A priest in 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 Pleasant Hill two years ago. The 71-year-old priest, Janko Kolosnjaji, was found guilty in February and appeared in provincial court on Thursday.
During the court proceedings in June, the prosecutor, Sheryl Fillo, highlighted the impact of the incident on the victim, who was a refugee from Ukraine and described it as her first kiss. The victim, in a statement read in court, expressed feelings of pain, shame, and confusion following the incident, stating that the world felt hostile and dangerous to her.
The victim’s mother also addressed the court, emphasizing that the assault had shattered her child’s trust, dignity, and soul, emphasizing that it involved a person in a position of authority. The priest’s defense lawyer, Zachary Carter, confirmed the sentence and probation terms for Kolosnjaji.
