Ukrainian Catholic Church in Centralia designated as pilgrimage site

By John E. Usalis / Published: August 22, 2016

CENTRALIA — The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church has been named a holy site of pilgrimage and will host its first pilgrimage on Sunday, beginning with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at noon.

The church was recently named a pilgrimage site by His Beatitude Major-Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, primate of the worldwide Ukrainian Catholic Church. He visited the church in November 2015 during his time in the United States, and also stopped at other Ukrainian Catholic churches in the area during his historic visit.

When he visited the Centralia church, which is actually located in Conyngham Township, Columbia County, Shevchuk marveled at the continuing presence of the church there. He also noted how this coal region parish fostered four priestly vocations and three sisters to the religious life.

The parish was founded Aug. 15, 1911, with the first services in the church in 1912. The 100th anniversary was celebrated in 2011. The church still serves a thriving parish family, with congregants driving to the hilltop on Sundays and holy days from communities throughout the area.

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