# EPARCHIAL REPRESENTATIVES JOIN CHURCH ON THE WESTCOAST FOR ARCHBISHOP J. MICHAEL MILLER FAREWELL DINNER

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2025/04/eparchial-representatives-join-church-on-the-westcoast-for-archbishop-j-michael-miller-farewell-dinner/
- Published: 2025-04-30T07:47:58-07:00
- Author: Website

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A massive Farewell Dinner was organized by the Faithful of the Archdiocese of Vancouver
and hosted at the [Italian Cultural Centre](https://www.italianculturalcentre.ca/).
The occasion was to hold a Farewell Dinner for **[Archbishop J. Michael Miller](https://basilian.org/en/archbishop-j-michael-millers-resignation-accepted-archbishop-richard-w-smith-appointed-as-vancouvers-next-archbishop-vancouver-bc/)**,
C.S.B. who is retiring after **over 16 years** of shepherding the flock of the Archdiocese
of Vancouver entrusted to his pastoral care. The additional celebration was of the
Archbishop’s **50th Anniversary of Priestly ordination** that took place in Rome
on 29 June 1975 at the hands of **Pope ****[St. Paul VI](https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/biografia/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_20190722_biografia.html)**.

The evening was filled with many heartfelt expressions of admiration and gratitude.
Many moving memories were shared by people gathered and via many pre-recorded video
messages  – some humorous, many amazing, all sincere and inspiring!

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There was entertainment. Musical performances provided by **[Ambrose Matilda Music Connection](https://ambrosematilda.com/)**,
as well as light-hearted moments like the “**Bad Jokes Contest**” in which the Archbishop
participated.

Bishop **Michael Kwiatkowski** and Archpriest **Joseph Ostopowich** from the Eparchy
of New Westminster participated, as well as several other members of the Faithful.
They were joined by an estimated almost 1000 guests for a wonderful Italian meal.
Several groups and organizations, like the **Knights of Columbus**, reserved multiple
tables to be present for this extraordinary event. After the formalities, Archbishop
Miller then spent as much time as needed to accept greetings and well-wishes from
the guests before the night was over.

A **Farewell Mass** is planned for Archbishop Miller at 7:00 PM at **Holy Rosary
Cathedral** in downtown Vancouver on 13 May 2025. As the Archbishop will obviously
stay for the welcoming and installation of his successor, **Archbishop ****[Richard Smith](https://caedm.ca/Archbishop/)**(
May 23), he will only finally depart from Vancouver after Sunday 25 May.

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