EPARCHY OF NEW WESTMINSTER
Ukrainian Catholic Church Українська Греко-Католицька Церква
Prot. 2026/ENW/073
PASTORAL APPEAL
of the Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster
to the Faithful on the Occasion of Mission Days 2026
Christ is Risen!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Each year, our Church faithfully embraces the beautiful tradition of Mission Days (Декада місійності), a special period of prayer, reflection, and renewed evangelical zeal AND ACTION in all our parishes throughout the world.
This year, Mission days 2026, which begins on the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord (Thursday May 14, which coincides with Canada’s annual March for Life this year!) and concludes on the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (May 24), is dedicated in a particular way to the family.
As we enter the fifth year of the full-scale war in Ukraine, we cannot ignore the deep wounds inflicted upon families - separation, loss, uncertainty, and suffering. In this context, our Church invites us to turn our hearts toward God with renewed trust and hope. The central prayer intention of these ten days is the preservation and renewal of our families, so that our homes - sometimes marked by pain (as in Ukraine) or other challenges - may once again become places of peace, healing where the faith is lived as true domestic churches that radiate hope into the world.
During these ten days, we are encouraged to reflect daily on passages from the Gospel of John, as seen through the lens of married and family life, and to respond through concrete missionary actions on a personal, parish, and broader community level.
This year, I am especially grateful to the priests of our Eparchy, who have generously undertaken a unique common initiative. In addition to the celebrations and reflections in your local parishes, each day from the Feast of the Ascension to Pentecost, one of our priests will offer a pre-recorded Moleben or some other prayer service, together with a reading of the prescribed Gospel passage and a brief reflection.
These daily spiritual offerings will be made available on the official Facebook page of our Eparchy, making it possible not only for our faithful locally, but also for those beyond our Eparchy, to unite with us in prayer and preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
I warmly invite each of you to:
- take part in this spiritual journey,
- gather with your families in prayer,
- reflect on the Word of God,
- and share this initiative with your relatives, friends, and fellow parishioners.
Let us make Mission Days a time of grace - when our families are strengthened, our faith renewed, and our hearts opened more fully to the presence of God. Let this period especially serve as a reminder and encouragement for us to fulfil our divine calling to share our faith with those around us and to transform the society around us into one that reflects Christ’s Gospel teaching without compromise!
May the Risen Christ bless your homes with peace, and may the Holy Spirit descend abundantly upon our families, our Church, and our world.
✠ Michael (Kwiatkowski)
Bishop of the Eparchy of New Westminster
