About St. John the Baptist -Ukrainian Catholic Church · Syracuse, New York
St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church is a Byzantine Rite (Ukrainian Greek Catholic) parish located in the Tipperary Hill / West End neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, at 207 Tompkins Street. It is the only Eastern Catholic parish in Onondaga County and belongs to the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford (Eparchy of Stamford), under Bishop Paul Chomnycky, OSBM. The parish traces its roots to Ukrainian immigrants who began settling in Syracuse around 1885, and the present red brick church was dedicated in 1913. Liturgies are offered in both English and Ukrainian, and the community continues to celebrate its heritage through the annual Syracuse Ukrainian Festival and a Humanitarian Aid Fund for Ukraine.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist (Byzantine Rite — venerated above all other saints except the Theotokos)
- Rector
- Very Reverend Mitred Archpriest Mihai Dubovici (assigned September 1, 2018)
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford (Eparchy of Stamford), part of the larger Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia (Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak). The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church worldwide is headed by Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv.
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is the only Eastern Catholic parish in Onondaga County, offering the Byzantine (Ukrainian Greek Catholic) Divine Liturgy in both English and Ukrainian, with weekday morning services and rich Marian devotion (weekly Molebens in May and June). Parishioners can raise children in the faith through Sunday Religious Education, receive the Anointing of the Sick at home, and belong to a tight-knit community that celebrates its Ukrainian heritage through the annual Syracuse Ukrainian Festival, food sales, and a long-running Holy Name Society.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist -Ukrainian Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before and after Divine Liturgies
- By request
History of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church
Three waves of Ukrainian immigrants — Hungarian Rusyns (1885–88), Lemkos (1890–95), and Eastern Galicians (from c. 1900) — settled on Syracuse's West End around the Tipperary Hill neighborhood, working in steel and wire mills, foundries, factories, and the railroads. Around 1900 they formed a committee to purchase property at Wilbur Avenue and Tompkins Street, repurposing houses as a rectory, school, first chapel, and convent for the Sisters of St. Basil. After years of fund-raising, the present red brick church was dedicated in 1913; the school building followed in 1958, a new rectory facing Tompkins Street in the mid-1960s, and a new convent shortly afterward.
- First immigrants: Hungarian Rusyns (Rusyny/Rusnacky), 1885–1888
- Second wave: Lemkos from Lemkivschyna, 1890–1895
- Third wave: Galicians from Eastern Halychna, c. 1900
- Property purchased on Wilbur Avenue at Tompkins Street, c. 1900
- Red brick church dedicated 1913
- Parish school building erected 1958
- New rectory built mid-1960s; new convent added shortly after
Byzantine (Ukrainian Greek Catholic) Rite
The parish is a member of the Byzantine Rite, which originated in Constantinople. The Ukrainian people were baptized into Christianity in 988 when Volodymyr the Great accepted the faith on behalf of his people; the Liturgy has been strongly influenced by Greek and Byzantine church practices ever since. The parish is part of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford (Bishop Paul Chomnycky, OSBM), within the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia (Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak); the worldwide Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is headed by Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv.
- Part of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford (Eparchy of Stamford)
- Under Bishop Paul Chomnycky, OSBM
- Within the Archeparchy of Philadelphia (Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak)
- Worldwide head: Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv
- Services offered in English and Ukrainian
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments of the Byzantine Catholic tradition. Couples are asked to call the parish at least six months before a wedding, and pre-marital counseling is mandatory. Baptisms are scheduled through the parish office, and the Sacrament of the Sick is brought to the homebound and elderly through the parish's Spiritual Care Ministry.
- Baptism & Chrismation — contact the parish office
- Marriage — at least 6 months' notice; mandatory pre-marital counseling
- Sacrament of the Sick — contact Alice Malick or parish office; emergencies any time
- Religious Education / First Solemn Holy Communion
- Confirmation
Devotions
Marian and Christ-centered devotions are a regular part of parish life. Molebens are sung in May (to the Mother of God) and June (to Christ the Lover of Mankind) every Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm, often in both English and Ukrainian.
- Moleben to the Mother of God — every Wednesday in May, 6:00 pm
- Moleben to Christ the Lover of Mankind — every Wednesday in June, 6:00 pm
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Faith formation, men's fellowship, spiritual care, music, and outreach form the backbone of parish life. The Holy Name Society is a long-running men's spiritual and social group affiliated with the National Holy Name Society; Religious Education meets every Sunday at 10:00 am in the parish school; the Ukrainian Church Choir leads the 11:00 am Ukrainian Liturgy in winter and 10:00 am in summer; and the Spiritual Care Ministry brings Holy Communion and the Anointing of the Sick to the elderly and homebound.
- Religious Education (Sundays, 10:00 am, parish school) — contact Raymond Wihak ([email protected])
- Holy Name Society — President Mike Clark (468-2998); Spiritual Director Fr. Mihai Dubovici
- Sacrament of the Sick / Spiritual Care Ministry — Alice Malick
- Ukrainian Church Choir
- Syracuse Ukrainian Festival committee
- Humanitarian Aid Fund for Ukraine
Holy Name Society
A parish men's group dedicated to deepening the spiritual lives of its members and serving the parish community through fund-raising and human-concern activities. Members gather as a group at the 9:00 am Liturgy before meetings, pray the Rosary at deceased members' wakes, and host social events for parish families.
- President: Mike Clark (1993)
- Vice President: Vasyl Grabovyy
- Treasurer: Fred Bush (1998)
- Financial Secretary: George Chuposka (1996)
- Recording Secretary: Steve Suche (1994)
- Marshalls: Paul Straka (1993) and Marian Kohut (1961)
- Meetings: second Sunday, September–June, after the 9:00 am Liturgy, in the church undercroft
- Annual dues: $10
- Affiliated with the National Holy Name Society
Religious Education and Parish School
Religious Education classes for parish children meet every Sunday at 10:00 am in the parish school. Registration is coordinated by Raymond Wihak. First Solemn Holy Communion and Confirmation are celebrated annually, with children from the program participating in parish Liturgies.
- Religious Education every Sunday at 10:00 am
- Coordinator: Raymond Wihak ([email protected])
- Parish school building erected 1958
- Sisterhood / teaching Sisters of St. Basil historically staffed the school
Syracuse Ukrainian Festival
The annual Syracuse Ukrainian Festival is the parish's signature cultural event, drawing visitors from across Onondaga County and beyond to experience Ukrainian food, music, dance, and heritage. The next festival is scheduled for July 24–25, 2026, rain or shine.
- Annual community festival
- Held at the parish grounds
- Scheduled for July 24–25, 2026
Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine
The parish has established a Humanitarian Aid Fund to collect monetary donations for Ukraine. Cash and checks (payable to 'St. John the Baptist UCC') may be placed in an envelope marked 'Ukraine'; credit-card donations can be made through the parish's WeShare online giving page under the 'Help Ukraine' tab.
- Cash or checks payable to 'St. John the Baptist UCC'
- Mark envelopes 'Ukraine'
- Online donations via WeShare 'Help Ukraine' tab
- Parish and Ukrainian American community in Onondaga County continue to pray for peace
Parish Facilities and Cemetery
The campus includes the 1913 red brick church, a 1958 school building, a mid-1960s rectory facing Tompkins Street, and an adjoining convent. Any use of church facilities must be cleared in advance at the rectory. The parish also maintains a cemetery; the purchase of cemetery plots is a privilege reserved for parishioners, and the rectory should be contacted before any major improvements are undertaken.
- Red brick church (1913)
- School building (1958)
- Rectory facing Tompkins Street (mid-1960s)
- Adjoining convent
- Cemetery — plots reserved for parishioners; contact rectory before improvements
- Use of church facilities must be cleared at the rectory
Visiting, Bequests, and Getting Involved
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed at the only Eastern Catholic parish in Onondaga County. The parish encourages members to remember the church in their wills (legal title: 'St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Syracuse NY') and to support the WeShare online giving platform. The parish bulletin deadline is Monday of every week.
- Legal title: St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Syracuse NY
- Online giving via WeShare
- Bulletin deadline: Monday of every week
- Office hours: Tuesday, 10:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
- Phone: (315) 478-5109
Patron Saint
In the Byzantine Rite, St. John the Baptist is venerated above all other saints and right below the Angels, with the exception of the Blessed Mother of God (the Theotokos), who enjoys the special veneration of hyperdulia. The parish celebrates his feasts with particular solemnity.
- Veneration second only to the Theotokos and the Angels
- Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24 OS / July 7 NS)
- Beheading of St. John the Baptist (August 29 OS / September 11 NS)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mykhaylo Dosyak
Listed as Pastor in a prior parish directory snapshot.
- Very Rev. Volodymyr Piso
Listed as Associate Pastor in a prior parish directory snapshot.
- Very Reverend Mitred Archpriest Mihai Dubovici2018–present
Assigned pastor on September 1, 2018.