have just written in this regard, I shall send them at the earliest
possible occasion. I have informed Father Filas in Alberta, who is the superior
of our missionaries in Canada, of departure of these new labourers... I will
not omit to inform Your Excellency of the day when their ship departs.
Fathers Hura and Kryzanowsky arrive
Rev. Basil Zoldak, Apostolic Visitator
to Archbishop Donato Sbaretti, Apostolic Delegate
612 Flora ave. Winnipeg, Man.
il 4 Luglio [July] 1904.
Since the time when Your Excellency deigned to visit the Ruthenian Chapel
in Winnipeg [the first St. Nicholas Church], there has been no change in the
people's position towards the Catholic Church.
Meanwhile, I have the honour to notify Your Excellency, that other than the
Basilian Fathers that are serving the Ukrainian people in the province of
Alberta, two other Fathers have arrived, of the same Order. Thus we have five
Basilian Fathers: Fathers Platonides Filas superior, Anthony Strozki and Sozontius
Dydyk and a Brother in the Province of Alberta. Fathers Naucratius Kryzanowski
and Myron [Matthew] Hura in the Province of Manitoba. Father M. Hura has been
assigned to look after the Ruthenians living in the city of Winnipeg; to Father
N. Kryzanowski have been entrusted the colonies around Winnipeg.
Monsignor Langevin has agreed to construct a church for the Basilian Fathers,
which will be 110 feet in length, 60 feet wide, and 79 feet high. Construction
is beginning, this week.
Fathers Filas reports on the Mission
Father Platonides Filas, Basilian Superior General
to Archbishop Donato Sbaretti, Apostolic Delegate
Ottawa 20/I 1905.
The migration of Ruthenians from Austria to Canada began 15 years ago and
has continued to the present day. The causes of this emigration are: considerable
poverty among farmers, sagging industries and constantly decreasing workers
wages…
The situation being as it was, Msgr. Legal of St. Albert sent two of his priest
to Galicia: Rev. Fr. Lacombe and Fr. Jan. They were to speak with the Ruthenian
Archbishop of Lviv, Msgr. Szeptycki and with the Order of St. Basil the Great,
in order to obtain [spiritual] assistance for the Ruthenians in the province
of Alberta. Due to their efforts, Archbishop Msgr. Szeptycki sent his secretary
Fr. Zoldak and with him three Basilian priests and one Brother. Thus began
the arduous mission of the Basilians in Alberta, in November 1902…
After a year, two other Basilian Fathers came to Manitoba: Fr. Hura et Fr.
Kryzanowski, and, since that time, peace has reigned among the Ruthenians
in Manitoba. In Winnipeg, the Basilian Fathers have built a large church;
In the colonies, per they found more than ten, which had already been built
by the people.
Ruthenian Catholics in the dioceses of St. Boniface 25,000, Prince Albert
18,000, St. Albert 15,000.
Platonides Filas OSBM
Metropolitan Sheptytsky gives thanks
ADDRESS ON THE RUTHENIAN QUESTION TO THEIR LORDSHIPS THE ARCHBISHOPS AND BISHOPS
OF CANADA
Leopolis, the 18th day of March, 1911.
Invited by their Lordships the Bishops of the West, to come into their dioceses
to preach the word of the Gospel to the Ruthenians and study the situation,
I have undertaken a voyage of more than two months, and, having obtained from
them the mission to preach…
It is with a most lively gratitude that I here make mention of the generous
and apostolic efforts of the Bishops of the North West to come to the assistance
of the Ruthenians, and no less the great sacrifices which these illustrious
prelates have imposed upon themselves.
In 1902 the Rev. Père Jean O.M.I., sent by Mgr. Legal, also came to
Galicia, and took back with him to Canada the first three Basilian Fathers
and Sisters “Servantes de Marie Immaculée”. In 1904, Mgr.
Langevin came to Vienna accompanied by the Rev. Père Lacombe, to obtain
pecuniary assistance from the Emperor Francis Joseph, and shortly after a
fresh contingent of Basilian Fathers left Galicia for Canada.
Besides the measures taken to get Ruthenian priests, I cannot omit to mention
the church of the Basilians at Winnipeg built at the expense of Mgr. Langevin,
and the school of the Sisters “Servantes de Marie” of Edmonton,
which owes its existence to the assistance given by the Bishops of Canada,
and to the propaganda of the Toronto Church Extension Society obtained for
them by Mgr. Legal. Then again there is the pecuniary assistance accorded
for building the churches of the Basilian Fathers by Mgr. Pascal and Mgr.
Legal, and finally the admission into the “petit seminaire” of
St. Boniface. Last of all I would hardly be fulfilling my duty if I did not
mention the fatherly and apostolic heart which the abovementioned illustrious
prelates have always shown to the Basilian Fathers and to the Ruthenian Sisters,
not to speak of their apostolic zeal in assisting the Ruthenians who are in
danger of losing their faith....
+ Andrew Szepticky, Archbishop
Fr.
Platonides Filas,
Fr.
Naucratius Kryzanovsky
Father
Hura in St. Nicholas, circa 1905