Цими днями ми згадуємо 12-ту річницю військового втручання росії в Україну та 4-ту річницю повномасштабного вторгнення.
Це роки великого болю і втрат, але також роки мужності, жертовності й незламної віри. Наш народ проходить тяжке випробування, несучи свій хрест із надією на Боже милосердя і справедливість.
Запрошую всіх до спільної молитви:
за упокій душ полеглих воїнів і всіх невинно убієнних;
за зцілення поранених;
за визволення полонених;
за потіху для родин, що втратили своїх близьких;
за припинення цієї жорстокої війни!
і за встановлення справедливого миру в Україні.
Нехай Господь укріпить наш народ у вірі, збереже його в єдності та провадить дорогою правди і життя.
Господи, спаси народ Твій і благослови насліддя Твоє.
Слава Ісусу Христу!
Усіх наших священиків, усе наше монашество та всі наші вірні закликають проводити спеціальні молитовні заходи або включати молитви та прохання до своїх регулярних Богослужінь у неділю, 22 лютого, та у вівторок, 24 лютого.
Members of the Eparchy of New Westminster participated in truly timely and important webinar on “Canadian Churches and the War in Ukraine: Ministry in the Canadian Context Since the Full-scale Invasion”. The online meeting, conducted via Zoom, gathered a vast number of people from across Canada to discuss their experiences in welcoming newcomers from Europe over the last four years since Russia began its brutal invasion of Ukraine. Canada was one of the countries to immediately offer a place to stay to Ukrainian families who wanted desperately to escape the death and destruction of war. In fact, Canada was very generous in offering documentation, material assistance to the temporarily displaced Ukrainians so they could find a place to live, work and receive the care they needed. This displacement has dragged on. In a few days, this war may enter its fifth year!
However, besides great governmental programs, the people from Ukraine also needed hands-on help by volunteers who would guide them in finding work, an apartment where to stay, furniture, how to find medical help and enrol their children in school, etc. Ukrainian organizations like the Ukrainian Canadian Congress really stepped up in all provinces. Faith communities – leading among them the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Churches – also immediately mobilized themselves to offer charitable help and accompaniment in these early months and even to the present day.
The main speakers at the webinar were four panelists – four priests who in various ways were in the thick of the effort to help the “refugees” when they began arriving by the hundreds and then thousands. The panelists included: Fr. Cornell Zubritsky (Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Edmonton); Fr. Andre Lalach (of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon); Fr. Volodymyr Bashutskyy (Archeparchy of Winnipeg) and the Eparchy of New Westminster’s Fr. Mykhailo Ozorovych. Each of the speakers shared about the experiences that they personally had in receiving newcomers. [BTW, the term and status appropriate to the newcomers from Ukraine was clarified early on in the discussion. They are not acknowledged as “refugees” actually, but rather “evacuees” or “temporarily displaced” persons.] They shared about the challenges, but also the joys and blessings. The challenges, as one would expect, included finding resources, initial language barriers, helping people adapt to a new cultural and social reality. The blessings, on the other hand, were often connected with those challenges as members of parishes stepped up to help, mentor and accept changes to their communities to accommodate the new people who needed, above all. understanding and help.
The seminar was hosted by Newman Theological College in Edmonton as part of their ongoing launch of the new programming in Eastern Christian Theology. Deacon Cyril Kennedy, an assistant professor at the College, moderated the online gathering and kept it moving along to allow the speakers to share their thoughts, engage each other for clarification and then give ample opportunity to the all the participants to ask questions and comment.
More similar webinars were promised for the near future. The public will certainly look forward to the announcements.
Within the framework of the activities of Ukraine’s foreign diplomatic institutions, a mobile consular service was organized in British Columbia. The consular services were provided by the Consul of Ukraine in Edmonton, Ms. Viktoriia Bozhko, in accordance with her official duties and authorities.
The services were intended for Ukrainian citizens currently residing on Canada’s West Coast who require the issuance or renewal of passports and immigration-related documents. Many Ukrainian families arrived in Canada as a result of the ongoing war, seeking safety for their loved ones while maintaining hope for a just peace and the restoration of Ukraine. Given the prolonged nature of the hostilities, the need for timely document renewal and clarification of legal status has become increasingly important.
The mobile consular services were conducted at the Bishop Jerome Eparchial Centre of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster. The spacious meeting hall and library of the Centre was designated as the reception area for citizens and was appropriately prepared for the processing of documents.
Over the course of four days, the consular team worked in an intensive and well-coordinated manner, ensuring a high standard of public service. Organizational support was provided by volunteers of the eparchy. Particular dedication and professionalism were demonstrated by Ms. Alla Eismont from the Eparchial Chancery, and Ms. Elvira Mruchkovska, who coordinated the reception of applicants, assisted with organizational matters, and provided informational support.
On Sunday morning, the final day of the consular mission, His Excellency, Most Rev. Michael Kwiatkowski, Bishop of the New Westminster Eparchy, came in to express his gratitude on behalf of the clergy and the Ukrainian community of the region. He presented Ms. Viktoriia Bozhko with a certificate of appreciation as a sign of recognition for her amazing service, attentiveness to the needs of citizens, and dedication to diplomatic duty. The Bishop expressed his amazement about the entire operation that he noted ran from morning to late night every day. He saw this as an sign of the obvious love and dedication of the Consul and the team of volunteers toward their fellow “zemliaky” in their time of need.
It was made clear that Ms. Viktoriia Bozhko and the consular team are always welcome guests at the Eparchial Centre. The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster remains open to continued cooperation in support of the Ukrainian community and the proper safeguarding of its rights and needs.
[VolodymyrMykhalyshyn]
КОНСУЛ З ЕДМОНТОНА НАДАЄ ПОСЛУГИ В НЬЮ-ВЕСТМІНСТЕРІ, БРИТАНСЬКА КОЛУМБІЯ
У межах діяльності закордонних дипломатичних установ України було організовано виїзне консульське обслуговування громадян у Британській Колумбії. Консульські дії здійснювала консул України в Едмонтоні пані Вікторія Божко відповідно до своїх службових повноважень.
Йдеться про співвітчизників, які нині проживають на Західному узбережжі Канади та потребують оформлення або оновлення паспортних і візових документів. Багато українських родин прибули до Канади у зв’язку з війною, прагнучи забезпечити безпеку своїх близьких та зберігаючи надію на настання справедливого миру й відновлення України. З огляду на тривалість воєнних подій, виникла необхідність у своєчасному продовженні документів і врегулюванні правового статусу.
Виїзне консульське обслуговування було проведено на базі Єпархіального центру імені владики Ієроніма Української католицької єпархії Нью-Вестмінстера. Просторе приміщення конференц-холу єпархії було визначене як місце прийому громадян та належним чином підготовлене для роботи з документами.
Протягом чотирьох днів консульська команда працювала в інтенсивному режимі, забезпечуючи належний рівень державного сервісу. До організаційної підтримки долучилися волонтери єпархії. Особливу відповідальність і сумлінність виявили пані Алла Ейсмонт, представниця єпархіальної канцелярії, а також пані Ельвіра Мручковська, які координували прийом громадян, сприяли впорядкованості процесу та надавали інформаційну підтримку.
У неділю вранці, в останній день праці консульської місії, Преосвященний владика Михайло Квятковський, єпископ Нью-Вестмінстерської єпархії, прибув, щоб висловити подяку від імені духовенства та української громади регіону. Він вручив пані Вікторії Божко грамоту подяки як знак вдячності за відповідальне виконання службових обов’язків, уважне ставлення до потреб громадян і відданість дипломатичному служінню. Владика відзначив високий рівень організованості роботи та посвяту команди, яка протягом кількох днів опрацювала значну кількість звернень.
Пані Вікторія Божко та консульська команда завжди є бажаними гостями в єпархіальному центрі. Українська католицька єпархія Нью-Вестмінстера і надалі відкрита до співпраці задля підтримки української громади та належного забезпечення її прав і потреб.
On Meat-fare Sunday (8 February), Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski visited the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Surrey, British Columbia. Grateful to the pastor and parishioners of Precious Blood Roman Catholic Parish, the small Ukrainian parish has been holding services and parish events at Precious Blood for a few years now.
Upon his arrival in the Eparchy a year ago, Fr. Mykhailo Postolyuk has been serving as Parish Priest of Holy Cross as well as the new Saint Joseph the Spouse mission parish at the Adoration Chapel of Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Maple Ridge, BC.
The Divine Liturgy began at 2:00 PM as it does every Sunday and Bishop Michael asked the parishioners to stay behind for a small discussion.
The Bishop thanked them for coming to the service and said that he was truly impressed with their singing of the Ukrainian/English Eucharistic Liturgy. He expressed his admiration for them that although the parish still struggled after losing its original church some years ago, they remained determined to make the best of the situation. They continue to have weekly Sunday services at the temporary location and Fr. Mykhailo offers some online services, Bible study and catechism lessons during the weekdays. One of the important recent developments was that Fr. Mykhailo, with his family, was now moving into a parish apartment nearer to the Precious Blood location. (He had been living at the rectory of another Eparchial Parish – Holy Dormition Byzantine - in Richmond.)
The meeting after the Divine Liturgy offered the Bishop and parishioners, with their parish priest, to have a good discussion about where the parish “is at” and what might be some of the best changes or moves to make in the near future. This was also put into context the overall resources and needs of the Eparchy of New Westminster as a whole. Everything from Liturgy times to relocating to growing the community was talked about. In conclusion everyone raised a prayer to the Lord, through the intercession of Mary the Mother of God, to guide them all in making the best possible decision for the good of their community.
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