CARLYLE - The parishes and parishioners of Carlyle, Forget and Kenosee Lake recently welcomed Rev. Chris Juchacz to southeast Saskatchewan.
He moved to Carlyle in August and is the new pastor for Church of Our Lady, Our Lady of La Salette Parish, and Scared Heart. He resides in the Catholic rectory just north of the church on Sixth Street West in Carlyle.
Born and raised in Regina, Juchacz attended Dr. Martin Leboldous High School and graduated in 1998. He then enrolled at Campion College at the University of Regina and studied psychology and religious studies.
He worked for ten years for a pharmaceutical retail chain and then decided to go to seminary in 2014. He attended St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton, and while there, he studied theology and philosophy for six years. He graduated with a master of divinity in 2020.
This is the third year of priesthood for Juchacz. In his first year, he was assigned as an assistant priest at Holy Family Parish in Regina. During his second year of ministry, he was appointed as the pastor of Gull Lake and Cabri. Now, in his third posting here in southeast Saskatchewan, he expects to complete a six-year term.
There are five dioceses in Saskatchewan and the local area is under the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Regina, which has 141 parishes and missions. It has a total Catholic population of 140,800. It is served by 84 priests, 68 of whom are diocesan priests, 12 who are religious priests, along with 12 permanent deacons, and 69 religious sisters and brothers.
Juchacz is 43 years old and has an older brother and a twin sister. He enjoys reading, history, and English literature. He likes watching CFL football, tennis and basketball when he is not busy. He would love to learn how to fly an airplane someday. He also enjoys travelling and has been to Italy, Malta, and California.
He conducts seven services every week, four in Carlyle, two at Kenosee Lake, and one in Forget. He also visits the Moose Mountain Lodge weekly in Carlyle and the New Hope Lodge in Stoughton once a month.
Juchacz is looking forward to serving the religious needs of his parishioners and he is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. He is also excited to meet new people in the local area and in helping to serve the needs of others regardless of their personal or religious affiliation.
