About Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary [Ukrainian] · Reading, Pennsylvania
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic parish in the Millmont section of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Founded by Ukrainian (mainly Lemko) immigrants from Western Ukraine and the Carpathian region at the beginning of the 20th century, the parish has worshipped in the Byzantine rite since 1906. It is part of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy (Archdiocese) of Philadelphia, the largest Eastern Catholic Church in communion with Rome. Today the parish is served by Rev. Roman Sverdan and celebrates the Divine Liturgy in both English and Ukrainian.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Roman Sverdan
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy (Archdiocese) of Philadelphia
Why belong here
Nativity BVM is a small but enduring Eastern Catholic community where the Byzantine-Ukrainian Divine Liturgy is celebrated in both English and Ukrainian, in the historic Millmont neighborhood of Reading. Parishioners can worship in a beautiful former Roman Catholic church building, raise children in the faith through Saturday religious-education classes (Pre-K through Grade 8), and join a tight-knit community that hosts Ukrainian heritage festivals, pierogi and pyrohy sales, rummage sales, and other events in its social hall at 211 Grace Street. It is a parish that has preserved its Lemko-Ukrainian heritage for more than a century while remaining fully open to anyone seeking prayer, fellowship, and the Eastern Catholic tradition.
Mass times at Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half hour before Divine Liturgy
Parish History
Founded in 1906 by Lemko-Ukrainian immigrants in Reading's Millmont section, the parish has worshipped in the Byzantine rite for more than a century. After meeting first in a converted house-chapel at 632 Laurel Street, the community built a Byzantine-style church at 630 Laurel Street (dedicated in 1954 and completed in 1955 under Pastor Rev. Roman Krupa) and worshipped there for decades. The parish moved to its present home at 504 Summit Avenue in 2016 after purchasing the former St. Anthony of Padua complex.
- Parish dedicated late 1906
- First chapel at 632 Laurel St. (1905, $1,800)
- Second church at 630 Laurel St. — Byzantine style, architect G. C. Freeman (1953-1955)
- Move to 504 Summit Ave. (former St. Anthony of Padua) — purchased 2015 for $700,000
- Consecration and blessing January 2, 2016
Founding Generation and Early Years
Around 1900 the first Ukrainian immigrants arrived in Reading from Western Ukraine and the southwestern Carpathians, mainly the Lemko region. Unable at first to build a church of their own rite, they attended St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church and then St. Mary's Polish Catholic Church, where visiting Ukrainian-rite priests — with the approval of Rev. Maluszewski — celebrated the Divine Liturgy. In 1905 the pioneers purchased a home at 632 Laurel Street and converted it into a chapel that seated 100. By 1906 the parish numbered sixteen families and elected its first parochial committee.
- First Mass celebrated by Rev. Pelenski in 1906
- Choir established in 1913
- Mortgage paid off in 1914 under Rev. Petro Popowycz
Building the Laurel Street Church (1941-1955)
After nearly fifty years of longing for a proper church, the parish under Rev. Paul Procko purchased the Ratajack properties at 628-630 Laurel Street in 1941. Father Procko died in February 1949 before the new building could be begun; Rev. Roman Krupa, formerly a Canadian pastor of SS. Vladimir and Olga in Winnipeg and secretary to Archbishop Constantine Bohachevsky, took over in March 1949. With $86,000 raised in 1949 and a $40,000 loan from the Ukrainian Catholic Association 'The Providence,' construction began on September 2, 1953. Architect G. C. Freeman designed the church in the Byzantine style; the main altar was blessed on December 12, 1954, and the spiral spire was completed fifteen months later. Father Krupa died on October 18, 1955, leaving the church as his monument.
- Ladies Auxiliary founded 1949 — pierogi sales raised about $15,000
- Altar blessing December 12, 1954 with Very Rev. Dr. Stephen Chehansky officiating
- Spire completed in 1955
The Move to Millmont (2004-2016)
By 2004 deterioration of the neighborhood around the Laurel Street church prompted the parish to look outward. They had owned land in Cumru Township along Philadelphia Avenue since 1963. In 2015 they purchased the former St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic complex — church, rectory, and social hall — for $700,000 when St. Anthony's consolidated with St. John Baptist de la Salle in Shillington. Rev. Andriy Rabiy, then pastor, led the transition. A consecration and blessing took place on January 2, 2016, and the first Mass was celebrated the following Sunday.
- St. Anthony's sold for $700,000
- Stained-glass windows and gold dome could not be moved (est. $55,000)
- Consecration January 2, 2016
Liturgy and Schedule
The parish celebrates the Byzantine-rite Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in both English and Ukrainian. The principal weekend liturgies are Saturday at 5:00 PM and Sunday at 10:30 AM, both sung in English; an earlier Ukrainian/English liturgy is also listed on the Archeparchy site. Weekday liturgies are celebrated at 8:00 AM in the rectory chapel whenever scheduled (check the weekly bulletin). Holy Days have a vigil liturgy at 6:30 PM and a 9:00 AM liturgy.
- Saturday 5 PM (English, sung)
- Sunday 10:30 AM (English, sung)
- Weekdays 8 AM at rectory chapel
- Holy Day Vigil 6:30 PM
- Confession half hour before Divine Liturgy
Sacraments and Religious Education
Children's Religious Education classes are offered on Saturdays at 3:30 PM in the lower level of the church, meeting at least twice a month for children in Pre-K/K, Grades 1-2 (First Confession and Holy Communion class), and Grades 3-8. Registration is handled by Director of Religious Education / Choir Director Mrs. Debbie Marco. The parish celebrates the full range of Byzantine-rite sacraments according to the Archeparchy of Philadelphia.
- Pre-K/K class
- Grades 1-2 — First Confession & Holy Communion
- Grades 3-8 continuing formation
- Classes begin in September
Parish Life, Ukrainian Heritage, and Outreach
The parish keeps its Lemko-Ukrainian heritage alive through annual events including the Ukrainian Heritage Festival, potato pancake sales, pyrohy and rolls sales, and rummage sales — most held in the church hall at 211 Grace Street. The Ladies Auxiliary, founded in 1949 by Rev. Paul Procko to make pierogis for fundraisers, remains a hallmark of parish outreach. The parish also enjoys the parish choir (established 1913) and a number of parish societies and sodalities.
- Ukrainian Heritage Festival
- Pyrohy & Rolls sales
- Potato pancake sales
- Rummage sales
- Ladies Auxiliary
- Parish Choir
- Fundraising Committee
Parish Campus and Cemetery
The parish complex includes the church at 504 Summit Avenue, the rectory at 501 Summit Avenue, and the social/church hall at 211 Grace Street in Reading's Millmont section. The parish also owns approximately 100 acres along Philadelphia Avenue (Route 724) in Cumru Township — land church elders purchased in 1963 — which includes the parish cemetery. No definitive plans for the rest of the Cumru property have been announced.
- 504 Summit Ave. — church
- 501 Summit Ave. — rectory
- 211 Grace St. — social hall
- Cumru Township parcel — ~100 acres (cemetery and undeveloped land)
Visiting and Joining the Parish
Visitors are warmly welcomed at any Divine Liturgy. The parish describes itself as 'A Place to Pray, A Place to Grow, A Place to Join, and A Place to Celebrate.' Anyone interested in Byzantine Catholic worship, Ukrainian heritage, or simply a smaller parish community in Berks County is invited to attend a liturgy and introduce themselves to Father Roman Sverdan or to Mrs. Debbie Marco about children's religious education.
- Confession half hour before Divine Liturgy
- Contact: (610) 376-0586
- Email: [email protected]
- All are welcome — 'Come and join us for prayer and fellowship!'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Pelenski1906
Celebrant of the first Mass in the converted chapel at 632 Laurel St.
- Rev. Petro Popowyczthrough ~1914
Guided the parish to pay off its mortgage by 1914; first church choir established under his care in 1913.
- Rev. Vladimir Obushkevychearly 20th century
Purchased neighboring properties to expand the chapel site.
- Rev. Vladimir Dobuszowskythrough 1937
Purchased the rectory at 502 South 7th Street in 1937 — the parish's first major step in growth.
- Rev. Paul Procko1942-1949
Appointed January 18, 1942; launched the building fund for a new church; founded the Ladies Auxiliary in 1949. Died February 20, 1949.
- Rev. Nicholas Baranetsky1949 (interim, ~4 weeks)
Cared for the parish between Procko's death and Krupa's arrival.
- Rev. Roman Krupa1949-1955
Built the 1953-1955 Byzantine-style church at 630 Laurel St. Died October 18, 1955.
- Rev. Andriy Rabiyat time of 2015 move
Pastored the parish through the purchase of the former St. Anthony of Padua complex and 2016 consecration.
- Rev. Roman Sverdancurrent
Current pastor.