# NWE Jubilee Letter 2024

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2024/09/nwe-jubilee-letter-2024/
- Published: 2024-09-06T12:09:55-07:00
- Author: Website

![](https://abbotsford.nweparchy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Знімок-екрана-2024-
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**50^(th) Anniversary Jubilee**

**of the**

**Eparchy of New Westminster**

**1974 - 2024**

**To the Clergy, Women Religious, Lay Faithful and all Friends and supporters of
the Eparchy of New Westminster, Canada**

**Христос Воскрес!     Christ is Risen! **

**First Seeds Planted and Cultivated**

Although some historic research suggests that Ukrainians may have made their way
to British Columbia to take advantage of the **gold rush** of the 1870s, the Ukrainian
Catholic presence in the territory of today’s Eparchy of New Westminster can definitely
be documented back to when Basilian missionaries made contact with Ukrainian immigrants
in 1904.

The Ukrainian Basilian Fathers who had only started establishing themselves in central
Canada and Alberta, managed to send a missionary, Father **Anton Strotsky**, to 
British Columbia in 1904 to connect with members of the Ukrainian Community who 
were already working in the mines and operating their own orchards.

Besides Fr. Strotsky, our Eparchy is grateful to the  **Basilian Fathers** who contributed
so much to the growth of the Ukrainian Catholic presence in British Columbia for
some 120 years now. They especially developed the parish of St. Mary’s in Vancouver,
but they also engaged in mission  activity throughout the  _lower mainland _ and
other parts of the

territory. Of course, the first two bishops of the Eparchy – Bishop **Jerome Chimy**
and Bishop **Severian Yakymyshyn** - were chosen from the Order of Saint Basil the
Great.  Aside from monastic missionaries many dedicated **secular priests** - Canadian-
born and

from abroad - also devoted themselves to serving God’s People wherever they settled
throughout the territory of the Eparchy – long before and ever sense it was established.
Names of ‘**_Fathers_**’ like **Bilyk**, **Galarnyk**, **Hanushevsky**, **Olsen**,**
Sabara** and the Studite **Stek**, are only a few of dozens and dozens of dedicate
priests who are fondly remembered by people whose lives they touched. 

We want to acknowledge the **Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate** who were already
visiting British Columbia from the 1920s, teaching Catechism and Religion classes
around the province. They especially became involved with the new Eparchy right 
from the very beginning - working with youth and various organizations like **UCWLC**
and the **UCBC**. They facilitated missions and enhancing the life of parishes. 
To this day, the Sisters participate in parish events, lead liturgical services,
maintain reception at the Chancery Offices and serve as members of Eparchial councils.

The Eparchy was blessed by visits of several illustrious Church leaders over the
years. Metropolitan **Andrey Sheptytsky,** making his way across Canada in 1910 
to learn of the pastoral needs of the Ukrainian settlements, visited Vancouver hoping
to organize some Church activity. Bishop and Martyr Blessed **Nytkyta Budka** visited
in 1925 when he consecrated the new church in Grindrod. The hero and confessor who
survived 18 years in the Soviet Gulag, Patriarch **Josepf Slipyj** visited in 1968.
We may mention the 1984 Visit of Pope Saint **John Paul II**. He did not visit the
Ukrainian community in this part of Canada _per se_, but he acknowledged their generous
participation, “_I am likewise deeply grateful for all who have made great efforts
to come from […] the Eparchy of New Westminster under the leadership of Bishop Chimy_”.
Soon after his assuming the leadership of the UGCC, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian
Catholic Church, Cardinal **Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky** came in 1986. Following 
a meeting of the Permanent Synod in Edmonton in 2008, the then head of our Church,
Cardinal **Lubomyr Husar**, visited the Eparchy of New Westminster. His Beatitude**
Sviatoslav Shevchuk** visited in 2012 as Canada celebrated the 100^(th) anniversary
of the appointment of the abovementioned Blessed Nykyta as the first Ukrainian Catholic
Bishop to Canada. At that time, he blessed the **Bishop Jerome Eparchial Centre**,
which had been newly renovated by Bishop **Kenneth Nowakowski**. Speaking of Church
leaders, our eparchy has also provided a few. Among them are Metropolitan **Lawrence
Huculak** of Winnipeg and Bishop **Paul Chomnycky** of Stamford, who were born grew
up within our Eparchy.

Of course, many of our parishes preceded the establishment of the Eparchy of New
Westminster in 1974. They will be mentioned in other Jubilee material, but we certainly
can mention those that were established as parishes early on in the early 1900s.
Some soon even had their first churches built. **St. Anne** at **Mount Cartier**
and **Sts Peter and Paul** in **Grindrod** were the first churches built in 1922
and 1924 respectively. **St Mary’s** in **Vancouver** served by the Fathers of the
Basilian community has grown from its early missionary pastoral activity into an
inspiring campus of facilities and residences as well as the large modern church
rom 1982. **St. Nicholas** in **Coldstream** and **St. Josaphat** in **Vernon** 
are among the many parishes that were formed in the first half of the 20^(th) Century
and are still functioning today. Many other parishes soon blossomed immediately 
after the Second World War. Ukrainians in centres like **Victoria**, **Kamloops**
and **New Westminster**, _among others_, soon organized themselves, requested priests
to provide pastoral care and quickly grew into the active parishes that they are
today.   

A number of our parishes faded away into the costal mists over the years. Names 
like **Revelstoke**, **Port Alberni** and the **Kootenays**, among _several more_,
were established mission points back in the day. On the other hand, however, with
the influx of newcomers from Ukraine over the past couple of years, new, hopeful
centres of pastoral activity are appearing on the map. The **Comox Valley**, **Maple
Ridge**, **Abbottsford**, among others, are now places of pastoral outreach. The
potential of cities like **Chilliwack**, where pastoral activity had to be abandoned
at some point, are now being explored for revival once again.

**The Establishment of Our Eparchy**

After having been petitioned by the Ukrainian Catholic Church and after consulting
the Catholic Church in Canada and seeing that the pastoral needs were obvious and
that the time had truly come, Pope **Saint Paul VI** canonically established the**
Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster** on **27 June 1974**. It was a vast
territory that included the Province of **British Columbia**, the **Yukon Territory**
and a western portion of the **Northwest Territories**. The Eparchy of Edmonton 
ceded the pastoral care of this region to the new Bishop of the new Eparchy - Bishop**
Jerome Chimy**, OSBM, who was consecrated and enthroned on 5 September 1974 at the
newly designated Cathedral of the **Holy Eucharist** in New Westminster.

I am the 4^(th) Bishop of the Eparchy of New Westminster, yet actually the fifth
bishop in as many decades to serve the good faithful of this area. We are also grateful
to our interim Apostolic Administrator in the person of Bishop **David Motiuk**,
who guided us for almost four years. In the relatively short while that I have been
here since my being proposed by our Synod of Bishops and my formal appointment by
Pope Francis in August of last year, I have come to know the dedicated clergy and
religious that serve this Eparchy. The faithful laypersons that have made the Eparchy
their home bring their hope and enthusiasm to the parishes and missions scattered
around the cities and towns of the lush costal area and the majestic mountains. 
God willing, we will soon be able to offer pastoral services to those who have settled
in the northernmost regions of the Eparchy in the **Yukon** and **Northwest** Territories.
I am blessed with the honour of overseeing the celebration of our Golden Jubilee
celebrations. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us together – the faithful,
the clergy and the friends of our Eparchy – to refresh ourselves in this Jubilee
oasis by reflecting on our past and assessing where we now find ourselves. Then,
let us take up the challenge of continuing the spiritual pilgrimage **into the next
50 years** of **living** and **growing** in our faith and, by the grace and love
of God, **sharing it** with whomever we can.

**Our Celebrations**

This year, 2024, the Eparchy would like to have **many local celebrations** of our
Jubilee on the **parish level** so that all of our parishioners and visitors may
participate in the commemorations and spiritual benefits. We encourage each parish
and mission to consider creating a Jubilee event that would include a **Eucharistic
Liturgy** and some **_repast_**, but also an **educational**, **spiritual** program
that would empower the community to look forward to the coming years of activity.

1. In fact, as our Eparchy was actually founded 50 years ago on **June 27**^(th),
the Jubilee Committee wants to **encourage all our Parishes** to hold their local
Jubilee celebration on the Sunday _prior_ to that date (since we are all meeting
at our Grindrod Parish the following weekend on the 29^(th)). Therefore, unless 
parishes are planning something for later in the year, it is suggested that they
hold their local **parish** Eparchial Jubilee Celebration on **Sunday 23 June 2024**.

2. Presently there are two _major events_ planned on the all-eparchial level. This
includes the first **Annual Eparchial Pilgrimage** which will take place this year
at our Parish in **Grindrod** on the _weekend_ of **Saturday 29 June 2024** coinciding
with their parish feast of **Saints Peter and Paul** as the parish also celebrates
its **centenary** this year! Among the various activities on that weekend, the unveiling
of the **Marian Icon of our Eparchy** will take place. The new icon of the Mother
of God is presently being written and will be blessed at Grindrod.

3, The second major Jubilee event will be a **Hierarchical Divine Liturgy** on **
Saturday **the **28 September 2024** at our beautiful **Cathedral of the Holy Eucharist**
in New Westminster led by bishops from around Canada and to which all the faithful
of our Eparchy are invited. The celebration will include a meal and various presentations.
The days leading up to this key commemoration will include seminars, family festivities
and celebrations in the **Metro Vancouver** area.

Please share your thoughts and ideas with your local parish and with the Jubilee
Committee via **jubilee@nweparchy.ca** or write to **Jubilee Committee, 502 Fifth
Ave. New Westminster, BC, V3L 1S2** or through **your parish priest**.

May our Lord continue to richly bless our Eparchy as He has over the last half century.
May the Lord inspire us during our Jubilee year to wisely and boldly plan for the
journey forward with Him, His Blessed Mother and all the patron Saints of our Eparchy!

Christ is Risen!

Most Rev. Michael Kwiatkowski

Bishop of New Westminster

_Issued 16 April 2024_

_at the Cathedral of the Holy Eucharist_

_New Westminster, British Columbia_