Saint Michael [Ukrainian]

Parish History

St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church was founded in 1921 by immigrants from western Ukraine — specifically the Sianik (Sanok) area, a town first documented in 1150 that was annexed by Poland in the mid-14th century, after which Ukrainians were deported and their community life died out. These families settled in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where they worked alongside Polish, Lithuanian, and Irish immigrants in the anthracite coal mines. Despite an era of confusion about Eastern Catholic identity, they built their own parish devoted to St. Michael the Archangel and have kept the Ukrainian Catholic faith alive in Frackville ever since.

Clergy & Pastoral Succession

The Archeparchy of Philadelphia records twenty pastors serving St. Michael's across its first century, beginning with Fr. John Fekula in the founding era. The current pastor is the Rev. Petro Zvarych, who led the parish through its 100th anniversary and continues to serve the faithful of Frackville.

• Fr. John Fekula
• Fr. Simeon Milanich
• Fr. Michael Pasdrey
• Fr. Dmytro Gulyn
• Fr. Volodymir Rozko
• Fr. Nestor Romanovich
• Fr. Michael Prodon
• Fr. Eugene Dychdala
• Fr. Roman Bodnar
• Fr. Volodymir Pylypec
• Fr. Stephen Sulyk
• Fr. John Moda
• Msgr. Joseph Batza
• Fr. John Seniw
• Fr. Nestor Isasiw
• Fr. D. George Worshak
• Fr. George Kuzara
• Fr. John Fields
• Fr. Roman Pitula
• Rev. Petro Zvarych (current)

Liturgical Schedule & Sacraments

The parish celebrates the Byzantine-rite Divine Liturgy in Ukrainian and English. Confessions are heard before every liturgy. Bible study, youth ministry, and catechetical classes meet Sunday mornings from September through April.

• Saturday — 4:00 PM
• Sunday — 8:30 AM
• Sunday — 10:30 AM (sung)
• Confession — before all liturgies
• Bible Study — Sunday 9:30 AM (Sept–Apr)

Faith Formation & Religious Education

From September through April, the parish offers Sunday-morning Bible study groups, a youth ministry, and catechetical classes at 9:30 AM — between the two Sunday liturgies — for the formation of children and adults in the Byzantine Catholic tradition.

• Bible study groups
• Youth ministry
• Catechetical classes

Community Life & Annual Traditions

St. Michael's keeps the Ukrainian Catholic heritage alive through parish dinners, picnics, pyrohy (pierogi)-making days, and dances. Its signature community event is the annual Candlelight Christmas Pageant, a musical retelling of the Nativity performed by the children of the parish and followed by a reception featuring Ukrainian specialties such as pierogi, halupki (stuffed cabbage), red beet eggs, and seasonal baked goods.

• Candlelight Christmas Pageant (held annually; in its 18th year as of 2021)
• Parish dinners and picnics
• Pyrohy (pierogi)-making
• Parish dances

Jurisdiction & Diocese

The parish belongs to the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, the metropolitan see of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States. Although the church building sits in Schuylkill County within the geographic territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, as an Eastern Catholic (sui iuris) parish it canonically falls under the Ukrainian Archeparchy headed by Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak.

• Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia (canonical jurisdiction)
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown (geographic territory)

Visiting & Contact

Visitors and returning parishioners can reach the parish office by phone or email, follow the parish on Facebook, or simply arrive on a Saturday or Sunday for one of the scheduled Divine Liturgies. The church is on the corner of Second and Oak Streets in Frackville, with the parish mailing address on South Middle Street.

• Parish office: 243 S. Middle Street, Frackville, PA 17931
• Phone: (570) 874-1101
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: stmichaelucc.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/stmichaelsukrainianchurchfrackville