RT. REV. MITRAT BASIL GALARNYK

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

RT. REV. MITRAT BASIL GALARNYK On Thursday, July 31, 2003 Rt. Rev. Mitrat Basil Galarnyk, Servant of God, entered into eternal life with the Lord at the age of 81 years. He leaves to mourn and cherish his memory numerous relatives and friends in Canada, U.S.A. and Ukraine. He was predeceased by his father Theodore and mother Eudokia and his younger sister Anna. He was born on April 17, 1922 in Yamnycia (Stanislaviv) Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine. He received his primary and gymnasia education in Ivano-Frankivsk. In 1943 he entered the Major Seminary in Lviv studying under the late Patriarch Josef Slipyj. He moved with his family to Vienna, Austria then Hirschberg, Germany to work and continue his studies. They later immigrated to Buffalo, NY in 1948. In 1949 his parents moved to St. Catherines, ON. On September 17, 1961 he was ordained in Edmonton, AB. Over the years he celebrated Divine Liturgies in the parishes in St. Catherines, ON, Winnipeg, MB and then did pastoral work in Calgary, AB. He was assigned pastor of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Prince George, BC on September 1, 1962. For over 40 years he had energetically dedicated his life to the service of our Lord and the Ukrainian Catholic faith, to the religious upbringing and spiritual renewal of the faithful, to the education of the youth of the parish in catechism and in the Ukrainian language and to the cultural life of the youth and the community through a dance troupe and a church choir. Fr. Basils love for the people of his parish and community of Prince George was demonstrated by his devotion and selfless assistance to the sick, needy, homeless and the unemployed of all nationalities. One of Fr. Basils many distinguishing accomplishments was the construction of the present church in the Byzantine style in the form of a cross with its distinct domes, which was completed and blessed on July 9, 1978. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 9 at Sts. Vladimir & Olga Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, 115 McGregor St., with his excellence Bishop David Motiuk and clergy. Interment to follow in All Saints Cemetery. Our family wishes to extend our thanks to the parishioners of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church and the City of Prince George for taking care of our cousin and making him a part of your families for over 40 years. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in his memory to St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, 2414 Vanier Dr., Prince George, BC V2N 1T7. VICHNAYA PAMYAT Knysh Funeral Chapel 1020 Main St. 582-0973

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 07, 2003