A 71-year-old priest from Saskatoon has been sentenced to eight months in jail and 18 months of probation for kissing a 13-year-old girl in a supply closet at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of St. George in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood two years ago. The priest, Janko Kolosnjaji, was found guilty in February and appeared in provincial court on Thursday.
During the court proceedings, the prosecutor, Sheryl Fillo, highlighted the impact of the incident on the victim, who described it as her first kiss. The victim, a refugee from Ukraine, felt extremely vulnerable, and her family expressed deep concern over the breach of trust by someone in a position of authority. In a victim impact statement, the teen shared her feelings of pain, shame, and confusion following the incident, stating that the world seemed hostile and dangerous to her afterwards.
The victim’s mother also condemned the priest’s actions, emphasizing the devastating effects on her daughter’s trust, dignity, and well-being. The court’s decision to sentence Kolosnjaji reflects the seriousness of the offense and aims to hold him accountable for his actions.
