Obituary for
Reverend Father Ignatius Holowaychuk, OSBM
1935 – 2022
Reverend Father Ignatius Holowaychuk, OSBM died peacefully at Mary Immaculate Care Center in Mundare, AB on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
Born Walter (Volodymyr) on January 9, 1935, in Andrew, AB, he entered the Basilian Novitiate in Mundare, AB on August 28, 1958, and made his Solemn Profession of Vows in the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat on September 22, 1963. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on January 14, 1968, by Bishop Neil Savaryn, OSBM at St. Basil’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Edmonton, AB, after having completed four years of theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.
Throughout his active years in the Basilian Order, Father Ignatius heeded the missionary call of the Order, and was always ready and willing to accept various pastoral appointments throughout the Basilian Apostolate of the Canadian Province and fulfill his responsibilities to the very best of his abilities. Father Ignatius served at St. Basil’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Edmonton, AB; St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Borschiw, AB; Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Chipman, AB; at the Basilian Parish in Bradford, England; St. Basil’s Catholic Parish in Toronto, ON; St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine in Ottawa, ON; Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Vegreville, AB; the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Vancouver, BC; at several parishes in the Lamont area; and at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Mundare, AB. He also served for 10 years as Editor of the Basilian Order’s English bi-monthly magazine, “Beacon.” After his retirement from active pastoral ministry in 2015, Father Ignatius was appointed Confessor for Basilian Students at the Basilian House of Studies in Edmonton, AB.
Father Ignatius is survived by his siblings, Donna, Dennis, and Eleanor, all of Edmonton, as well as a large extended family. He was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Mary (nee Sloboda) Holowaychuk; and his brother, Reverend Father Anthony Holowaychuk, OSBM. From his family, in addition to Father Anthony, there were two other religious vocations: his uncle, Reverend Father Boniface Sloboda, OSBM, and his aunt, Saint Boniface Sloboda, SSMI, both deceased.
Monastic Parastas will be celebrated at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Mundare, AB on Monday, May 23, 2022, at 6 p.m. The Funeral Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 24 at 10:00 a.m., also at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, with interment to follow in the Basilian Order’s section of Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Mundare, AB.
Donations in memory of Father Ignatius Holowaychuk, OSBM may be made to the Education of Basilian Priests, c/o Basilian Fathers, 737 Bannerman Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R2X 1J9.
God grant Father Ignatius eternal rest and entrance into the eternal happiness where all the saints repose!
Vichnaya Pamyiat! Khrystos Voskres!
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Reverend Father Ignatius
Holowaychuk OSBM 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Vegreville, Province: Alberta