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Celebration at St Nicholas, Narol, for the 10th Anniversary of the Priesthood of Fr Gregory Scratch

October 2, 2022

On September 11, the parish of St Nicholas Orthodox Church in Narol, MB and the Mission Station of Christ the Saviour in Winkler, MB came together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ordination to the Priesthood of Archpriest Gregory Scratch.

Father Gregory was ordained to the diaconate in 2003, while serving at the Annunciation Cathedral in Ottawa. Along with his liturgical and pastoral responsibilities, he also worked as an art instructor at the The Perley Rideau Veterans Health Centre. In the summer of 2012, he was ordained to the holy priesthood and moved with his wife, Matushka Taesia, and their four children to Winnipeg to serve the parish of St Nicholas, Narol.

In 2021, Fr Gregory completed his first unit in the CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) program run out of St. Boniface Hospital and the University of Winnipeg. He is currently the Archdiocesan Dean of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Nunavut.

Our 10th anniversary celebration was the first time since before the pandemic that the parish and the mission were able to come together as an entire community. St Nicholas church grew significantly during the pandemic, and it was a great opportunity for everyone to meet one another. It truly felt like a family reunion!

Dinner consisted of a pig roast and a potluck, and was attended by approximately 100 guests. These guests included other local clergy, including Fr Stephen Sharman (St Nicholas), Fr Nikolaos Tambakis, Fr Evan Maximiuk, Fr Michael Ungrin, Fr Anthony Estabrooks, and Deacon Thomas Chaput.

As much as this was a celebration of Fr Gregory and his family, it was also a celebration of the community of St Nicholas, who were brought together by God to serve the Lord and each other through the daily life of the parish. It was such a joy to be able to celebrate together in person. Glory to God!