# Mission Days 2026 – PASTORAL APPEAL

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2026/05/mission-days-2026-pastoral-appeal/
- Published: 2026-05-13T21:42:01-07:00
- Author: Website

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

[[

[[