In this article, we would like to share with you the story of the parish that had to be closed because of the critically low attendance and financial troubles - Parish of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Curtis Bay.
Since its founding, the parish of Saints Peter and Paul has never been large. The original 30 families were predominantly working-class. Demographics fluctuated over the years due to economic and political influences, including wars, which both attracted and displaced parishioners from Curtis Bay. Despite challenges and a small congregation, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul continued to thrive and glorify God until its closure on March 1, 2024.
Establishment
Ukrainians have resided in Curtis Bay since the early 1900s. In 1910, Father Zachary Orun, then working in the office of Bishop Soter Ortynsky in Philadelphia, began visiting them. With his assistance, the parish was organized, and parishioners built the first wooden church in 1911. Sadly, it burned down in 1913, leading parishioners to purchase a new church from the Presbyterians in 1914. This church has been a spiritual home for parishioners for 110 years.
Among the parishioners who helped organize the parish and purchase the church were Andriy Budahazy, Antin Cyketa, Pawlo Woytowycz, Mykola Durdela, Emilian Shutran, Antin Petryk, Alexander Shandrowsky, Damian Lybunetz, Mykola Shandrowsky, Antin Bartoch, and others.
Pastors
From its inception until 1950, the Church of Peter and Paul in Curtis Bay operated as a missionary station of the Church of St. Michael in Baltimore. In 1950, Father Wasyl Solowiy became the first resident pastor of Saints Peter and Paul parish, serving until 1971. During the 1970s, priests from Curtis Bay also conducted missionary work in Salisbury, serving the faithful at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Francis of Sales. Until 1981, priests continued to reside at the parish of Peter and Paul in Curtis Bay and served as its pastors. However, from the 1980s onwards, the Church of Peter and Paul once again became a missionary parish, with priests from Baltimore commuting to Curtis Bay.
Church Art
Since the Church of Saints Peter and Paul was originally Presbyterian, parishioners endeavored to adorn and furnish it in accordance with our Church's traditions. In 1940, Damian Lybunetz purchased a bell, which was consecrated by parish priest Fr. Wasyl Maniosky and named "Damian." In 1949, parishioners began planning the church's interior decoration, which was completed the same year. Artist Sviatoslav Hordynsky developed a project consisting of 11 icons of saints and feast days for the parish. In 1959, Antin Bartoch and his wife, Elyzaveta, bequeathed their inheritance to the parish for the installation of an iconostasis, which was
completed in 1963 for the parish's 50th anniversary. Mr. William Zahrodnyk from New York crafted the iconostasis, while the icons were created by Christine Dochwat. Metropolitan Ambrose Senyshyn consecrated the new iconostasis during the anniversary celebration on June 23, 1963. Stained glass windows depicting the apostles Peter and Paul were installed in 1966, and the Way of the Cross was added in 1967.
Cantors and Societies
Parish sisterhoods, brotherhoods, and parish life thrived within smaller communities. In 1916, Fr. Konstantin Kuryllo organized the Sisterhood of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, providing prayer and support for many years. The Brotherhood of Saints Peter and Paul already existed, and a branch of the UNA was created in 1918. In the mid-1940s, a choir led by Yuriy Sabol was formed. Ivan Boyko served as the parish cantor and teacher, traveling from Baltimore with priests who served in the parish since 1912. In the 1950s, the Apostleship of Prayer of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Altar Boys Society were established. In the 1960s, the Providence Association began operating at Saints Peter and Paul parish.
School
Since the 1930s, an evening school has operated at the parish, with Basilian sisters, priests, and cantors teaching Ukrainian language and religion for two hours per week. The school was briefly halted during the Second World War but was reinstated by Fr. Wasyl Solowiy in the 1950s. Olha Kozak began teaching at the school in 1958, and the school eventually expanded to include 5th grade. Subsequently, Maria Choma, Petro and Wolodymyra Wojtowycz, and Marusia Zozulak taught and worked at the school. Unfortunately, the school ceased its activities in 1975.
Missions and visitations
Parish spiritual life remained active, with visits from Bishops Constantine Bohachevsky, Ambrose Senyshyn, Stepan Sulyk, and Stepan Soroka. Easter missions were frequently conducted by invited Basilian and Redemptorist Fathers. Over the years, the parish of Saints Peter and Paul received missions from various priests, including Fr. Innokentij Rychkun OSBM, Fr. Stepan Bakhtalovsky CSsR, Fr. Hryhorij Shyshkovich CSsR, Fr. Volodymyr Havlich OSBM, and Fr. Meletius Solowij OSBM.
Priests who served at the parish
Rev. Zachary Orun 1910-1914.
Rev. Wasyl Maniosky 1914; 1922-1927; 1931-1950.
Rev. Constantine Kuryllo 1914-1916.
Rev. John Dumych 1916-1916.
Rev. John Perepelycia 1917.
Rev. Joseph Dzendzera 1917-1918.
Rev. Tymotheus Wasilevich 1918.
Rev. John Zacharkiw 1919.
Rev. Volodymyr Korytowsky 1919-1921.
Rev. Michael Lukawsky 1927-1929.
Rev. Michael Koltutsky 1929-1931.
Rev. Volodymyr Tytar 1931.
Rev. Bohdan Voloshyn 1946-1948.
Rev. Basil Seredowych 1948-1949.
Rev. Roman Hanas 1949-1950.
Rev. Wasyl Solowiy 1950-1971.
Rev. Martin Canavan 1971-1972; 2004.
Rev. Orest Balaban 1972-1973.
Rev. Lev Dorosh 1973.
Rev. George Markewych 1973-1975; 1981-1992.
Rev. Volodymyr Hrabec 1975-1976.
Rev. Walter Paska 1976 - 1980. (Lived at St. Josaphat Seminary)?
Rev. Taras Lonchyna 1980-1981.
Rev. Jaroslav Fedyk 1981.
Rev. Michael Michlik 1992-2003.
Rev. Vasyl Kharuk 2003-2004.
Rev. Vasyl Sivinskyi since September 1, 2004.