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OkillLiving LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com50-ton dome rises atop new churchBy Dominik KurekOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFNearly a year into construction, the centraldome, weighing about 50 tons, was placed on top of the new St. Josephs Ukrainian Catholic Church,Tuesday morning.The dome was raised to the top of the 43,000square foot church located on the corner of TrafalgarRoad and River Oaks Boulevard by a 600-ton crane,one of the largest in Ontario.In explaining the significance of the dome, Fr.Michael Loza said the Ukrainian church is part of Eastern Rite Christianity with traditions and archi-tectural designs that originated in 10th centuryGreece.In western Christianity, such as in Europe,churches were built with steeples, which is a reflec-tion of praying hands, he said.In the east, they were built with domes, whichrepresent the heavens. When you walk into thechurch, the experience should be one of steppinginto Gods kingdom.The completed church will have seven domes intotal, the central one, plus six smaller ones. Thereare different symbolisms with the different numberof domes, such as three domes representing theTrinity, four representing the four evangelists, fiverepresents Jesus in centre with four evangelists.Seven is symbolic of the seven sacraments,Loza said of his church.The church is expected to open by the end of December, to replace the existing church located onMaple Grove Drive, which property is up for sale..Our current location seats 130 people, Lozasaid. Its much too small. Our numbers have beengrowing year to year. Ten years ago there were 40families, now were at 230. It was a practical deci-sion.Furthermore, the existing property was too smallto expand on. The new building is on a 4-acre site.The new church will also be more than just achurch. There will be spaces for meetings, classesand social gatherings. The new church will alsoinclude a full-time day care and administrativeoffices.One of our concerns was functionality, Lozasaid. Thats space to pray, space to meet, space toteach cataclysm, space to have a banquet for com-munion or wedding.The new church will have seating for 320 people.Though the church appears large, Loza points outits because its space going upwards.The new church uses various environmental con-siderations. The shingles are made out of recycledrubber tires and there are lots of glass windows toallow light to enter, which eliminate the need forPHOTOS BY ERIC RIELheavy artificial lighting.RAISING THE ROOF:Oakville's newest dome was lifted into place for St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church Tuesday. The dome weighsMuch of the building is also built on one level toapproximately 59 tons and was lifted by Mammoet's 600-ton crane, one of the largest in Ontario. At top left, Father Michael Loza poses with the newaccommodate people using strollers, wheelchairs,roof. Below, from left, head of the church's Build Committee Fred Shlapak, Loza, and Eugenia Danko.walkers or similar devices.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, June 17, 2011 20