REV. MARTIN BALAGUS

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REV. MARTIN BALAGUS Fr. Martin Balagus entered into eternal rest on Sunday, October 24, 2004 in Sudbury, ON at the age of 75. Fr. Martin (Johnny) was born in Winnipeg on October 7, 1929. He attended St. Nicholas School and St. Nicholas Church where he served as an altar boy. At age sixteen, he entered the Basilian Fathers Novitiate (Ukrainian) in Mundare, AB in September 1945. After completing his novitiate, Fr. Martin continued his education in Basilian monasteries at Grimsby, ON, Glen Cove, Long Island, New York and finally at the Gregorian University in Rome for his Theological studies. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on October 20, 1957 in Rome by Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk. After returning to Canada, Fr. Martin received his Licentiate in Philosophy at the University of Ottawa and for a period of time taught at the Basilian College in Toronto. Fr. Martin went into Pastoral work serving the Ukrainian Catholic communities in Alberta and St. Marys Parish in Vancouver, BC. He returned to eastern Canada and was accepted into the Archeparchy of Toronto by Bishop Borecki and served in parishes in Windsor and Hamilton. Fr. Martin then became Resident Pastor of St. Michaels Church in Coniston, ON and Assistant Pastor of St. Marys Parish in Sudbury for nearly thirty-five years. On September 7, 2003 an appreciation dinner was held by his parishioners on the occasion of his retirement. Fr. Martin is survived by his brother Mickey (Dmetro) of Toronto; sister Ollie; brother Willie (Margaret) sister Marianne (Paul Smith) and sister-in-law Anne; all of Winnipeg; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and their children. He was predeceased by his parents, Ksenia and Peter; sister Anne and husband Stanley Masik; brother Joseph; sister-in-law Christine; brother-in-law Al Miller; and his niece Judy Davis who passed away on October 20, 2004 in Colorado Springs, CO. Divine Liturgy will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 29 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 737 Bannerman Ave. Interment will follow in Holy Family Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Education of Basilian Priests, 737 Bannerman Ave., Winnipeg, MB. VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 28, 2004