Whitesand – Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Whitesand church of the Patronage of the B.V.M. constructed 1937, 10 miles north-east of Springside; R.M. 274.
WHITESAND — The church of the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the second church of the parish.
The parishioners constructed the first church in 1911 at a total cost of $1,000. Initially the parish was served by the Presbyterian clergy; from 1913 it came under the pastoral charge of the Redemptorist Fathers from Yorkton. The parish was visited twice by Bishop Nicetas Budka who blessed the church in 1914. Archbishop Basil Ladyka honoured the parish with a visit in 1933. In 1937 the church was dismantled and a new structure was constructed on the site.
The two acre hilly and partially forested church and cemetery site was donated by Vasyi’ Shpyley and is ten miles north-east of Springside. The church was constructed in 1937 by the parishioners under the foremanship of W. Huziak of Arran at a total cost of $3,500. It is a wooden cruciform structure measuring 64 x 38 feet with a large central dome and three smaller cupolas; two cupolas are above the frontal towers, the third is at the frontal apex of the gable roof.
In the interior of the church the main altar is in an elevated sanctuary; two small side altars dedicated to the Holy Mother of God and Christ Who Loves Mankind are found along the lateral walls of the nave. Opposite the sanctuary, above the vestibule, is a choir loft. The interior ceiling is vaulted and merges into a high central dome supported by a drum with four windows. Wooden pews found in the nave provide seating for approx. 120 persons. The church does not have electricity, central heating is accomplished by wood burning.
The church was blessed by Bishop Neil Savaryn on Sunday, September 3, 1944; Bishop Andrew Roborecki celebrated Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the church on May 17, 1959 and May 18, 1969.
The church grounds contain a mission cross installed in 1933 and a belfry constructed in 1939; the bell was acquired in 1920 for the sum of $380. A parish hall, which was purchased in 1949 from the Yorkton Airport, is also located near the church on parish property.
Ukrainian settlers arrived in the Whitesand area in 1903 predominantly from the village of Lytsivka in the Dolyna county. The founding members who established the parish were: Nykola Bybliv (Byblow), Y. Shpyley (Spelay), Illiya Kucher, N. Shumay, Mykh. Byblow, V. Stefanyshyn, T. Spelay, T. Senkiw, V. Senkiw, Ivan Byblow. Teodor Spelay, Nykola Dyriv (Derrow or Derow), Iv. Diakow, V. Lachmanec, Dm. Shiyakhetka (Shiahetka), Iv. Pawliw, V. Derrow, Illya Derrow, Yu. Popowich, N. Diakow, Ivan N. Pawliw, M. Popowich, M. Stefanyshyn, Tymko Byblow, V. Skalivsky, Iv. Kucher, Semen Popowich, Yu. Lozynsky, M. Tsyupa, V. N. Spelay, V. Byblow, 01. Byblow, V. Shumay, N. Spelay, N. Lachmanec, N. Fedun, Iv. Shpelchyn (Spilchen), T. Shiahetka, V. T. Spilchen, P. Stefanyshyn, M. Trisch and Yu. Shumay. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Noel Maria Descamps, CSSR, on June 8, 1913. The Rev. Basil Shumay, Rev. Joseph Senkiw, OSBM, Rev. Dmytro Byblow, CSSR, Sr. Mechtilde, M. Byblow, SMI, and Sr. Frances E. Byblow, SMI, originate from this parish.
In 1941 the parish consisted of 75 members with 200 children (Prop. Knyha). In 1961 there were 200 souls (Directory) and in 1975, 38 families and 15 single members remained. In 1976 the parish was under the directorship of: Rev. Roman Muzychka, CSSR, pastor, Mike Shumay, John Shumay, Mike B. Byblow, Lawrence Derrow, Pauline Spelay, Margaret Diakow, Emily Spelay, Pearl Byblow, Mike Diakow and John Popowich.
The Ukrainian Catholic parish of the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Whitesand, is under the pastoral charge of Yorkton.
Update
In 2003 there are 11 family members and 14 widows, widowers and singles. Total membership is 25 and total persons are 36. Board members for year 2002 are Mr. John Popowich, Mr. Peter Kucher, Mr. Paul Byblow, Mr. Lawrence Derow and Mr. Emil Byblow.
Whitesand Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church and Cemetery
51°26’56.4″N 102°39’53.8″W
51.448994, -102.664947
List of Parishes
Albertown - Ss. Peter and Paul
Alticane - St.John the Baptist
Alvena Farms - Assumption of the BVM (closed)
Antonivka - Assumption of the BVM (closed)
Arran-Vesna -Ss. Peter and Paul
Balcarres - Holy Eucharist (closed)
Bankend - Ascension of Our Lord (closed)
Beaver Dale - Assumption of the BVM
Beckenham -Transfiguration of Our Lord (closed)
Bedfordville - St. Nicholas (closed)
Biggar - Sacred Heart (closed)
Birmingham - St. Paraskevia (closed)
Blaine Lake - Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Bobulynci - Transfiguration of Our Lord (closed)
Borshchiv - Ss. Peter and Paul
Broadview - Assumption of the BVM
Brooksby - St. Nicholas (closed)
Bruno - Assumption of the BVM (closed)
Bruno Farms - Holy Trinity (closed)
Buchach - Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Buchanan - Holy Ghost (closed)
Calder - Assumption of the BVM
Carpenter - Ascension of Our Lord (closed)
Chaplin-Thunder Creek - Ss. Peter and Paul
Chekhiv - Descent of the Holy Spirit (closed)
Cudworth Farms -Transfiguration of Our Lord (closed)
Cudworth - Our Lady of Sorrows Shrine
Cudworth Town - Holy Eucharist
Dana - St. John the Baptist (closed)
Dobrowody - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dnipro (Dnieper) - Transfiguration of Our Lord (closed)
Dysart - Holy Eucharist (closed)
Erwood - Blessed Virgin Mary of Succour (closed)
Estevan - Assumption of the BVM
Fosston - St. John the Baptist (closed)
Glen Elder - Danbury - Holy Eucharist (closed)
Glentworth - Assumption of the BVM
Goodeve Farms - Holy Trinity (closed)
Gronlid - St. Michael (closed)
Guernsey - Holy Eucharist (closed)
Havryliuke (Prud'homme) - Sacred Heart
Hazel Dell - Ss. Peter and Paul (closed)
High Tor - Sacred Heart (closed)
Hodgeville - Ss. Peter and Paul
Hryhoriv - St. Demetrius (closed)
Hubbard - Holy Spirit (closed)
Hubbard - Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Hudson Bay - Holy Eucharis t (closed & sold)
Hyas Village - Descent of the Holy Spirit
Insinger Farms - Ss. Peter and Paul (closed)
Invermay - Ss. Vladimir and Olga
Jaroslaw - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Jasmin-Doroshi - Immaculate Conception (closed)
Jasmin - Ss. Peter and Paul (closed)
Jedburgh Village - Ss. Peter and Paul (closed)
Kelliher - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Kindersley - St.John the Baptist (closed)
Kipling - Presentation of the BVM (closed)
Kovalivka-Tiny - Transfigurartion of our Lord (closed)
Kulykiv - Holy Eucharist (closed)
Kyziv-Tiaziv - St. Demetrius (closed)
Laniwci - Ascension of our Lord
Lipton-Herzel - Dormition of BVM (closed)
Macdowall - Descent of the Holy Spirit (closed)
Major - Patronage of the BVM (closed)
Mamornitz - Virgin of Sorrows Ruthenian Church (closed)
Maybridge - St. Nicholas (closed)
Meadow Lake - St. Catherine (closed & sold)
Meath Park-Janow Corners - Assumption of the BVM (closed)
Model Farm - Patronage of the BVM
Montmartre - Ss. Peter and Paul
Moose Jaw - Assumption of the BVM
Nipawin farms - Ascension (closed)
Nora - Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ (closed)
Norquay Farms - Holy Trinity (closed)
Nora - Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ (closed)
Olesha - Sacred Heart of Jesus (closed)
Ormside-Ss. Vladimir and Olga (closed)
Orolow - Descent of the Holy Spirit
Parkerview - St. Nicholas (closed)
Peterson - Descent of the Holy Spirit (closed)
Plain View - Descent of the Holy Spirit (closed)
Podillia - Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery - (No Church-closed)
Ponass Lake - St. Michael the Archangel (closed)
Porcupine Plain - Ss. Peter and Pau (closed & sold)
Preeceville - Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Prud'homme - St. John the Theologian
Radisson - Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Rose Valley - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Rosthern - Holy Apostles SS. Peter and Paul
Rosthern Farms - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Rosthern Farms-Adamivka - Descent of the Holy Spirit (closed)
Runnymede - Ss. Vladimir and Olga (closed)
Samburg - St. John the Baptist (closed)
Saskatoon - Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God
Saskatoon - St. George's Cathedral
Saskatoon - St. Volodymyr Villa Chapel
Sheho Farms - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Sheho Village - Christ the King
Shipman Rural - Ss. Peter and Paul (closed)
St. Julien - Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Pokrov) (closed)
St. Philip's - Assumption of the B.V.M. (closed)
Stenen - St. Nicholas (closed)
Stornoway Cemetery (closed-no church)
Stove Creek - St. Elias (closed)
Swift Current - St. John the Baptist
Tadmore - St. John the Baptist (closed)
Thunder Creek - Ss. Peter and Paul
Tuffnell Village - Holy Trinity (closed)
Tway Farms - St. Paraskevia (closed)
Tway Town - Ss. Peter and Paul
Uhryniv - St. Nicholas (closed)
Ukrainian Park - Pike Lake - St. Volodymyr
Vasyliw - Ss. Constantine and Helena (closed)
Verigin - St. Nicholas (closed)
Wadena - Descent of the Holy Spirt
Weekes - St. Nicholas (closed)
Welechko - Presenation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Whitebeech - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Whitesand - Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Whitkow - Ascension of Our Lord (closed)
Willowbrook - Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Wishart Farms - St. Michael the Archangel (closed)
Wishart Town - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Wolverine - Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)
Wroxton-Farms - Ss. Vladimir and Olga (closed)
Wroxton-Village - Ss. Peter and Paul (closed)
Yellow Creek - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (closed)