First editor of Nasha Doroha

For many years, Anna Maria Kovch-Baran devoted her work to the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Ukrainian community in Canada. Very early after arriving in Saskatoon, Anna Maria Kovch-Baran participated actively in cultural-educational, organizational, and journalistic endeavours, with organizational work commencing in the 1950s. During this time, Anna Maria travelled throughout Saskatchewan, visiting various parishes. She also became a co-founder of many branches of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League in Saskatchewan. She was one of the co-founders of the Ukrainian Museum (UCWLC) of Saskatchewan.

As a member of the UCWLC, she was the branch president at St. George’s Cathedral and president of the Eparchial (Provincial) Executive of the UCWLC. At the national level, Anna Maria worked in the National Executive of the UCWLC, several times as vice-president and, at various times in this executive, took charge of the culture-educational, correspondence, and folk art portfolios.

Anna Maria Baran’s journalistic oeuvre comprises numerous articles, presentations, and large-format books. As a correspondent for the Ukrainian press, she edited the column “Saskatchewan Pages” in the Edmonton newspaper Ukrainian News for six years; the “Saskatchewan News” column in the Winnipeg weekly Postup; and the “UCWLC News” column in the Edmonton magazine Catholic Insight. Notably, Anna Maria was the first editor of the UCWLC quarterly Nasha Doroha (for two years), and a co-editor of the jubilee publication of St. George’s Cathedral (1912–62) and other publications. Among her most important articles: “History of the UCWL of Canada” in Ukraïnka v sviti (Ukrainian Woman in the World, 1959); “History of the Saskatoon branch of the Ukrainian Women’s Committee of Canada: Beginnings until 1971” in that organization’s publication (Winnipeg); “Saskatoon Eparchy, 1951–78” for the 1979 Almanac (Philadelphia).

Anna Maria Kovch-Baran authored the following large-format books: the history Ukraïns’ki katolyts’ki tserkvy Saskachevanu (Ukrainian Catholic Churches of Saskatchewan, 1977); Blahoslovenne zusyllia (Blessed Efforts, 1987); the history Zhinky Saskachevanu – Pioners’ki roky, orhanizatsiia LUKZhK (Women of Saskatchewan: Pioneer Years, Organization of the UCWLC) to mark the 30th anniversary of the Eparchy; the collection of theatrical sketches for children and youth Moleben’ v lisu (Thanksgiving Prayer Service in the Forest); Udaryv dzvin (The Bell Tolled, 1988); and the history Ukraïns’ki katolyts’ki tserkvy vinnipegs’koï arkhyeparxiï (Ukrainian Catholic Churches of the Winnipeg Archeparchy, 1991). Her last work was a historical biography of her father, Rev. Emilian Kovch, titled Za Bozhi pravdy i liuds’ki prava (For God’s Truths and Human Rights, 1994), published a year before her death.