Cleric.
Born at Lwiw, Ukraine on 2 November 1899, son of Theodore Semczuk and Catherine Petrukh, his primary and secondary education occurred at Lwiw and Czesaniw and was completed at Peremyshi. Near the end of the First World War, he enlisted in Ukrainian military forces and fought on the Italian front. From 1919 to 1923, he attended a seminary at Peremyshi and was ordained to the Ukrainian Catholic priesthood in February 1923. He served in several parishes in the Peremyshi Diocese before coming to Canada in 1928. He gave his first sermon at Gonor. He was a parish priest at Alvena, Saskatchewan (1929-1933) and Canora (1933-1937). He came to Winnipeg in 1937 and served as pastor of St. Pokrowa (1937-1952) and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (1952-1965). He was the chaplain of the Holy Family Nursing Home and, from 1967 to his death, was associate pastor at Holy Eucharist Parish. He wrote several books of poetry, was associate editor of Canadian Ukraine, editor of Future of the Nation (1933-1952), and Theological Journal (Logos). In 1946, he founded the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood of Canada at a conference in Winnipeg. He died at Winnipeg on 4 August 1984. He is commemorated by the Rt. Rev. Mitrat Stefan Semczuk Foundation.
“Founder honored at dinner,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 December 1968.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 8 August 1984, page 46.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 4 April 2020
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