The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption – Alvena Farms, Saskatchewan
The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Alvena Farms is the second church built for this historic parish. The original 1905 log church served the community until 1923, when it was dismantled and replaced with the current structure.
Built between 1923 and 1925, the present church is a striking wooden cruciform design featuring a shingled gable roof, a large central octagonal dome crowned with a cupola, and two front towers topped with matching cupolas. The interior and exterior are finished in painted wood siding with arched rectangular windows that brighten the space.
A small roofed porch-vestibule leads into the church. Inside, the elevated sanctuary holds the main altar with two adjoining sacristies that open to the church grounds. Traditionally dedicated glass-mounted oil prints decorate the sanctuary and nave. Opposite the altar sits the choir loft, accessed from the nave. The well-lit central dome dominates the interior, while the wings of the cruciform plan feature vaulted ceilings. Seating for about 150 people is provided by wooden pews, with electrical lighting and central oil heat.
Construction was completed entirely through the donations and volunteer labour of parishioners, costing a total of $12,000. The church grounds also include a wooden belfry (1923), an early memorial cross, and the parish cemetery. Nearby stands the Prosvita Hall, built in 1932 during the pastorate of Rev. Stefan Semczuk, which served as a cultural and community gathering place.
Ukrainian settlement in this region began in 1899, with families arriving from the Borshchiv and Sokal counties. Today, the Church of the Assumption at Alvena Farms remains part of the Ukrainian Catholic Deanery of Saskatoon and continues to stand as a significant landmark of Ukrainian prairie heritage.
