About Immaculate Conception [Ukrainian] · Palatine, Illinois
Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church in Palatine, Illinois is an Eastern Catholic (Byzantine-rite) parish of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, belonging to the St. Nicholas Eparchy of Chicago within the Philadelphia Metropolia for Ukrainian Catholics in the United States. Located in a northwest Chicago suburb, it serves a trilingual community (Ukrainian, English, and occasional other languages) and has been designated by Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk as the Eparchial Shrine of the New Martyrs of Ukraine of the 20th Century. The parish operates a religious school, the Brotherhood of St. Michael the Archangel, a Sisterhood, and a Theology of the Body program, and Divine Liturgies are celebrated almost every day and live-streamed on Facebook.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- The Conception of the Immaculate Mother of God (Immaculate Conception); secondarily, the New Martyrs of Ukraine of the 20th Century (parish is the Eparchial Shrine of the New Martyrs)
- Rector
- Archpriest Mitred Mykhailo Kuzma (Pastor, since 1995)
- Diocese
- St. Nicholas Eparchy of Chicago (Ukrainian Greek Catholic); part of the Philadelphia Metropolia for Ukrainian Catholics in the USA and the worldwide Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC)
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is one of only a handful of Ukrainian Greek Catholic parishes in the Chicago area, and the only one in the northwestern suburbs, making it a regional home for Byzantine-rite Catholics and anyone drawn to Ukrainian spirituality. It offers the full Eastern Catholic liturgical life — Divine Liturgy celebrated in Ukrainian and English, weekday services, Vespers on Saturday and on the eve of feasts, the parish's distinctive Forgiveness Sunday ritual, and the veneration of the relics of the New Martyrs of Ukraine — along with vibrant lay organizations (Brotherhood of St. Michael the Archangel, Sisterhood, Mothers in Prayer), religious education and First Solemn Communion preparation, altar servers, Theology of the Body, a live-streamed Facebook liturgy feed, and a newly built (2021) accessible Hutzul-style church that doubles as the Eparchial Shrine of the New Martyrs of Ukraine of the 20th Century. The parish is welcoming of non-Ukrainians ('One need not be ethnically Ukrainian to join our parish').
Mass times at Immaculate Conception [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment on Wednesdays with Fr. Mykhailo Kuzma (call in advance to set a time)
- Available by appointment with Fr. Yaroslav Mendyuk
Who We Are
Immaculate Conception (formally, the Conception of the Immaculate Mother of God) is an Eastern Catholic parish in the Byzantine tradition belonging to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). It is part of the St. Nicholas Eparchy of Chicago, which is part of the Philadelphia Metropolia for Ukrainian Catholics in the United States. The Metropolia and the worldwide UGCC are headed by the Synod of Bishops under His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), elected and enthroned March 27, 2011. Although the parish comes from the Ukrainian people, the parish website emphasizes that 'One need not be ethnically Ukrainian to join our parish. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is a church that comes from the Ukrainian people, but is for the entire human race.'
- Eastern Catholic (Byzantine-rite) parish
- Member of St. Nicholas Eparchy of Chicago
- Part of the Philadelphia Metropolia for Ukrainian Catholics
- Worldwide Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church under Patriarch Sviatoslav
- Open to faithful of any ethnic background
History
The parish's roots reach back to the pioneer St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic community established in Chicago in 1905 (cathedral built 1911 at Rice Street and Oakley Boulevard). After WWII, American-born children of St. Nicholas parishioners — many of them veterans — began to settle in the northwestern suburbs, and with the arrival of Fr. Joseph Shary in 1956 the parish of St. Joseph was organized on Cumberland Avenue in Chicago. A further wave of post-war immigrants (the 'third wavers') settled in Palatine, and in the autumn of 1959 Mrs. E. Jachniw and Mr. O. Waskiw approached Fr. Shary about celebrating occasional Divine Liturgies in Palatine. The first Liturgy was celebrated on September 25, 1960 at St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church with about 55 faithful, and the parish grew from there into a permanent community with its own church (built 1963–1964), expanded buildings, and ultimately a new Hutzul-style church consecrated October 10, 2021.
- 1956 — Fr. Joseph Shary organizes St. Joseph parish in Chicago
- Sept. 25, 1960 — First Divine Liturgy in Palatine at St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church
- 1961–1962 — Weekly Divine Liturgies at Oak Street Public School
- May 15, 1962 — Benton/Illinois property purchased for St. Nicholas Eparchy
- June 17, 1962 — Property blessed by Fr. Shary; cross placed
- Sept. 3, 1962 — Foundation work begins
- 1963 — Brotherhood of the Immaculate Conception organized; parish numbered 30 families
- Dec. 25, 1963 — First Divine Liturgy in the church hall
- March 25, 1964 (Annunciation) — First Divine Liturgy in church proper
- March 1965 — Fr. Roman Bialecky installed as pastor (transferred shortly after)
- Dec. 14, 1969 — Church building blessed by Bishop Jaroslav Gabro
- 1987 — Anniversary of Fr. Chirovsky era noted
- c. 1991–92 — Fr. Jose Hazuda introduces Forgiveness Sunday service and Sunday English Liturgy
- 1992–95 — Series of short/interim pastors
- 1995 — Fr. Mykhailo Kuzma arrives with his wife Oksana
- Nov. 4, 2001 — Fr. Mykhailo elevated to cross-bearing archpriest at his 20th ordination jubilee
- Sept. 26, 2011 — Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk blesses foundation stones for new church/shrine
- Oct. 28, 2012 — 50th anniversary launched with Bishop Richard Seminack and Fr. Kuzma
- Feb. 10, 2013 — Founder's Luncheon celebrates founding members
- July 7, 2019 — Groundbreaking for new church
- Oct. 10, 2021 — New Hutzul-style church consecrated by Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk
Patron & Shrines
The parish's formal patron is the Conception of the Immaculate Mother of God. In addition, His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav and the worldwide Synod of Ukrainian Catholic Bishops have designated Immaculate Conception as the Eparchial Shrine of the New Martyrs of Ukraine of the 20th Century. During a Synod, permission was granted to place relics of the New Martyrs in the newly built church for prayer and veneration, and Patriarch Sviatoslav personally blessed the transfer of those relics.
- Patron: The Conception of the Immaculate Mother of God
- Eparchial Shrine of the New Martyrs of Ukraine of the 20th Century
- Relics of the New Martyrs venerated in the new church
- Foundation stones blessed by Patriarch Sviatoslav, Sept. 26, 2011
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by two priests: Archpriest Mitred Mykhailo Kuzma, Pastor (since 1995), and Archpriest Yaroslav Mendyuk, Associate Pastor. Fr. Kuzma, together with his wife Oksana, has been the steady pastoral leader of the parish for three decades and is the principal architect of the new church project. Fr. Yaroslav Mendyuk also takes calls from the faithful who wish to speak with a priest.
- Archpriest Mitred Mykhailo Kuzma — Pastor (since 1995); tel. (847) 991-0820; [email protected]
- Archpriest Yaroslav Mendyuk — Associate Pastor; tel. (224) 801-1907; [email protected]
- To speak with a priest by phone: Fr. Yaroslav 224-801-1907 or Fr. Mykhailo 847-991-0820
- Fr. Mykhailo is available to talk, hear Confession, or offer spiritual counsel on Wednesdays (call in advance)
Liturgical Schedule (Order of Services)
Immaculate Conception celebrates the Eastern-rite Divine Liturgy almost every day. Sunday worship is offered in three Ukrainian services and one English service, while weekday and Saturday services are normally in Ukrainian. Vespers are sung on Saturdays and on the eve of feasts at 6:00 PM. All services are live-streamed on the parish Facebook page, and the bulletin should be consulted for any schedule changes.
- Sunday 8:00 AM — Ukrainian
- Sunday 10:00 AM — English
- Sunday 12:00 PM — Ukrainian
- Sunday 4:00 PM — Ukrainian
- Saturday 9:00 AM — Divine Liturgy
- Saturday / eve of feast 6:00 PM — Vespers
- Weekdays (Mon–Fri) 8:00 AM — Divine Liturgy
- Weekday Holy Days 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM
- All services live-streamed on Facebook
Ministries & Organizations
The parish runs a robust slate of lay ministries, organizations, and formation programs rooted in Ukrainian Catholic tradition. The Brotherhood of St. Archangel Michael and the Sisterhood anchor the parish's social, charitable, and fundraising life; religious education and First Solemn Communion preparation form the next generation; and special programs such as Mothers in Prayer, Theology of the Body, and the Parish Pastoral Council support the spiritual and pastoral mission of the community.
- Brotherhood of St. Archangel Michael — prayer, fellowship, parish fundraisers (Movie Nights, Valentine's Dance, tailgate parties, BBQs); leads Christian social action (right-to-life of the unborn, freedom of religion); began the Lenten programs and all-night Vigils
- Sisterhood
- Religious Education (parish religious school)
- First Solemn Communion Preparation
- Altar Boys
- Mothers in Prayer
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Finance Committee
- Committee of the Eparchial Shrine
- Theology of the Body
- Parish Pastoral Council
Architecture & the New Church
On October 10, 2021 Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk consecrated the parish's new Hutzul-style wooden church — the first new church consecrated in the St. Nicholas Eparchy in 44 years. Designed by architect Joseph Mycyk and built around the parish's existing Hutzul bell tower, the new church accommodates about 200 worshippers in the Nave and includes a lift and ramp for accessibility, a parish office and conference room, and a large lower basement for parish gatherings. The new altar, built by a master craftsman in Lviv, arrived from Ukraine only days before the consecration. The previous 1963 building, always intended as temporary, served for more than 50 years.
- Architect: Joseph Mycyk (d. 2021, two months before consecration)
- Style: traditional Hutzul wooden church from the Carpathians
- Nave capacity: ~200 worshippers
- Hutzul bell tower (30+ years old) incorporated as focal point
- New altar hand-crafted in Lviv, Ukraine
- Lift and ramp for full accessibility
- Parish office, conference room, large lower-basement gathering space
- Relics of the New Martyrs of Ukraine of the 20th Century installed
- Consecration Divine Liturgy: Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk with priests of all Ukrainian Catholic parishes in Chicago and the Ukrainian Orthodox parish of Bloomingdale
- Combined parish choir and CYM/SUM Mykola Pavlushkova Branch choir sang
The Shrine of the New Martyrs
As the Eparchial Shrine of the New Martyrs of Ukraine of the 20th Century, the parish is committed to spreading the ministry of the New Martyrs. Patriarch Sviatoslav blessed the transfer of relics for veneration in the new church, and the Committee of the Eparchial Shrine is one of the parish's standing ministries. The 2021 consecration of the new church formalized the parish's role as a pilgrimage site for Byzantine-rite Catholics across the Midwest.
- Eparchial Shrine of the New Martyrs of Ukraine of the 20th Century
- Relics of the New Martyrs transferred with Patriarch Sviatoslav's blessing
- Committee of the Eparchial Shrine is a parish ministry
- Pilgrimage destination in the St. Nicholas Eparchy
Faith Formation & Religious School
Faith formation is offered through the parish Religious School and a dedicated First Solemn Communion Preparation program. Children also participate as altar servers, and the parish hosts special services and celebrations such as Holy Communion milestones, photographed and shared on the parish gallery.
- Religious Education / Religious School
- First Solemn Communion Preparation
- Altar Boys
- Theology of the Body
- Mothers in Prayer (parental formation)
Outreach & Social Action
The Brotherhood of St. Michael the Archangel has led the parish's Christian social action, including advocacy for the right to life of the unborn and for religious freedom. The parish also builds community through Lenten programs, all-night Vigils (begun by the Brotherhood), and regular social events such as the Fall Festival, Movie Nights, Valentine's Day Dance, tailgate parties, and BBQs.
- Christian social action led by Brotherhood (right-to-life, religious freedom)
- Lenten programs and all-night Vigils
- Annual Fall Festival (launched for 50th anniversary in 2012)
- Movie Nights, Valentine's Day Dance, tailgate parties, BBQs
- Founder's Luncheon (Feb. 10, 2013) honoring founding members
Sacraments
As an Eastern Catholic (Byzantine-rite) parish in communion with Rome, Immaculate Conception celebrates the seven sacraments in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic tradition: Baptism, Chrismation (Confirmation), the Eucharist (typically received as First Solemn Communion), Confession, Marriage (the Crowning), Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. The parish provides dedicated preparation for First Solemn Communion, and Confession is arranged by appointment.
- Baptism (Byzantine rite)
- Chrismation / Confirmation
- First Solemn Communion with dedicated preparation
- Confession — by appointment
- Marriage (Crowning)
- Anointing of the Sick — on request
- Holy Orders (vocations supported through prayer and witness)
Visiting, Contact & Location
The parish welcomes visitors and pilgrims to the new Hutzul-style church and Eparchial Shrine in downtown Palatine. Office hours are 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. The church is fully accessible, and all services are live-streamed on Facebook for the homebound and diaspora.
- Address: 116 E Illinois Ave, Palatine, IL 60067 (corner of S. Benton St. & Illinois Ave.)
- Phone: (847) 991-0820
- Office hours: Mon–Sat, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Accessible: lift and ramp
- Live-streamed services via Facebook
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Associate pastor email: [email protected]
The New Church Project — Capital Campaign
The construction of the new church was the culmination of roughly 15 years of fundraising. The parish ran a $2.2 million capital campaign, drew major support from the Selfreliance Ukrainian Federal Credit Union and its Foundation, and from the Heritage Foundation, and worked under a building committee led by Michael Panko with Financial Officer Lesia Stasiuk. Construction took 14 months (challenges amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic), and the new church was consecrated on October 10, 2021. With the building consecrated, the parish refocused its efforts on paying the mortgage and furnishing the interior.
- 15 years of fundraising culminating in construction
- $2.2 million capital campaign
- Major donors: Selfreliance Federal Credit Union & Foundation; Heritage Foundation
- Building Committee chaired by Michael Panko
- Financial Officer: Lesia Stasiuk
- 14 months of construction
- Groundbreaking July 7, 2019; consecration Oct. 10, 2021
- Efforts ongoing to pay mortgage and furnish interior
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Shary1960–c. 1965 (founding pastor)
Already organizing St. Joseph on Cumberland Ave. in Chicago from 1956; began celebrating Divine Liturgies in Palatine from 1959; celebrated first Liturgy in Palatine on Sept. 25, 1960 at St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church; built the temporary church (hall 1963, proper 1964) and blessed the Benton/Illinois property June 17, 1962; resumed pastoral charge after Fr. Bialecky's transfer.
- Fr. Roman BialeckyMarch 1965 – c. late 1965
Assistant at St. Joseph in Chicago before being formally installed as pastor of Immaculate Conception in March 1965; transferred to another parish only a few months later.
- Fr. Chirovskyafter 1965 – 1991
Succeeded Fr. Shary as pastor and served for many years until 1991.
- Fr. Alexander Prodywusinterim, c. 1991
Listed among priests who served the parish after Fr. Chirovsky's departure.
- Fr. Jose Hazudac. 1991 – 1992
Multi-lingual, young, energetic priest; introduced the annual Forgiveness Sunday service (during which the pastor and faithful physically approach one another to ask forgiveness) and a Sunday English-language Divine Liturgy to serve American-born faithful.
- Various interim priests1992–1995
After Fr. Hazuda's departure in 1992, a number of priests served as pastors of Immaculate Conception on a short-term or interim basis.
- Fr. Mykhailo Kuzma (Archpriest Mitred)1995–present
Arrived 1995 with his wife Oksana, introduced by Bishop Michael Wiwchar; in 2001 elevated to cross-bearing archpriest (mitred archpriest); led the 50th anniversary (2012–13), the 2011 blessing by Patriarch Sviatoslav, the 2019 groundbreaking, the 2021 consecration of the new church, and the establishment of the parish as the Eparchial Shrine of the New Martyrs of Ukraine of the 20th Century.
- Fr. Andrew Plishkaassistant, at least 2010
Listed on the parish's archived website (ukrainianic.net, archived 2010) as FR. ANDREW PLISHKA – ASSISTANT under Pastor Fr. Mykhailo Kuzma.
- Fr. Yaroslav Mendyuk (Archpriest)Associate Pastor, present
Currently Associate Pastor alongside Pastor Fr. Mykhailo Kuzma.