Óêðà¿íñüêà Ïðàâîñëàâíà Êàòåäðà
Ñâÿòî¿ Ñîô³¿

St. Sophie
Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral

Cathédrale orthodoxe ukrainienne
Sainte-Sophie

Home Page

PRESIDENT’S REPORT FOR 2008

  1. Renovations:

Two major projects were undertaken this year. The first was repairs to the church hall walls, ceiling and then painting. Both women’s and men’s bathrooms were given a complete overhaul.

The second, although not budgeted, was the repairing of the exterior church walls. Water penetration between the brick and mortar had to be stopped as water was getting into the inside of the church and basement walls.

The drapes on the stage were dry-cleaned

  1. St. Sophie’s Camp:

This spring we found that the underwater pipes had burst. Due to the sandy soil, we cannot find where and which pipe without digging up the existing pipes. The temporary solution was to connect a hose system; however, this problem must be addressed in 2009.

The cutting of our trees has started. In 2008, cutting was carried out around the camp area itself. This area alone brought in $70,000. However, cleaning out the stumps and leveling the ground cost us $35,000. This gave us a profit of $35,000.

We are continuing negotiations to cut on the other side of the road and mountain. Cutting will start when the price is right.

Camping for children was open for 2 weeks with the traditional closing and celebration of the Baptism of Ukraine. I thank and congratulate the camp committee consisting of Adrianna Zerebecky, Zenon and Alice Hryckowian and Rev. Father Wolodymyr Kouchnir

  1. Vacant Rosemount Property

The study regarding what to do with the vacant lots beside the church has been put on hold indefinitely due to the resignation of Mr. Walter Kolanitch.

4. Iconographic Painting

In the 2001 Annual Report the president (John Olianski) recommended that “work on this project should be delayed until a solution is found to the relative humidity, temperature variation and dirt problems prevailing in the Cathedral.

In the 2005 Annual Report, the president (Walter Kolanitch) stated that the Executive Committee formed a separate committee to examine the question of how the Cathedral may be iconographically completed. The committee, under the chairmanship of Wolodymyr Chomenko, submitted a report with the following recommendation:

.1 wash walls as required

.2 repair plaster areas where necessary

.3 renew windows where necessary

.4 repaint areas of church where necessary

.5 examine the exterior of the Cathedral structure with the objective of fixing the parts where water may seep into the church.

.6 Examining possibilities of installing an air venting system that will protect the icons.

Recommendations 1-5 have been successfully completed by the present Council. Item .6 is cost prohibitive at this time.

The committee also made a recommendation that a “temporary solution” for our iconography was to use the paintings that we had in our church on Delormier Street. Unfortunately, four of these paintings are torn and one is badly damaged.

The committee under the chairmanship of Wolodymyr Chomenko was dissolved in 2008. The present Executive looked at many alternatives and came up with a possible solution. Two icons have been placed above the windows on the left and right sides in front of the church for your approval. This will be discussed at length under item 15 of your agenda.

5. Pressing Needs

a) The fence on St. Michel Boulevard has to be replaced.

6. Major Capital Expenditures – 2008

The $94,500 budged allocated for its capital expenditures were:

.1 Cathedral Basement Work $35,000

- Basement Windows caulking and repairs

- Removal of Mould Problem

- Repairs to Walls & Ceiling as needed

- Renovation of both Basement Bathrooms

- Painting of the Basement

.2 Fence replacement on St. Michel Boulevard $17,500

- present fence is falling apart and needs to be replaced.

.3 Cement work on all outside stairs on 12th Avenue $10,000

- the safety of persons entering the Cathedral as well as the homes

is of great concern

.4 Corrective measures to the Water Run-off Problem around

the Cathedral $10,000

- the heavy water run-off needs to be controlled to prevent

deterioration of the building

.5 St. Sophie Camp Renovations $17,500

- Dining Room Entrance

- Girls & Boys Barracks Balconies

- Bathrooms ($10,000)

.6 Refinishing of Cathedral Front Doors $ 4,500

TOTAL BUDGETED EXPENDITURES $94,500

Items 2, 4 and 5 are not complete and will be addressed in the 2009 budget.

Items 1, 3 and 6 have been completed.

In the 2006 capital expenditures report, it was stated that water penetration between brick and mortar of the exterior church walls must be addressed. A budget of $100,000 was approved. This year, due to heavy rains and water penetration we had no choice but to do the repairs at a cost of $76,000.

  1. Donations

Church fees alone cannot cover parish needs. We thank everyone who during the year made a donation to the parish. We rely on the generosity of our members and supporters to help us attend to the physical needs of our parish, so that we can in turn minister to the parish needs of those very members and supporters.

We thank all the organizations that donated:

UWAC - Daughters of Ukraine - $10,500.

Temerty Family Foundation - $10,000.

Caisse Populaire Desjardins Ukrainienne - $ 2,000.

SUS Foundation - $ 2,000.

St. Sophie’s Sunday School - $ 1,500.

St. Sophie’s Parents Committee - $ 1,000.

Ukrainian National Choir of Moscow - $ 980.

Ukrainian Self Reliance Association - $ 500.

We also welcome our individual $1,000. club donors.

Estate of Nina Pelenski - $ 4,458.

Onyschuk Mario & Anastasia - $ 4,200.

Estate of Kateryna Hawryluk - $ 3,000.

Pachkowsky Alex - $ 2,300.

Hryckowian Zenon & Alice - $ 1,926.

Pidwysocky Eugene & Jennie - $ 1,655.

Lenko Volodomyr & Anna - $ 1,600.

Waverchuk Walter & Halina - $ 1, 600

Gella Yoris & Elena - $ 1,450.

Shewchuk Eugenia - $ 1,350.

Humeniuk Peter & Halia - $ 1,340.

Zymowec Mary - $ 1,170.

Kowcz Olga - $ 1,025.

Yaremko John - $ 1,000.

Estate of Mary Yacovitch-Tatarchuk - $ 1,000.

Scalarni Stephanie - $ 1,000.

  1. Thank you

Our church and parish would not survive if not for the volunteers who by volunteering their services, exhibit their love for our church and community, and their desire for its continued well being. On behalf of the parish members and myself, I thank:

  • All members of the Executive Council for their conscientious work over and above the call of duty throughout the year both within their designated responsibilities and beyond.

  • Adrianna Zerebecky for assembling the Sunday Bulletin

  • Lavrenti Lozowy for computer services

  • Jennie Pidwysocky for data input; address lists and records

  • All the Volunteer Committees: Church Elders Wasyl Borodulia, Zenon Hryckowian, and Roman Puszkar; and Donor Secretaries Orysia Avdimiretz, Vera Nalywajko, Peter Safulko and Serhiy Stasiouk.

  • The members of the Cathedral Choir together with the choir director Tanya Novolska

  • The Sunday school teachers – Dobr. Ludmilla Popovich, Halina Waverchuk

  • Archives: Walter Konanitch

  • Church Greeters: Orysia Avdimiretz, Vera Nalywajko and Bohdana Kovalenko. Also a special thank you to Orysia Avdimiretz who insures that the candles are held for the Lesser and Great Entrances.

  • Church Committee: Orysia Avdimiretz, Olga Kowcz, Olga Narepecka, Valentina Kushniruk, Lesia Hryckowian, Xenia Samoluk, Adrianna Zerebecky

  • Church MailingL Jennie Pidwysocky, Irena Kolesnik, Irena Gerych

  • A special thank you to Irena Gerych for puttling together our seasonal newsletters. Also for putting together the annual report and getting it printed on time.

Personally I would like to thank:

  • Olga Narepecka, President of UWAC Daughters of Ukraine for her cooperation

  • Marusia Wenger for helping me with my written Ukrainian

  • Fr. Volodymyr Kouchnir for his guidance and advice

Most importantly, I thank my wife Irene, for her patience, views and opinions, and for her help in typing letters and reports. I especially thank her for putting up with me, for her understanding and for her moral support.

Finally, thank you members of this parish for electing me as your president and for offering me the opportunity to serve this parish community. I thank you for the trust you have given me. I thank you for the prayers and good wishes you bestowed upon me, that have lifted my spirits during my illness.

Victor Sidorenko, President February 15, 2009


Index to the Annual Reports
Father Volodymyr English | Ukrainian

President English | Ukrainian

Camp Saint Sophie English | Ukrainian

Financial Secretary

New and Deceased Members

Home Page