# RT. REV. JOE OSTOPOWICH NAMED ARCHPRIEST 

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2024/06/rt-rev-joe-ostopowich-named-archpriest/
- Published: 2024-06-18T22:00:45-07:00
- Author: Website

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**](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sts-peter-pauls-grindrod-parish-centennial-celebration-tickets-918530067157)
at **Grindrod **on** 29 June** 2024. 

![](https://nweparchy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ostopowich-Chimy-902x1024.jpeg)

Father Joe was ordained to the priesthood on **20 May 1984** by the first Bishop
of our eparchy, the late Most Rev. [**Jerome Chimy**](https://abbotsford.nweparchy.ca/bishop-jerome-chimy-osbm/),
OSBM. 

Since his ordination, Fr. Joe has served in several of the parishes throughout the
Eparchy as well as in the state of [**Washington**](https://ukrchurch.org/en/%d1%96%d1%81%d1%82%d0%be%d1%80%d1%96%d1%8f-%d0%bd%d0%b0%d1%88%d0%be%d1%97-%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%b0%d1%84%d1%96%d1%97/),
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!**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axios_(acclamation))” “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 29^(
th) 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!**