Centralia, PA isn't dead yet, and neither is Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic parish.

The True Faith persists, praise be to God.

From the paper without a name:

On Aug. 28, a pilgrimage to a still-operating church will be held in the ghost town of Centralia ...


Driving north on Route 61 from Ashland, you crest a hill that overlooks the ghost town of Centralia.

The borough no longer exists because of an underground mine fire that forced residents to relocate.

What once was a thriving community of just over 1,000 in 1970 now counts just 10 residents, according to the 2010 Census. But on the north side of town, a white clapboard church topped by a dome stands out against the forest backdrop.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, which has towered over Centralia since 1912, continues to hold services.

On Sunday, Aug. 28, a pilgrimage to the church will be held.

During a visit in November 2015, Major-Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, primate of the worldwide Ukrainian Catholic Church, marveled at the continuing presence of the church in Centralia. He noted how this coal-region parish fostered four priestly vocations and three sisters to the religious life.

From the visit of Shevchuk and with the encouragement of Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, the church was designated a holy site of pilgrimage.

The Very Rev. Michael Hutsko, pastor, has invited all to join with Stefan and clergy on Aug. 28 for a day of prayer and spiritual blessings.

The pilgrimage begins at noon with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy with Soroka as the main celebrant. Homilist at the liturgy will be the Rev. Vasyl Kharuk, spiritual director at St. Josaphat Seminary and an extraordinary minister of mercy during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.

A Living Rosary will be prayed at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. John Szada, chaplain of Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph of Elysburg, will provide a reflection.

At 4 p.m., a candlelight procession to the church will be held for the celebration of a Moleben to the Mother of God.

Food service will be available from 1 to 4 p.m. and religious articles, which will be blessed at the conclusion of the Living Rosary in the outdoor chapel, will be for sale.

The event will be held rain or shine.

The church is located on North Paxton Street. For more information, contact the church rectory at 570-339-0650.

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