# MISSIONARY PRIEST FR. DMYTRO DNISTRIAN PREACHES IN VANCOUVER

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2025/03/missionary-priest-fr-dmytro-dnistrian-preaches-in-vancouver/
- Published: 2025-03-24T14:05:47-07:00
- Author: Website

It is the practice in Ukrainian Catholic Parishes to have a “Lenten Mission” during
the course of the Great Fast, during which the Faithful can hear inspiring sermons
and reflections and have the opportunity to make their “Easter Confession”*.

It is not always feasible for each individual parish to invite a special preacher
for such a Lenten Mission/ Therefore, sometimes they may collaborate with a neighbouring
parish or simply rely on a nearby parish to provide a Mission for the region. This
was the case with **[St. Mary’s ](https://www.stmarysbc.com/)**[(Pokrova)](https://www.stmarysbc.com/)**
[ Parish](https://www.stmarysbc.com/)** in Vancouver, under the pastoral care of
the Basilian Fathers. The parish arranged with Redemptorist Missionary, [Fr. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r7IW2VF5mU)**
[Dmytro Dnistrian](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r7IW2VF5mU)**[, C.Ss.R](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r7IW2VF5mU).
to preach a three-day mission, including their Sunday Divine Liturgies.

Father Dmytro preached and heard Confessions at the Vancouver Parish Church from
Friday March 21 through the Liturgies on Veneration of the Holy Cross Sunday March
23. Besides the parishioners of St. Mary’s faithful from other parishes in the “
lower mainland” area of British Columbia attended.

Among the attendees were the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate who have a house
in New Westminster near the Eparchial Centre. Sr. **Angelica** (Hodowansky), SSMI,
noted that it was an “excellent turnout” of people in attendance, and she very much
enjoyed the “many stories from his own personal life” that Fr. Dmytro used, rendering
the points that he was making _memorable_. The people attending – especially the
newcomers - also very much appreciated that Father Dmytro, on occasion, preached
in Ukrainian.   

The Pastor of St. Mary’s, Rev. **Joseph Pidskalny**, OSBM is happy with the mission
and the number of people that made the effort to come to the talks and services 
over the three days.  

______________________________________________________

**\*** Although the number of faithful availing themselves of the Sacrament of Confession
every month (as it is offered by most clergy prior to every Eucharist Liturgy) if
quite strong throughout the Eparchy, people also traditionally make the effort to
make a special Confession in preparation for their **parish feast **(praznyk), for**
Christmas** and **Easter**. Easter Confession often takes on the character of what
some call a “general Confession” where one makes an assessment of his/her year or
even entire life.

[[

[[

[[

[[