The Faithful of Hieromartyr Saint Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Vernon, BC celebrated their 2025 annual Parish feast on Sunday 16 November. The actual feast of the Bishop and Martyr St. Josaphat takes place in 12 November, but for the sake of convenience for all parishioners and guests, the feast was transferred to the following Sunday. Parish Priest, Fr. Andriy Werbowy, welcomed Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski who made it just in time after celebrating an earlier Liturgy in Kelowna. He was joined by the Parish Priest of Kelowna, Fr. Pavlo Myts. It was a wonderful crowd filling the beautiful Church, which was officially consecrated and opened in the Millennium year of Christianity in Ukraine 1988. People had also joined from other parishes in the surrounding area – Grindrod, Penticton, Kelowna and Coldstream - and as far away as New Westminster as two Sisters – Sr. Angelica, SSMI and Sr. Janice, SSMI made the trip to be there. The whole congregation joined in the singing and they prayed prayers for the Jubilee Year of Hope before the conclusion.
In his homily, Bishop Michael pointed out that the famous martyr for Christian unity, St. Josaphat, began his life like each one of us – simply striving to be a faithful follower of Christ and by living his life according to the Will of God. Over time, the Lord led him onto particular paths where his love of God and of his neighbour grew continuously. That love for God and neighbour compelled him to witness to truth. That witnessing to truth did not appeal to some, who in turned wanted his silenced to the point of putting him to death. Not many of us will be called to make that witness, but, all the same, we should seek to witness to Christ at every possible opportunity and spread the Lord’s Gospel message to a world thirsting for the truth of the Faith.
At the “Mnohaya Litas” at the end of the Liturgy, it was pointed out that the Metropolitan of Canada for Ukrainian Catholics, Most Rev. Lawrence Huculak, OSBM is in fact from the Vernon Parish where he was born and grew up.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the parishioners and the guests filled the parish hall on the lower level and enjoyed a great potluck dinner and the joy of fellowship. The ladies of the parish laid out the food and even held a ‘door prize draw’ where a number of the participants were thrilled to win goodie bags. As Bishop Michael pointed out – the fact that the church and hall could be filled, even if partially be neighbouring parishioners, and that no one was in a rush to leave, are a good sign that St Josaphat Parish has a future yet and the focus needs to be on living the faith and welcoming newcomers and supporting each other.
