In 1918, Ukrainian immigrants to the Canadian prairies began building a church that would remind them of home. Rising from the flat Saskatchewan landscape, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Wakaw features the distinctive onion domes and iconographic tradition of Eastern Christianity. Designated a National Historic Site, this church stands as testimony to the faith that Ukrainian settlers carried across the Atlantic.
The Wakaw church is part of the larger Ukrainian Catholic presence in Canada, which flourished as waves of immigrants arrived from the 1890s through the early 20th century. These settlers brought with them the Byzantine-Rite Catholicism of their homeland—the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the married priesthood, the iconic tradition of prayer through images. Today their descendants maintain these traditions while worshipping in full communion with Rome.
For pilgrims, the Wakaw church offers an encounter with a distinctive expression of Catholic faith—Eastern in its spirituality, rooted in the Canadian prairie.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Ukrainian Catholic immigration to Canada began in earnest in 1891, when settlers from Galicia and Bukovyna arrived seeking farmland on the prairies. By 1918, enough families had settled around Wakaw to build a substantial church. The resulting structure, completed in 1924, became one of the finest examples of Ukrainian ecclesiastical architecture in Western Canada.
The Ukrainian Catholic Church traces its origins to the Union of Brest in 1596, when Ukrainian bishops entered communion with Rome while retaining their Byzantine liturgical and spiritual traditions. Persecuted under both Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union, Ukrainian Catholics found freedom to practice their faith in Canada.
The Wakaw church was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990, recognizing its architectural and cultural significance. The church features traditional iconography and continues to serve an active parish community.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Wakaw
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church
A National Historic Site of Byzantine Catholic heritage
The church features traditional Ukrainian ecclesiastical architecture with distinctive domes and crosses. The interior displays traditional iconography, including a full iconostasis (icon screen) separating the nave from the sanctuary. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated according to Byzantine tradition.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of the Assumption — August 15
The patronal feast, celebrated with the Divine Liturgy and community festivities.
Pascha (Easter)
The most solemn celebration of the Byzantine year, often falling on a different date than Western Easter.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Hotels in Prince Albert (70 km north) — The nearest city with full hotel services.
Saskatoon Hotels (120 km southwest) — Larger selection of accommodations.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE) is 120 km southwest.
By Car: From Saskatoon, take Highway 11 north to Highway 41 east. Wakaw is a small town; the church is visible from the main road.
🔗 Useful Links
Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon — Diocesan information and parish directory.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Winnipeg (500 km east) — St. Boniface Cathedral and Ukrainian churches.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Lord, I have loved the beauty of your house, the place where your glory dwells." — Psalm 26:8
