# FAREWELL TO A LOVED ARCHBISHOP

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2025/05/farewell-to-a-loved-archbishop/
- Published: 2025-05-14T09:58:18-07:00
- Author: Website

![](https://abbotsford.nweparchy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/miller-2025-1.jpg)

What a magnificent and glorious Mass it was, and solemn and uplifting. **[Holy Rosary Cathedral](https://www.holyrosarycathedral.org/)**
in downtown Vancouver was filled to capacity, but with only a small fraction of 
the people that wanted to attend if space had allowed. Before the Eucharistic Liturgy
began and after it had concluded participants could not help but be captivated by
the seemingly endless stream of servers, seminarians, deacons, priests and bishops
that flowed by in white vestments. The solemnity, the ritual and the obvious care
and precision shown at every moment - emphasized the reality that the command of
the Son of God at the Last Supper was being carried out in the very midst of those
gathered. “**[Do this in memory of me](https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=passion+of+the+Christ+last+supper+scene&&mid=621E1A70B9F10FC871BC621E1A70B9F10FC871BC&&mcid=A9A1F59994C342A7B87E917608E3AD7C&FORM=VRDGAR)**”(
Luke 22:19-20)

The reason for this Farewell Mass was the main celebrant, the shepherd of the Faithful
of the Archdiocese of Vancouver and the four suffragan dioceses, retiring **Archbishop****
[J. Michael Miller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Michael_Miller)****, ****[CSB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_of_St._Basil)**.
It was an opportunity for Archbishop Miller to pray one last time with the people
he loved and served. This was to be his last public Mass in what was his cathedral
church. He also took the opportunity to celebrate his 50th Anniversary of Priestly
ordination which will actually take place after he is gone – 29th June, on the Feast
of the Holy Apostles **[Sts. Peter and Paul](https://stjosaphat.ab.ca/june-29-holy-apostles-peter-and-paul/)**.
He was ordained fifty years ago at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by the laying-on-
of-hands of **Pope ****[St. Paul VI](https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/biografia/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_20190722_biografia.html)**.

In his homily, Archbishop Miller spoke about his personal life journey, but really
spoke about vocations to priestly ministry and dedicating one’s life to serving 
the Church of Christ. He spoke of his love and admiration and gratitude that he 
felt for the people he served over the last eighteen years as coadjutor and then
Archbishop of Vancouver. He asked everyone to add a prayer for him as he now moves
on to continue his journey with the Lord. After the clergy exited the great doors
of the majestic 125-year-old Cathedral, the Archbishop remained behind at the entrance-
greeting and bidding farewell to everyone who approached him.

Our **Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski**, was among the bishops and other clergy who attended.
Although he is relatively new himself to the west coast, he wanted to be there to
express his gratitude to the good Archbishop who has shown such magnanimity and 
kindness to the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster by opening his churches
and rectories to the needs of the Ukrainian community - especially since the outbreak
of Russia’s 2022 brutal invasion that brought thousands of refugees to British Columbia.
His kindness and that of his brother bishops and faithful, is much appreciated by
the Ukrainian community and will never be forgotten.

**Farewell Archbishop Michael! May our loving Lord richly reward you and grant you
yet many more joy-filled and successful years upon this earth and onto life everlasting!**

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