Archpriest Joseph, Preoteasa Martha MacLellan

Archpriest Joseph MacLellan (1936-2010)

and

Preoteasa Martha (born Holovach) MacLellan (1934-20__)

Holovach may be spelt Holovaci, Holowach.

Early life of Joseph MacLellan

On 17 July, 1936, Joseph MacLellan was born to Daniel (1894-1961) and Mary (1902-1982) (born Walker) MacLellan in Falconbridge, Ontario, Canada. Falconbridge is in Middlesex County, Southwest of London, Ontario. Joseph was baptised in the Roman Catholic Church, and he was raised as a Roman Catholic Christian, along with his siblings. He was the third of 4 children, namely Donald, Anne, and James. The family had a long history originating in Canada in Nova Scotia.

Joseph received his primary and secondary education in Falconbridge.

Higher education

Joseph enrolled at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He left his studies before graduation.

He first ventured west as a young man, attending flight training school with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

Although the RCAF did not become his career path, flying was his preferred hobby for many years.

It is while he was stationed in Portage la Prairie that he met his future wife, Martha Holovach, a school-teacher.

Early life of Martha Holovach

On 14 January, 1934, Martha Holovach was born to Athanasi and Aglaia (born Mintenko) Holovaci (Holovach) at Boulton, R. M. of Shellmouth, Manitoba]. Aglaia was the second wife of Athanasi, his first wife having been Agrippina, with whom he had 2 children. Martha was born on the family farm at Shell Valley, Manitoba, one of many children, Maruta (+1922) ; Mary, Jacob, George ; Margaret ; Victor (+1922) ; Simeon ; Elizabeth ; Zahary ; Adam (+1935) ; Aurel ; Carrie, Larua, Martha, Evelynia. Two of her siblings reposed during the “Spanish Flu” epidemic. Both Daniel and Aglaia had been born in Bucovina, Moldavia, Romania. It may be kept in mind that there were 2 siblings from Athanasi's earlier marriage before Aglaia.

As were her siblings, Martha was baptised raised as an Orthodox Christian in the Romanian Orthodox Church of Saint Elijah at Lennard, Manitoba.

Martha received her primary and secondary education locally.

By the 1950s, Martha had attended the Normal School for teacher training, and she began to teach in schools. It was while she taught at Portage la Prairie that she met her future husband.

Marriage, 1958

In 1958, Joseph MacLellan and Martha Holovach were crowned in marriage at Saint Elijah Orthodox Church at Lennard, Manitoba.

In time, they received from the Lord 7 children -- Tamara, Timothy, Mary, Angela, Andrew, Naomi, and Natalie.

Employment career

Joseph had decided not to pursue a career in the RCAF, and he had taken work instead at the Greater Winnipeg Gas Co. in Winnipeg, where he would work for 34 years.

Bereavement

In 1961, Daniel B MacLellan fell asleep in the Lord. After the funeral obsequies, his body was interred at Garson, City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church

Not long after their marriage, Martha and he were involved in the establishment of a new English-speaking mission in the Transcona region of Winnipeg, where they now lived, namely Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church.

Reception into the Orthodox Christian Church

During the succeeding years, Joseph (Joe) began to understand that he wished to live in full communion with his wife and her family by becoming an Orthodox Christian. He began to read, and he was then received into the Orthodox Christian Church in the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America.

Later, it was made clear to him, especially under the pastoral guidance of the rector of Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Mirone Klysh, that he ought to consider taking the necessary courses to prepare him for future ordination to the Holy Priesthood.

Taking the next steps seriously, Joseph entered [the Orthodox Church in America’s] Late Vocations programme. Then he entered Saint Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox College at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. He pursued his studies with diligence, and in the face of some real challenges.

Bereavement

On 19 February, 1974, Elizabeth/Elsie Holovaci fell asleep in the Lord at Shevlin, Manitoba.

Following the funeral obsequies, her body was interred at the Saint Elijah Cemetery, Lennard, Manitoba.

Bereavement

On 6 August, 1977, Atanasi Holovaci/Holovach fell asleep in the Lord at Bolton, Lennard, Manitoba.

After the funeral obsejquies, his body was interred at the Saint Elijah Cemetery, Lennard, Manitoba.

In 1979, he graduated from Saint Andrew’s, first, with a Diploma in Pastoral Training.

Then, in 1980, he again graduated from Saint Andrew’s with a Licentiate Degree in Theology, “cum laude”.

In the late summer of 1979, the “Saint Vladimir’s Octet ‘79” (from Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York) arrived on tour. They sang at Vespers in Saint George’s Church, and they gave a vocal concert afterwards. They were entertained as well in the home of Joseph and Martha.

Saint Vladimir's Octet '79

(John Kuchta ; Gregory Safchuk ; Mark Stokoe ; John Pušara ; Paul Jannakos ; James Colaluca ; Vincent Peterson ; Seraphim Storheim)

==Bereavement—

On 2 September, 1979, Zahary (Harry) Holovaci fell asleep in the Lord at Maple Ridge, British Columbia.

After the funeral obsequies, his body was interred at Saint Elijah Cemetry, Lennard, Manitoba.

Bereavement

In 1982, Mary C (born Walker) MacLellan fell asleep in the Lord. After the funeral obsequies, her body was interred at Garson, City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario.

Ordinations

Joseph MacLellan was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America. He was ordained on behalf of Archbishop Valerian (Trifa) by Metropolitan Vladimir (Nagosky) at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

On 22 June, 1984, Joseph MacLellan was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America. He was ordained on behalf of Archbishop Valerian (Trifa) by Metropolitan Vladimir (Nagosky) at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Pastoral service

Priest Joseph MacLellan was assigned to service in Canada, and assisted at Saint George’s Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

June, 1987, at Holy Trinity Sobor, Winnipeg

(l-r : Priest Antony Edwards ; Priest Joseph MacLellan ; Metropolitan Vladimir (Nagosky) ; Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) ; Hieromonk Daniel (Baeyens) ; Priest Evan Lowig)

Bereavement

On 14 June, 1985, Priest Donald J MacLellan fell asleep in the Lord suddenly, and unexpectedly (from a heart-attack). Born on 12 April 1933, he was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood on 23 May, 1959. After the funeral obsequies, his body was interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario.

Bereavement

On 13 December, 1988, George Holoviaci fell asleep in the Lord at Bolton, Lennard, Manitoba.

On 1 January, 1989, Father Joseph MacLellan took a short leave of absence for health reasons.

Bereavement

On 11 June, 1991, Jacob Dennis Holovach fell asleep in the Lord at Yorkon, Saskatchwan.

Bereavement

On 18 September, 1991, Mary Holovach fell asleep in the Lord in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

In 1992 he was assigned to serve Saint Elias parish in Lennard, Manitoba and surrounding parishes.

For 5 years, he served as pastor of Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Winnipeg, after which he served numerous rural Romanian Episcopate parishes throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan. However, the main focus of his responsibility came to be the parish of Saint Elijah at Lennard, Manitoba (the home parish of Preoteasa Martha).

He was committed to his parishioners and spoke of them with great love and respect.

Bereavement

On 10 January, 1999, Simeon Holoviach fell asleep in the Lord in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Bereavement

In 2003, Anne Christine May (born MacLellan) Bedard, sister of Father Joseph, fell asleep in the Lord.

Retirement

Due to failing health, Father Joseph retired from active pastoral responsibility on 4 September, 2004. He did continue to serve as often as possible, mostly at Saint George’s Church in Winnipeg.

He spoke English and some Romanian.

Father Joseph, Preoteasa Martha, children, grandchildren

Bereavement

On 25 January, 2010, Aurel (Nelson) Holovach fell asleep in the Lord.

Following the funeral obsequies, his body was interred at Boulton, RM of Shellmouth, Manitoba.

Repose

On 28 July, 2010, Priest Joseph MacLellan fell asleep in the Lord in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Father Joseph laye in state at Saint George Church, Winnipeg, on Monday, 2 August, 2010. A Memorial was celebrated at 6:30 p.m.

Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp) of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate presided at funeral services on Tuesday, 3 August 2010, at 9:30 a.m.

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of Father Joseph MacLellan was taken to the Glen Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery (455 Lagimodiere Boulevard, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2J 4J4) for interment.

In addition to his wife of 52 years, Preoteasa Martha, Father Joseph was survived by his children Tamara (Paul), Timothy (Colleen), Mary (David), Angela (Lorne), Andrew, Naomi, Natalie (Norman) and 15 grandchildren. was also survived by his brother James (Christene), and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Father Donald, his sister Anne, and his brother-in-law Bruno Bedard.

Bereavement

On 14 April, 2022, Glykeria/Carrie (born Holovach) Steski, elder sister of Martha, fell asleep in the Lord in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Memorial prayers (panikhida/Trisagion) were offered on Thursday, 28 April, at 7:00 p.m., at Saint George Orthodox Church in Transcona, Winnipeg.

The Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person were offered on Friday, 29 April, at 11:00 a.m., also at the church. Priest Michael Ungrin led the services.

Following the funeral obsequies, her body was interred at Glen Lawn Memorial Gardens, Winnipeg, Manitoba