In Memoriam

Fr. Pavlo Hayda

1964 - 2007

Pavlo Denys Hayda was born in Battle Creek Michigan on October 22, 1964 to Roma and Ihor Hayda. He grew up with three older siblings, Borys, Marko and Roman.

In his youth, Fr. Pavlo was an active member in the Ukrainian community as a memeber of Ukrainian scouting organization "Plast". Fr. Pavlo finished grade school and Fairfield College Preporatory High School in Easton, Connecticut. In 1982 Fr. Pavlo spent the summer in Harvard, studying Ukrainian and preparing for his college studies. Initially having the desire to study engineering, Fr. Pavlo surprised his parents with the announcement that he felt a vocation to enter priesthood. Having come from a long lineage of priests, going back a few hundred years, Mr. & Mrs. Hayda were very pleased to hear that one of their sons wanted to continue the tradition of serving God and His people.

In 1982 Fr. Pavlo entered St. Basil’s College Seminary in Stamford Connecticut where he completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. Shortly after completing his studies at St. Basil’s, in May of 1986, Fr. Pavlo entered the St. Sophia Seminary for Priestly Formation and began his Master’s Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park. Before completing his Masters Degree in Divinity in 1991, Fr. Pavlo would take an active part in many aspects of the Ukrainian community, specifically church community. He taught religion at the Saturday School of Ukrainian Studies "Ridna Shkola", actively worked on the committee commemorating the Millennium of Ukrainian Christianity and Ukrainian Youth for Christ Conventions, as well as sang in many choirs. It was through his work at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Parish that he met his wife Christine. The couple married in May of 1991.

 Without a free church in Ukraine, there was great difficulty for a married man to get ordained. After a brief visit with Archbishop Volodymyr Sterniuk in Chicago, Fr. Pavlo and his wife accepted an invitation to live and work in Ukraine. Fr. Pavlo and his wife traveled to Lviv, Ukraine, in February of 1992. By the grace of God and the hand of Patriarch Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky, Pavlo Denys Hayda was ordained to the holy priesthood in St. George Cathedral on March 29, 1992. Ordination at St. George Cathedral is not only significant for Fr. Pavlo because it is the seat of the world-wide Ukrainian Catholic Church, but also because his grandfather Jaroslav Kniahynyckyj was also ordained in St. George Cathedral 65 years earlier by the hand of Patriarch Andrej Sheptytskyj.Within days of his ordination, Fr. Pavlo was assigned to his first parish. St. Paraskevia in Kalynivka, Ukraine, although a small church in size, was a large church in spirit. Unfortunately, this assignment was brief, for shortly before the birth of their first son Julian, Fr. Pavlo returned to Chicago. In October of 1992 Fr. Pavlo was assigned to his second parish, that of St. Josaphat in Munster, IN, where he served the community of approximately 150 families for nearly three years.

By July of 1995, change was again in the air. The day after the baptism of their second son Zachary, Fr. Pavlo and his family moved to St. Joseph Parish on the northwest side of Chicago. It is here in 2004, with his close family, dear friends and dedicated parishioners two new members into his family, the twins, Elias and Dymytrij. His service at St. Joseph Parish have been very active, in particular with the re-activation of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Youth Group the completion of the interior painting of the church and the re-painting of the domes. In addition to parish work, Fr. Pavlo has continued to work within the St. Nicholas Eparchy and community. He has worked actively to organize Eparchial Conferences, clergy retreats and has held the position of Presbyteral Council member and Consultor to the bishop. Fr. Pavlo also dedicated his Saturday mornings to teaching religion at St. Joseph Ridna Shkola.

Fr. Pavlo tragically fell asleep in the Lord on September 4, 2007. He influenced our lives in so many ways. May his memery be eternal. Vichnaya Pamyat'.