Reverend Ihor Bloshchynskyy

Reverend Ihor Bloshchynskyy

August 15, 1978 – April 26, 2023

Reverend Ihor Bloshchynskyy, pastor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Melrose Park, PA died unexpectedly on April 26, 2023.

He was born on August 15, 1978, in Ternopil, Ukraine. In his youth, Ihor was inspired by the example of the Redemptorist Fathers: those from the underground catacomb Church and as well as those of the Redemptorist Province in Canada. They included such remarkable priest-monks such as the present Metropolitan and Archbishop of Lviv Ihor Vozniak, who served as a parish priest at the cathedral in Ternopil, Father Yaroslaw Dybka, a warm and wise missionary, and Father John Sianchuk, who spent decades fostering awareness of the of the martyr Church, especially of the legacy of Blessed Archbishop Vasyl Velychkovsky.

From 1995 to 1999 Ihor Bloshchynskyy studied at the Spiritual Seminary of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in Cracow and Tuchów (Poland). In 1999, Ihor decided to continue in his vocation by preparing to be an eparchial priest. Even so, the years spent with the Redemptorists left a deep mark on his life. His friendship with them was a source of abiding consolation and joy. In 2002 he finished his studies at the Ivano-Frankivsk Theological Academy (Ukraine). 

On July 20, 2002 the future priest married Iryna Ivankovych, a gifted literary scholar, who completed a doctorate in socio-linguistics and has published important monographs and commemorative volumes, especially about the legacy of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj. Dr. Ivankovych currently heads the Board of Directors of the St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics, USA. The young couple was soon blessed with a beloved daughter, Anastasiya, who today is a student at Manor College and is already a most promising teacher of children with learning disabilities.

Ihor Bloshchynskyy was ordained deacon on October 29, 2003, and a priest on December 20 of the same year by Bishop Milan Šašik of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo (Ukraine). Together with his family, Father Ihor came to Canada in January of 2005 and served in the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg at the parishes in Beausejour, Gilbert Plains, Grandview, and Roblin in the Province of Manitoba.

In the summer of 2006 at the invitation of Metropolitan Archbishop Stefan Soroka, Father Bloshchynskyy and his family moved to the United States to serve in the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

On August 1, 2006, he was appointed pastor of St Josaphat Parish in Philadelphia, where he served for nine years until 2015. Subsequently, he was appointed to lead the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Melrose Park, where he ministered for eight years. 

Father Ihor had many gifts. He was thoughtful and intelligent, creative and sensitive. He spoke four languages fluently. He understood different cultures. Father Ihor had an outstanding talent for computer technology. His digital working office was second to none. He was glad to help those who had IT questions. He definitely had the answers. Father Ihor applied his passion and love for the computer sciences and creative impulses to serve the Archeparchy’s central offices. Together with his wife Dr. Iryna Ivankovych for many years they constituted the core of the editorial team of The Way Newspaper and were responsible for the Archeparchial web page.

Father Ihor was a man of authentic faith who valued the role of missionaries and spiritual directors to whom he turned, also in the last weeks of his life. His departure leaves a gaping hole in the hearts and lives of his wife Iryna and daughter Anastasiya. He is mourned by parishioners of the parishes that he served, by his brother priests deeply pained by his departure, and by bishops with whom he ministered in Ukraine, Canada, and the United States.

Visitation Sunday, April 30, 2023 starting at 5 PM, with Priestly Parastas at 6 PM, at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 1206 Valley Rd., Melrose Park, PA 19027.

Visitation Monday, May 1, 2023 starting at 10:30 AM, with Divine Liturgy and Funeral at 11:30 AM, at the Church.

Interment at St. Mary Cemetery, Jenkintown.

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