Dear Parishioners and Friends of Our Parish,
With the blessing of Archbishop and Metropolitan Michael Kwiatkowski, we are beginning a special chapter in the life of our community — the iconography project for St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church.
This is more than an artistic project. It is the fulfillment of a dream that was born more than 42 years ago, when our church was being built.
A Dream That Has Waited for Its Time
The founders of our parish dreamed that our church would be adorned with sacred icons and iconography that would help everyone who enters this holy place to experience more deeply the presence of God.
For various reasons, this dream remained unfinished.
Or perhaps, it was simply waiting for the right time.
Today, the Lord gives us the opportunity to complete what was begun by our parents, grandparents, founders, and builders of this parish.
This iconography will be our gift of gratitude to all those who, over the decades, sacrificed, worked, and prayed for our community, as well as to everyone who continues to build and support our parish today.
The Vision for the Iconography
Recently, Eparchial iconographer Serhiy Kolodka presented the concept for the future iconography of our church.
We are sincerely grateful to everyone who has already reviewed the project and shared their thoughts and suggestions. Your feedback helps us refine the concept and work together to create a sacred space of prayer that reflects the spiritual tradition of our Church.
The preparatory work will begin in August, and the iconography itself is planned for September.
The estimated total cost of the project is $20,000 CAD.
This includes the necessary preparation of the walls — leveling the surfaces, moisture protection, installing plywood on which the canvas will be mounted — as well as the actual iconographic work.
🖌️ You Can Become Part of This History
The iconography will be carried out by Eparchial iconographers from the Iconography School of our Eparchy.
But we also want this project to become a work of our entire parish family.
Everyone who become donor will have a unique opportunity, under the guidance of professional iconographers, to personally paint selected decorative elements of the church.
Imagine that many years from now, your children or grandchildren will come into this church and proudly say:
“I helped create this beauty.”
Or:
“My father, my mother, my grandfather, or my grandmother was part of this project.”
This is how a legacy is created.
This will be more than iconography on the walls. It will be a part of the prayer, work, sacrifice, and love of many generations, preserved for generations to come.
❤️ We Invite You to Make a Contribution
To make this project a reality, we need the support of our entire community.
Every gift — regardless of its size — brings us closer to fulfilling this 42-year-old dream.
Perhaps you can contribute $25, $100, $500, or more. For some, the greatest support may be prayer; others may be able to contribute their time and skills.
Every gift matters.
If you are able to make a larger contribution or would like to become a special benefactor of this project, we would be deeply grateful for your generosity and support.
How to Donate
Memo / Purpose: ICON Painting
e-Transfer:
donate@stmichaelnanaimo.ca
Cheque:
St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church
Cash:
Please place your donation in an envelope and leave it in the collection basket/box at the church.
Tax receipts will be issued for all donations at the end of the year.
Let Us Create History Together
Many years ago, our predecessors came together and built this church.
They may not have known who would pray here 10, 20, or 40 years later. But they built it for us.
Now it is our turn to do something for those who will come after us.
May this iconography become a visible testimony of our faith, gratitude, and love for God and His Church.
Let us complete together the dream that began more than 42 years ago.
🙏 Please pray for this project.
❤️ Please support it according to your means.
🖌️ And we invite you to become personally part of its creation.
Let us create the history of our parish together!
May St. Michael the Archangel bless everyone who takes part in this historic project, and may the Lord reward each person for their generosity, sacrifice, and love.
With prayer and gratitude,
Fr. Stepan Vytvytskyi
St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church
Email: office-stmichael@nweparchy.ca
Tel: 250-327-1763
4017 Victoria Avenue, Nanaimo, BC V9T 2A5
