REV. HARRY OLIYNEK

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REV. HARRY OLIYNEK The Rev. Harry Oliynek, priest of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg, protopresbyter of the Interlake Deanery, member of the Archeparchial Consistory, and Chancellor emeritus of the Archeparchy, reposed in the Lord on Sunday, February 29, 2004, after an unexpected but brief illness. Fr. Harry also served as Vicar General and Judge of the Archeparchial Tribunal since May 6, 1980. He was born August 1, 1940 in Bellis, AB. He attended school in Komarno and St. Vladimirs College. Thereafter, he attended Teachers College (1960-1961). He taught in the Shorncliff area, 1961-1964. In 1964 he entered St. Josaphats Pontifical Seminary, Rome, where he received his baccalaureate in philosophy (1966). He obtained his licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Urbanianum (1970) and his licentiate in Canon Law (of the Eastern Churches) from the Pontifical Oriental Institute (1973), and he was a member of the Knights of Columbas. Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk ordained Fr. Harry to the priesthood in 1969 (Vita, MB) in the very parish where his own father (Rev. Hryhory Oliynek) was pastor. He served first at the Cathedral of St. Vladimir and Olga (1973-1978), then St. Nicholas (Fisher Branch {1978-1985}), and St. Josaphats in Winnipeg (1985-1991). From 1991 to the present, Fr. Harry was pastor of Holy Eucharist parish (Selkirk), Holy Trinity parish (Gonor), and Blessed Virgin Mary parish (East Selkirk). He was predeceased by his parents, Rev. Fr. Hryhory who passed away in 1974 and mother Dominika who passed away in 2000; his brother Arthur S. Oliynek who passed away in 1984. He is survived by his sister Victoria (Gordon) Catton of Elliot Lake, ON; his nephew Guy A. (Sian) Catton and their children Bryn and Rhian (Grafton, ON) and his nephew Gordon Catton; his aunt Alice Tkachak (Smokey Lake, AB), his aunt Elizabeth (Mike) Arent of Edmonton; his cousins, Norma Tamke (Dundurn, SK), Norma and Michael Palaniuk (Medicine Hat), Alan Basnicki (Regina), Oresia (James) Soleski, and numerous other cousins throughout Canada. Priestly Parastas will be served Friday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. and Funeral Divine Liturgy on Saturday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m. All services at Holy Eucharist Church (on Sophia) in Selkirk. In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully accepted to the Childrens Catechism Programme in the parishes where Fr. Harry served (Selkirk, East Selkirk and Gonor) or CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. The family appreciates the care given to Father by the St. Boniface Hospital doctors, and nurses on the second floor of the I.C.U., to all the parishioners and friends who visited Father throughout his illnesses, and to those who helped him in any way throughout his priestly life. May God grant Fr. Harry repose with the Saints in the bosom of Abraham, number him among the Just, and grant him Memory Everlasting. Amen. MacKenzie Funeral Home, Stonewall, in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 05, 2004