JOSEPH DENISCHUK
As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on May 11, 2013
FATHER JOSEPH DENISCHUK, CSSR March 2, 1921 May
1, 2013 On May 1, 2013 in St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Saskatoon,
Father Joseph Denischuk CSsR in his 92nd year was called to His Heavenly
Maker whom he faithfully served for 67 priestly years. Father "Denny",
as he was lovingly known, was a committed teacher, a renown missionary,
a writer of spiritual books and an enthusiastic church builder. In
1952, he founded St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Parish, 250 Jefferson
Ave., was instrumental in organizing Holy Eucharist Parish in Toronto,
but his greatest joy was creating the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine
in Washington, DC. Father "Denny" who was also a professional magician
had an uncanny ability to relate to children, to young people and
seniors alike. He therefore is most fondly remembered as a wonderful
Ukrainian priest who expended all his energy and love in proclaiming the
Word of God. As an active Knights of Columbus, he helped create the
first Ukrainian St. Josaphat Councils, both in Winnipeg and in
Washington. On May 6, a funeral Liturgy was celebrated in St. Mary's
Church in Yorkton by Bishop Bryan Bayda, Bishop-Emeritus Michael Wiwchar
and his Redemptorist confreres. On May 8, another funeral Liturgy was
celebrated at St. Joseph's Church in Winnipeg by Metropolitan-Archbishop
Lawrence and a number of fellow priests and parishioners. Upon his
request, Father Joseph Denischuk CSsR will be buried in the Ukrainian
National cemetery in Washington, DC. May the Good Lord warmly and
lovingly receive him into the Heavenly Kingdom! Vichnaya Pamiat! CROPO
FUNERAL CHAPEL 204-586-8044
Rev. Joseph Denischuk, C.Ss.R. With two confreres at his bedside and a smile on his face, Fr. Joseph Denischuk, CSsR, fell asleep in the Lord on May 1, 2013 at St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Saskatoon, SK at the age of 92. Joseph Denischuk, son of William and Ahafia (Hawryluk) Denischuk, was born in Arborg (Morweena), MB, on March 2, 1921. He was one of a family of eight children: Harry, Peter, John, Mike, Anne, Joseph, Fred and Nicky. He was baptized in the Holy Transfiguration Church in Sylvan, MB by Fr. Louis Bosky, CSsR a Belgian Redemptorist priest from Komarno, Manitoba. In 1929 the family moved to Elfros (Holar), SK. He completed his elementary school in Elfros, SK and took up his high school, novitiate and seminary studies with the Ukrainian Redemptorists in Yorkton. On September 24, 1941 he professed his vows and entered the Ukrainian Redemptorist Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. Archbishop Basil Ladyka, OSBM ordained him a priest on September 8, 1946, and a week later, September 15, he celebrated the first Divine Liturgy at St. Demetrius Parish in Holar, SK. Fr. Joseph was one of seven Ukrainian Redemptorist priests ordained in 1946. After his ordination, Fr. Joseph spent his pastoral year of studies serving the parishes of the Yorkton district. Then he was appointed a teacher at St. Vladimir's College (Minor Seminary) in Roblin, MB. Besides teaching and serving the parishes of the area he was in charge of building a Grotto of the Mother of Perpetual Help on college grounds. Fr. Joseph loved sports. He was a pitcher in softball and a goalie in hockey. He led the students in congregational singing, and directed the seminary choir. During the 50 years of his priestly life, Fr. Joseph served the following parishes in Canada and the United States: Yorkton, SK, Roblin, MB, Saskatoon, SK, Wynyard, SK, Toronto, ON, Newark, NJ and Ituna, SK. He spent 10 years in Winnipeg, where he organized St. Joseph's parish. Assisting the pastor, Fr. S. J. Shawel, he contributed much of his time to the acquisition of a site and the building of the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine in Washington. While at Washington he visited 190 Ukrainian Catholic Parishes in the United States and Canada in support of this great project. From 1979 to 1981 Fr. Joseph along with Fr. Shawel helped to establish the Ukrainian National Cemetery and Mausoleum, and a Ukrainian Washington Federal Credit Union. As an author, Fr. Joseph wrote four books: "Father Joseph Speaks about Vocations", "The Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family, Washington, DC", "Two Hundred Thousand Miles Across America", and "The Denischuk & Hawryluk Family Tree". He also wrote poetry in the Ukrainian and English languages. Besides parish work Fr. Joseph, as a missionary, preached 147 missions and retreats to the faithful in Canada and United States, as well as to priests, monks and nuns. He specialized in children's missions. They will perhaps remember him for his religious magic tricks. "Father Denny the Magician" joined the Society of Canadian Magicians in Toronto in 1971, and during his life mastered over one hundred magic tricks. Fr. Joseph utilized his gifts to evangelize in a unique way with magic. He developed this talent for the sake of spreading the gospel. For eight years, Fr. Joseph was in charge of Altar Boys Summer Camps in the Ukrainian Park by Gimli, MB, and St. Michael's Camp in Madge Lake, SK. As an organizer, he was mostly involved with the Ukrainian Catholic Youth Clubs (UCY). He was a Spiritual Director of the UCY of Winnipeg, of the UCWLC, and of the UCBC. He helped to organize the first Ukrainian Rite Council of the Knights of Columbus in Canada (St. Josaphat's in Winnipeg in 1955), as well as the first Ukrainian Rite Council in the U.S.A. (St. Josaphat's in Washington, DC in 1980). For three years (1964-67), Fr. Joseph was a Vocation Director, encouraging Youth to become priests, brothers and sisters. He visited over one hundred parishes in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Fr. Joseph conducted several fund raising campaigns and his greatest Memorial Fund Raising Campaign was for the building of the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington, DC. In 1999 Father Joseph retired to St. Mary's Monastery in Yorkton. He worked on a narrated DVD slide show presentation of his life, using over 800 photos and performing his live magic. He also wrote his final book "How to Love God" during this time. We will remember him always praying the rosary. On April 1, 2013, Father Joseph moved to St. Joseph's Nursing Home in Saskatoon. He was the last remaining sibling of the Denischuk family. The Redemptorists and the Denischuk family thank the Sisters of St. Joseph and staff at St. Joseph's Nursing Home for the dignified service they provided to Father during his last days. The Priestly Parastas was held on Sunday, May 5, 2013 and the Requiem Divine Liturgy was held on Monday, May 6, 2013 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton with Most Rev. Bishop Bryan Bayda, C.Ss.R., Most Rev. Bishop Emeritus Michael Wiwchar, C.Ss.R., Redemptorist Confreres and Eparchial Clergy as Concelebrants. The cross bearer was Erwin Denischuk and the epistle reader was Arlene Geisler. Serving as the casket bearers were Walter Denischuk, Ted Deneschuk, Leo Oleskiw, Tony Salyn, Joe Dennis and Gene Denischuk. A Funeral Liturgy was held on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Winnipeg. Further services will be held at Holy Family Parish in Washington, D.C. with the interment taking place at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland, USA. Xpuctoc Bockpec! Christ Is Risen! Funeral arrangements were in care of Bailey's Funeral Home.
