Obituary of REV. FR. THADDEUS KRAWCHUK, C.Ss.R.

With sorrow in our hearts we announce the death of our confrere, Fr. Thaddeus Krawchuk, C.Ss.R., on Saturday, October 10, 2015. He was born on December 14, 1932, the seventh of ten children, to John and Maria (nee Lambert) Krawchuk in Wishart, Sask. Baptised and Confirmed March 5, 1933, by Fr. N. Kopiakiwsky, C.Ss.R., in Archangel St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church (Wishart Farms) he attended nearby Honey Bank Public School for his elementary education, and took his grade nine at Okla High School. He worked for a local farmer to earn his tuition to attend St. Vladimir’s College in Roblin, MB and then St. Joseph’s College in Yorkton, SK, graduating in June, 1953. He entered the novitiate of the Ukrainian Redemptorist Fathers on September 1, 1953 in Yorkton and made his first profession of vows on September 27, 1954. He then took his seminary studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Meadowvale, ON, and made his final profession of vows there on September 27, 1957. He completed his theology studies at Holy Redeemer College in Windsor, ON. On July 17, 1960, Fr. Thaddeus was ordained a priest at the hands of Bishop Andrew Roborecky, D.D., Eparch of Saskatoon, in his home church of St. Michael the Archangel, next to the church in the open air with 1,500 people witnessing the joyous occasion. After completing seminary in June, 1961, he took pastoral studies, first at Assumption University, Windsor, ON, and then at St. Anne’s Pastoral Institute in Montreal. Father was given a variety of assignments over the next few years, which included being the provincial missionary, for a time as socius of novices at the novitiate, and in pastoral work. In June of 1965, Fr. Ted was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Yorkton, where he was congratulated for a number of accomplishments. In 1967 Fr. Ted was appointed Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Hillside, NJ where he worked to complete the building of the church and the revitalizing of the congregation, forming several new clubs and organizations in the parish. In 1972, he took a sabbatical year to attend the Institute of Pastoral Studies at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, being granted in November of 1973 the degree of Master in Pastoral Studies. In that time, Fr. also was Prefect of the Ukrainian Redemptorist students attending St. Paul’s University. In June 1973, Fr. Ted was assigned to St. Joseph’s Monastery in Winnipeg, in 1975 becoming its superior and parish pastor. He was appointed vocation director for the Redemptorists of the Yorkton Province, and as well for the Archeparchy of Winnipeg. At various times Fr. Ted was provincial vicar, consultor and/or provincial council member for the Yorkton Province. He took all his appointments seriously and accepted more than can be recounted here, and had a positive influence in all of them. In 1984 Fr. Ted was assigned to Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Saskatoon, once again becoming involved in the parish, eparchy and church-at-large. He celebrated his silver anniversary of priesthood in 1985 (He marked his golden anniversary in 2010, though in failing health.) Health concerns forced him to take a leave of absence, but he returned to active duty as pastor of the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine in Washington, DC from December, 1989 – 1996 and again from 1998 – 2001. He resolved construction issues and completion of the church interior. Fr. served the Patronage of the Mother of God Church in Marion Heights, PA from November, 2001 – July 2004 and Sts. Peter & Paul U. C. Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA August, 2004 to July, 2006. In tribute to his work at the National Shrine in Washington, donations in his memory will be made to the iconography project. A Memorial Liturgy will be offered there on Sunday, October 18, 2015. In 2011, Fr. returned to Yorkton; while visiting Winnipeg, he took sick and spent some time recovering, eventually being accepted for long term convalescence at St. Joseph’s Home in Saskatoon. Funeral Prayers will be offered at Saskatoon at Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14. The Parastas will be prayed at St. Joseph’s Church in Winnipeg, 250 Jefferson Ave. on Thursday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m., and the Funeral Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s on Friday at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery. May Eternal Memory be granted him, O Lord. “Vichnaya Pam’yat!”