ALBERTOWN — The church of the Holy Apos­tles SS. Peter and Paul is the second church of the parish.

The first church, under the patronage of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, was constructed in 1912 by the founding members of the parish and the Roman Catholic community. It was located on a one and one-half acre site six miles north and three miles west of Hafford. Several years later the Roman Catholic community moved the church to their own site and, with the financial assistance of their Bishop Paschal, reimbursed the construction costs to the Ukrainian community. The present church, under the patronage of SS. Peter and Paul, was constructed in 1927 on the original church site. Bishop Andrew Roborecki made several visitations to the parish and last served a Pontifical Moleben in the church on September 21, 1975.

The church is a rectangular wooden structure on a low concrete basement measuring 30 x 20 feet. It has a shingled gable roof with two metal crosses extending above its front and back summits. The exterior and interior walls have narrow wood (v-joint) siding and contain rectangular windows with sharply arched tops; the window directly above the front entrance has a semicircular summit.

The church is west-east oriented with an east main entrance leading directly into the nave; a stairway at the north wall of the nave leads to the choir loft. The west sanctuary is elevated and has a south adjoining porch-sacristy with an exit to the church grounds.  Painted in oils directly on the sanctuary walls are three large paintings: the painting behind the main altar depicts the Last Supper; Christ the Redeemer is portrayed on the north wall; the south wall contains the images of the Holy Apostles SS. Peter and Paul. This artwork was done in 1941 by Peter Leskowski and was funded by: Stephanie Klimchuk, Nellie Bobun, Katherine Harach, Katherine Roshko, Mary Bahniuk, Katherine Duma, Alexandra Gresiuk, Mary Kostynsky, Anastasia Wawryniuk, Ann Zaieschuk, Anasia Toporowski, Ann Shurma, Katherine Humen, Mary Klimchuk, Helen Goldy, Katherine J. Bohun, Katherine N. Bohun, Mary Malicky, Mary Toporowski, Molly Boricki, Theodore and Theodozia Zaieschuk, William and Stephanie Klimchuk.

The church interior is dominated by a vaulted ceiling; the floor of the church is wooden; wooden pews in the nave provide seating for approx. 40 persons. The church is lighted by candles and heated by a wood burning heater. Construction of the church was realized through the financial contributions and voluntary labour of the parishioners who also worked voluntarily in landscaping the church site., planting a shelterbelt, and designating a location on the site for a cemetery. Foreman of the con­struction was Wasyl (William) Klimchuk. The church site was donated by Yakiv Klimchuk.

In 1948 a post bell tower with a pyramidal roof was installed near the church. The bell was blessed by Rev. Myron Pylypchuk. Adjacent to it stands a large wooden cross. The parish cemetery lies in continuation of the church property.

Ukrainian settlement in this area began in 1908 predominantly from the Sokal county. The founding members of the parish were: Yakiv Klimchuk, Yosyf Klimchuk, Wasyi Klimchuk, Mykhaylo Toporiwski, Luts Toporiwski, Wasyi Kuchera, Ivan Duma, Fedir (Theodore) Zaieschuk and Mykhaylo Yaroshko. The first pastors to administer to the spiritual needs of the settlers were: Rev. Ksenophont Rozdolski, Rev. Nicho­las Demkiw and Rev. Nestor Dromhomyrecki.

In 1941 the parish registered 17 members with 43 children (Prop. Knyha), in 1961 there were 50 souls (Directory) and in 1975, 11 families and three single members were accounted for. In 1976 the parish was under the directorship of: Rev. Roman Homenko, pastor, Dmytro Bodnarchuk, Mike Gresiuk, Nick Bohun, Walter Bohun, Bronie Hupalo and Slawko Zaiachkowsky.

The Ukrainian Catholic parish of the Holy Apos­tles SS. Peter and Paul, Albertown, is under the pastoral charge of Hafford.

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Updated October 2003

Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church of Albertown has stood for over three quarters of a century, in veneration of God and in commemoration of the pioneers who overcame many hardships and built a place of worship for themselves and for succeeding generations.

Since its establishment, many priests have ministered to the needs of the Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic parish.  Reverend Dominic Mazun served the longest, for a total of 22 years from 1981-2003. The parish presently has 27 members and is under the charge of the Hafford Pastoral District which is under the directorship of Reverend. Fr. Michael Fedoriv.  Victor Hupaelo is parish president, Eddie Hupaelo is vice-president and Walter Bohun is secretary and altar server. Darlene Hupaelo serves as cantor.

The church follows the Julian calendar with Praznyk on July 12.  the parish praznyk is a very important day for the parish as this is when families and friends return to their roots to renew acquaintances and to remember their loved ones buried in the cemetery.

Parish boundaries have now vanished and we also attend Divine Liturgies in neighboring churches, but Albertown is still is our church.

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Updated December 2020

The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Apos­tles Ss. Peter and Paul, Albertown, falls under the Deanery of Saskatoon, under the pastoral charge of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of St. George-Saskatoon, which includes the North Battleford and Hafford District, with Very Reverend Janko Kolosnjaji as Parish Administrator.