The church of St. Michael the Archangel was built in the town of Alvena in 1943. Ukrainian settlement in the area began in 1899, Ukrainian Catholics worshipped at the substantial church at Alvena Farms and the church at Kolo Pidskal’noho.
The first Divine Liturgy in the uncompleted St. Michael’s was celebrated by Rev. Michael Olenchuk in 1943 and the church was blessed by Bishop Basil Ladyka of Winnipeg in 1945. The church was decorated first by Paul Zabolotny and then by Theodore Baran. It continues to be lovingly cared for by its community and is used a number of times a year.
Alvena is pastorally cared for by clergy from the parish of St. George at Prince Albert.
The information provided here is taken in part from the work of Anna Maria Kowcz-Baran, Ukrainian Catholic Churches of Saskatchewan, published in 1977. This monumental historical survey can be found for sale at the Musée Ukraina Museum for $20.00.