Although the parish and its members endured extreme economic
hardships during the Great Depression, by the grace of God
and their firm faith, the parish survived under the
leadership of Rev. Wolodymyr Kozoriz. With the improving
economic conditions of the late 1930’s, and the arrival of
Rev. Peter Oleksiw as pastor in 1938, the parish devoted its
efforts to improving the church structure. The entrance was
remodeled; stained glass windows and an iconostasis were
installed. Many religious and cultural activities were given
new impetus. The enrollment in the school increased and the
Sisters of St. Basil came to help with catechetical
instructions. The church choir grew to a membership of
sixty-five voices and reached new heights of prominence. The
drama group also continued to stage productions.
While the era of the Second World War saw a decline in
parish life from what it had been, it leveled out and
returned to normal in the post-war period of the late ‘40’s.
In the year 1951, Rev. Eustace Weselowsky became pastor and
the Rev. Henry Sagan became the first of a series of
parochial vicars assigned to St. George’s parish.
At that time it became clear that the City of Pittsburgh’s
plans for redevelopment would necessitate the eventual
relocation of the church. By 1962 serious planning for the
design and construction of a new building became imperative.
In that year, at an age when most people are preparing to
retire, Rev. Wasyl Dzydzora was assigned as pastor to lead
the congregation through the crucial phase. His unfailing
good humor and patience inspired everyone and contributed
greatly to the success of the building project. For their
part, the parishioners rose to the challenge and gave of
their time, talent and financial resources whole-heartedly.
Ground-breaking ceremonies took place on July 2, 1967. Construction of the church and rectory began in August and
continued through the following year. The first Divine
Liturgy was celebrated in the new building on January 19, 1969, and the move to the new location was complete.
Due to Professor Korbecky’s failing health, Mr. Michael
Bilyk took over the position of cantor at that time and held
it until his death in 1994.
Metropolitan Ambrose (Senyshyn), Archbishop of Philadelphia,
dedicated the new church on June 22, 1969, signaling the end of a uniquely successful
building program: all building loans had been repaid and the
parish was debt-free, due to the generosity of the
parishioners and the never seizing hard work of the pyrohy
workers.
One of the most memorable events in the history of the
parish was the visit of His Beatitude Patriarch Josyf (Slipyj),
Cardinal and Confessor of Faith, on May 19, 1973. It was a poignant reunion
between Rev. Wasyl Dzydzora the Patriarch, who had been
rector of Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv during the 1920’s
when Rev. Wasyl Dzydzora was a seminarian. During his visit
Patriarch Josyf made Fr. Wasyl one of the honorary canons of
St. George Archcathedral in Lviv.
The construction completed, the congregation continued its
intense efforts to furnish and decorate the church in a
traditional Byzantine style. On a pay-as-you-go basis, the
stained glass windows, icon mosaics, an iconostasis, was
well as an artful decoration of the interior, were all added
to make St. George’s one of the most beautiful examples of a
Ukrainian Catholic Church in typical Greco-Byzantine style.
The completely redecorated church was rededicated by our
Eparchial Bishop His Grace Bishop Robert (Moskal) on May 19, 1985. Nor was this the only
program of revitalization and expansion undertaken by the
parish. Rev. Wasyl Dzydzora and members of the parish were
early supporters of the establishment of the Selfreliance
Federal Credit Union. Properties adjacent to the church were
purchased for possible future use. A plan for a senior
citizens’ hi-rise at the church was mapped out by the
parish, and negotiations with the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development initiated.
Due to the scarcity of priests, Very Rev. Canon Wasyl
Dzydzora continued to serve as pastor well beyond the normal
term. In 1983, Rev. George Appleyard began assisting Fr.
Wasyl as a visiting priest from the neighboring parish of
St. John the Baptist in McKees Rocks. At Rev. Wasyl
Dzydzora’s retirement in 1984 at the age of 88, His Grace
Bishop Robert conferred on him the rank and dignity of
Archpriest, and Rev. George Appleyard succeeded him as
pastor.
Rev. George Appleyard began his pastoral ministry at St.
George’s just after the creation of the Ukrainian Catholic
Eparchy of St. Josaphat by His Holiness Pope John Paul II
(December 3, 1983). It was under his direction that the
senior citizens’ hi-rise was completed and dedicated in 1986
and a five story apartment complex dedicated to the memory
of the Servant of God Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky now
stands behind the church. During his years at St. George’s
Rev. George Appleyard was very much involved in the
catechetical program of the parish and ran a very successful
“Teen Talk” for the young people of the parish. Besides his
parochial ministry Fr. George is well known for his
education and retreat ministry. He has published many
articles explaining the Byzantine spiritual legacy. On June
17, 1990, Patriarch’s Josyf’s successor Patriarch and
Cardinal Myroslav Ivan (Lubachivsky), visited St. George’s
and blessed a site in the front of the church complex for a
granite monument to mark the millennium of Christianity in
Ukraine and the approaching diamond jubilee of the parish.
In the year 1994 Rev. George Appleyard was named Monsignor,
Papal Chaplain by Pope John Paul II. Being always very much
involved in the ecumenical dialogue and activity of
churches, through him St. George’s became a member of the
Northside Common Ministries. In recognition of his priestly
ministry and through the initiative of the parishioners,
Msgr. George Appleyard was awarded in 1995 by the Serra Club
of Pittsburgh the Good Shepherd Award. A second housing
project for the elderly called St. George’s Close was also
initiated by Msgr. George Appleyard. These 18 all-brick
apartments adjoining the church were dedicated on April 21,
2002, by His Grace Bishop Robert.
After the transfer of Msgr. George Appleyard in 1999, the
following priests served the parish family of St. George’s:
Rev. Roman Harwas, Rev. Andrew Marko and Rev. Steven
Paliwoda.
On August 1, 2001,
the present pastor Fr. Valerian M. Michlik began his
priestly ministry serving our parish family. Throughout the
history of St. George’s the faithful, together with their
priests, have accomplished great achievements for the
greater glory of God and His Holy Church. As we come closer
to the celebration of the 90th anniversary of St. George’s
we ask Almighty God to bless and to preserve our parish
family for many happy and blessed years.
