For more than half a century, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church has remained a place of worship, fellowship, and spiritual strength for generations of parishioners and visitors. Through prayer, dedication, and unwavering faith, the parish continues its mission of living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The history of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church began in 1952, when the Ukrainian National Association (UNA) purchased the Foord estate in Kerhonkson, New York. The property became Soyuzivka — a cultural resort and gathering place that helped establish a growing Ukrainian-American community in the region.
Among the early visitors was a young seminarian, Lubomyr Husar, who spent summers working at Soyuzivka while studying in Stamford, Connecticut. After his ordination, Fr. Husar traveled to Kerhonkson each weekend to celebrate Divine Liturgy for a small but devoted group of Ukrainian Catholics. At first, only about 25 people attended services, held outdoors in a hillside chapel or inside the resort during poor weather.
With the help of dedicated parishioners, Fr. Husar formally established Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church as a mission parish of Hudson, New York. Though the parish began with only a handful of families, the dream of building a permanent church quickly took root. Fr. Husar’s warmth, faith, and love for children inspired the growing community and strengthened its determination to build a spiritual home for future generations.
The parishioners worked tirelessly to raise the necessary funds for construction. Through raffles, bake sales, fashion shows, Christmas card campaigns, and community events, volunteers devoted countless hours to support the effort. Every family contributed in some way, united by faith and determination.
Organizations such as Soyuz Ukrainok (Ukrainian National Women’s League of America) and the Ukrainian American Citizens Club of Poughkeepsie provided generous support, while the Ukrainian National Association donated land, lodging for clergy, facilities for events, and additional resources essential to the project’s success.
Construction of the church took nearly two years and required perseverance, sacrifice, and careful financial planning. Parish trustees and volunteers worked tirelessly to meet deadlines, secure funding, and complete the church without losing sight of their mission.
Jacques Hnizdovsky was a painter, printmaker, graphic designer, illustrator and sculptor. Hnizdovsky has exhibited widely and his works are in the permanent collections of many museums worldwide. His icons, commissioned by the Holy Trinity Church, are an integral part of the iconostasis.
