History:
On October 1, 2000, Bishop Basil granted permission to Rev. Philip Weiner, pastor of St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yonkers, NY to organize a mission parish dedicated to the Protection of the Mother of God and to celebrate liturgy for faithful living in these three counties of New York State who, because of travel and distance, are unable to attend the services in Yonkers on a regular basis.
The idea for a mission parish to serve the needs of Ukrainian Catholics living in this area can be traced as far back as the 1960's when Msgr. Peter Skrincosky conducted a small, informal investigation as to the feasibility of organizing a parish in this area. At that time there were not many Ukrainian Catholics living in this area and those who did were attending the services in Yonkers.
With the passage of time, St. Michael's Parish in Yonkers began to experience a shift in the Ukrainian population. Yonkers couples and their families who had grown up in St. Michael's Parish began to move upstate.
It was not until 1997 that Msgr. John Terlecky (a native son of St. Michael's) conducted a survey of Ukrainian Catholics in this area asking whether or not a Ukrainian Catholic mission should be established in closer proximity to their homes. The response Msgr. Terlecky received was a favorable one.
When Rev. Philip Weiner was assigned to St. Michael's in Yonkers in the summer of 1998, Msgr. Terlecky brought the attention of Father Philip that he had conducted a survey for the diocese and that further investigation should be made.
In 1999, Father Philip began to make inquiries among parishioners living in this area as to whether or not they would welcome a mission parish attached to St. Michael's closer to their homes. Again, the response was favorable. Father then met with Bishop Basil to receive permission to begin a search for a suitable location, equidistant from neighboring parishes.
The Bishop and Father had several ideas as to which town and location would fit the bill. Father's intention was to establish the mission west of I-684, east of the Hudson River, south of I-84 and north of Elmsford. Taking these facts into consideration, the Bishop felt the best location would be in the area of Katonah, New York.
Bishop Basil proceeded to contact the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, Archbishop Edward M. Egan to inform him that the Diocese of Stamford would be organizing a mission within his territory.
With Archbishop Eagan's blessing, Bishop Basil contacted Rev. Larry Paolicelli, Administrator of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Katonah as well as two mission parishes, one in Bedford Hills and another in South Salem to request permission to celebrate a Divine Liturgy every Sunday in St. Matthias Church in Bedford Hills. Father Paolicelli very enthusiastically welcomed and accepted Bishop Basil's request to use St. Matthias Church.
For five years the mission parish was served by Rev. Philip Weiner, pastor of St. Michael’s Church in Yonkers, and also by his parochial assistant Father Robert Smolley. On July 1, 2005 Holy Protection Mission entered a new phase in its establishment — the assignment of its own pastor, thus becoming independent from St. Micheal’s Church in Yonkers. The first permanent pastor was Father Mihai Dubovici. Later, the pastor was Father Albert Forlano, Father Ivan Kaszczak, Father Vasyl Behay and now the pastor is Father Taras Chaparin. Since 2007 the Protection of the Mother of God parish is celebrating the Divine Liturgy at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Mount Kisco, New York.*
*The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, A Commemorative Publication on the Occasion of its Golden Jubilee, edited by Lubow K. Wolynetz. Babiuk Enterprises: Rochester, NY, 2010.