About us

The Protection of the Mother of God is a welcoming Byzantine Catholic community located at 464 Ritson Rd S in Oshawa. Our small size allows us to know one another and live out the Gospel together. Originally for Slovak-Canadians, the parish now serves a broader population, with all services in English. As part of the Byzantine Rite, we have the same faith as Roman Catholics while expressing it in our own traditional liturgies.

Our Clergy

The Protection of the Mother of God has two clergymen: Fr. Stephen (our pastor) and Sub-Dcn. Peter.

Reverend Stephen Williams
Reverend Subdeacon Peter Hummenyj

Our Exarchate

We are one of four parishes that make up the Exarchate of Sts. Cyril and Methodius of Toronto of Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Canada. Our cathedral is The Byzantine Catholic Slovak Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Toronto. Our Exarchate is under the jurisdiction of Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, an autonomous, self-governing church in full communion with the Holy See and Pope of Rome.

Exarchy of Sts. Cyril and Methodius of Toronto – exarchy.ca:

  • Apostolic Administrator: Bsp. Kurt Burnette
    • Bsp. Kurt is also the eparch of Passaic (East Coast of the United States)
  • Chancellor: Fr. Marek Novicky
  • Cathedral: The Byzantine Catholic Slovak Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God (257 Shaw St, Toronto)
Most Reverend Kurt Burnette
Very Reverend Marek Novicky
Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God

Parish History

The Slovak Greek-Catholic church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Oshawa officially came into being February 17, 1952 under the guidance of the Ukrainian Catholic bishop, Isodore Borecky. He appointed Fr. Michael Rusnak (who would later become the first bishop of the Slovak eparchy) as pastor of the new parish. He would serve the Divine Liturgy in the Slovak Hall until the church proper could be built.

The campaign for the church building began in January 1955. Donating money, time, and labour, parishioners finished building it in 8 months. The church was blessed by Bishop I. Borecky on the Feast Day of the church – Pokrovy Sunday, October 2, 1955.

The church has since been served by many priests: Frs. Michael Rusnak, John Fetsco, John Pazak, Miroslav Cajka, Pavol Tomko, and currently Fr. Stephen Williams. Frs. Michael and John later went on to be bishops of the eparchy.

Dedication Plaque Embedded in the Church Facade