# VERNON PARISH CELEBRATES ANNUAL “PRAZNYK”

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2025/11/vernon-parish-celebrates-annual-praznyk/
- Published: 2025-11-17T08:25:21-08:00
- Author: Website

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The Faithful of Hieromartyr [**Saint Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Vernon**](https://vernon.nweparchy.ca/),
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**](https://abbotsford.nweparchy.ca/2014/10/werbowy-rev-andriy/),
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**](https://abbotsford.nweparchy.ca/2014/10/wasylinko-rev-andrzej-2/).
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**](https://grindrod.nweparchy.ca/),
[**Penticton**](https://penticton.nweparchy.ca/), [**Kelowna**](https://kelowna.nweparchy.ca/2025/11/16/church-newsletter-of-23rd-sunday-after-pentecost_23-tya-nedilya-pislya-zislannya-svyatogo-duha-on-november-16th-2025-a-d/)
and [**Coldstream**](https://www.stnicholascenter.org/gazetteer/1270) - and as far
away as **New Westminster** as two [**Sisters**](https://ssmi.org/) – 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_](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/11/12/st--josaphat-kuncewicz--bishop-and--martyr-.html),
[**St. Josaphat**](https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-josaphat-653), 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**](https://archeparchy.ca/metropolitan/),
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.  

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