The St. Mary’s Polish Parish in Whitney Pier, N.S., celebrated Holy Saturday with a traditional ceremony.
Parishioners gathered to bless Polish Easter baskets filled with traditional foods to mark the end of Lent.
“We’re still keeping our tradition,” said parishioner Victoria Pierzynowski. “It means a lot. We’re hoping that next year, we will be in our own Polish church again.”
This year, the ceremony was held at a neighbouring church. The century-old St. Mary’s Polish Church burned to the ground in an accidental fire in November.
“What happened on Nov. 29 was horrific,” said parish president Tom Urbaniak. “It was shocking. It was, for us, a death in the family.”
“We’re a people of great faith, and we’re a people of great resilience,” said Father Paul Murphy.
The parishioners say they will rebuild at the same location. Most of the cost will be covered by insurance.
“The rebuild is definitely going ahead, and soon. And we’re very excited about that,” Urbaniak said.
Urbaniak said the community hopes to begin rebuilding early this summer.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald
