Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski has announced that Father Joseph Ostopowich, who has served the Eparchy for 40 years as a dedicated priest, will be elevated to the status of Archpriest at the Eparchial Pilgrimage and Parish Centenary at Grindrod on 29 June 2024.
Father Joe was ordained to the priesthood on 20 May 1984 by the first Bishop of our eparchy, the late Most Rev. Jerome Chimy, OSBM.
Since his ordination, Fr. Joe has served in several of the parishes throughout the Eparchy as well as in the state of Washington, USA. It is significant that Grindrod was chosen as the place where the title of Archpriest will be conferred, as Fr. Joe was the priest who revived the parish in 1985, shortly after his ordination.
Besides being successfully engaged in Parish pastoral work, Father Joe became increasingly engaged with special ministry within the prison system – and in particular with minor youth offenders. He is dedicated to this ministry to this day.
Father Joeseph had also made the effort to undergo training in number of areas that have made him a valuable advisor and worker in the eparchy, and beyond, in the fields of: Indigenous cultures, suicide intervention, AIDS/HIV assistance, grief and mourning counseling, and, again, ongoing training in the field of outreach to those who land in the federal and local corrections systems.
For forty years now, Fr. Joe Ostopowich has been a loved and respected member of the clergy of the Eparchy of New Westminster. All the clergy, the Sisters and lay faithful – especially those who he served over the years – will gladly sing out “Axios!” “he is deserving!” when Bishop Michael grants him the rank and insignia of an Archpriest at the 10:00 AM hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Sts. Peter & Paul parish church in Grindrod, BC. This will take place on one amazing Saturday morning on June 29th as we celebrate the parish’s Centenary and initiate the Annual Marian Pilgrimage of the Eparchy of New Westminster. You will want to be there!
Congratulations Father Joe! На многая літа!