Our Lady of Pochaev Orthodox Church · St. Catharines
Help us build a permanent church home
Our Lady of Pochaev Orthodox Church has long outgrown its current space. We are restoring an 1880s church in St. Catharines as our permanent home, with room to worship, gather, and grow.
Fundraising progress
raised of $325,000 for Phases 1 to 3 (10%)
Our story
Room to worship, gather, and grow
Our parish has long outgrown its current space. For nine years we have waited and prayed for a church building of our own. Now we have the opportunity to restore an 1880s church in St. Catharines as the permanent home of Our Lady of Pochaev Orthodox Church: a place to worship, gather, welcome others, and grow for generations to come.
When we began, years of water damage, mould, and rodents had taken their toll. Much of the interior had to be stripped back before rebuilding could start. But underneath it all was a church worth saving.
Over recent weeks, parishioners have given their time, skills, and labour. The building has been cleaned out, damaged materials removed, and a new roof put on. Little by little, an old church is coming back to life.
It is especially meaningful to restore an old church to be used again as a church: to care for its place in the cemetery and community, and to fill it once more with prayer, the Divine Liturgy, and Christian worship, a temple for the glory of God under the protection of the Theotokos.
“We aren’t simply restoring a building. We’re bringing life to a church building and establishing a permanent home for our parish.”
Where we are: we need about $24,000 more to finish Phase 1. Then we can start Phase 2 and bring power back to the building.
What we need
$325,000 for the first three phases
We don’t have to do everything at once. Each phase starts only when its funds are in place.
From the church
Help us build our church home
The easiest way to give is an Interac e-Transfer to:
Tax receipts are not available at this time. Please keep us in your prayers. May God bless you.
A look at what could come later
This drawing shows one idea for a future phase: a belfry topped with a cupola and cross. It is an artist's concept, not an approved plan. Any exterior work comes after the first three phases.