As we continue our Decade of Mission 2026 on our journey toward Pentecost, today we reflect on Christ’s prayer for unity and the sacrificial love that holds marriages and families together.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus lifts His eyes to the Father and prays not only for His apostles, but also for all who will believe in Him through their witness — including us.
And what does Christ ask for?
“That they may be one as We are one” (John 17:22).
Today’s reflection is offered by Fr. Andriy Werbowy, who reminds us that the unity Christ desires is much deeper than simply avoiding conflict. It is unity born from love, trust, sacrifice, and truth.
Jesus says: “The glory which You gave Me I have given them.”
In the Gospel of John, this “glory” is not earthly success or outward honor. It is the love of God revealed most perfectly on the Cross — a love that gives itself completely for others.
This is the same love to which every Christian family is called.
In the Sacrament of Marriage, husband and wife are crowned with “glory and honor,” becoming participants in God’s own love: • a love that sacrifices, • forgives, • serves, • remains faithful, • and seeks unity even in difficulties.
True family unity does not mean there are never disagreements or struggles. Rather, it means: • not losing love during conflict, • seeking truth together instead of personal victory, • and protecting the relationship above pride.
The greatest danger for a family is not hardship itself, but allowing love to grow cold, trust to disappear, and hearts to become closed to one another.
Christ reminds us today that real unity is possible only when families remain rooted in His sacrificial love.
Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski continues to encourage all faithful of our Eparchy to strengthen unity within their families during these Mission Days through prayer, forgiveness, patience, and love rooted in Christ.
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Friday, May 22 “The glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one as We are one” John 17:18–26 Reflection by Fr. Andriy Werbowy
Personal level: Seek unity, forgiveness, and truth in your relationships rather than personal victory or pride.
Parish level: Help build a parish community where families can grow in love, faithfulness, reconciliation, and mutual support.
Mission level: Witness to the world that true unity is born from Christ’s sacrificial love and that the Christian family is a living icon of God’s love.
May Christ preserve our families in unity and peace. May His sacrificial love strengthen every marriage and heal every wounded heart. And may the Holy Spirit help us remain one in faith, hope, and love.
On Ascension Thursday, 14 May 2026, Canada’s annual witness to the sacredness of life took place in many cities throughout the country, with the major ‘National March for Life’ taking place in the nation’s capital - Ottawa at Canada’s House of Commons and through the city centre streets. The event occurred on the anniversary and on the site of when the House of Commons passed a bill that decriminalized abortion in 1969, which led eventually to abortion with no restrictions as is the case today. The march, however, encompasses all life issues, Besides the 4.5 million unborn babies that never saw the light of day since 1969, focus has widened to include the now heavily promoted euthanasia (“medical assistance in dying”) which has resulted in well over 100,000 deaths of the elderly and infirm since 2016. Other life-associated issues such as contraception and lifestyles were raised by some of the speakers.
In spite of the heartbreaking and gloomy subject matter, the massive rally was upbeat, bold and often joyful. The encouragement of being in a crowd of thousands from all across the country and filled with a firm hope that the laws and attitude in Canada would change one day – God willing, sooner than later – led to the positive spirit. Speaker after speaker emphasized the tragedies that are resulting from the “culture of death” that now pervaded western society, but also brought examples and message of hope that things can and are changing. Some brought personal experiences to back up their message - like the women who advocated for the importance of legislation that would protect the unborn and the elderly and vulnerable. When she was conceived, her young mother, pressured by those her, would have had an abortion and the speaker would not be here today. She is here, to the joy of her family, because at the time there was a law against abortion. As much as her mother tried, no doctor would abort her baby.
The march through the streets in the heart of Ottawa was a joyful witness that Canadians do care about and choose life. The chants of young voices throughout the actual march brought attention to the fact that a great percentage of the participants were young adults, students and families with children! Besides the great speakers and a Christian band, there was also a spirit of prayer that bound the entire day. Some groups came to pray in the course of the day, gathering off to the side, others chanted religious slogans as they walked, but there were also major prayer moments in the course of the day.
The March for Life day began with a truly packed Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in downtown Ottawa. The main celebrant was the Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall, Most Rev. Marcel Damphousse. He was joined at the altar by the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic and the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of Toronto, Bishop Bryan Bayda, and New Westminster - Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski. Bishops Bryan and Michael just the evening before participated with Archpriest Andrew Oniuferko in the vigil Vespers at the St. John the Baptist National Ukrainian Catholic Shrine in the city. The Cathedral was filled to capacity with people raising their prayer to heaven for a conversion of all Canadians to rekindle the love of life and of neighbour – especially the vulnerable – the unborn, the elderly the ill, the troubled.
The event on Parliament Hill concluded with a beautiful Moleben’ for Life, sponsored by Toronto’s Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytstky Institute and led by St. Elias Parish of Brampton. After the events of the March for Life, several hundred participants made their way to Hampton Inn where there was large display hall was set up with many organisations and institutions promoting their work, products and movements. This was followed by the annual Rose Dinner Gala where the keynote speakers were two well-known figures in the effort to raise awareness about the tragedy of euthanasia - Slovenian activist Ales Primc of Movement for Children and Families and Canada’s Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.
One of the major movers and shakers, especially for any Eastern Catholic involvement was Hieromonk Theodosy (Kreychuk), a member of Priests for Life and presently involved with Madonna House at Combermere, Ontario. He assisted in every event and oversaw the logistics of the amazing Moleben’ for Life that was attended by hundreds this year.
As we continue our Decade of Mission 2026 on our journey toward Pentecost, today we reflect on the prayer that brings true and lasting joy into marriage and family life.
In today’s Gospel, Christ says: “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you” (John 16:24).
Today’s reflection is offered by Fr. Andriy Chornenkyi, who reminds us that Christian prayer is not simply asking God to fulfill our wishes, but learning to seek and trust His will in our lives.
To pray “in Jesus’ name” means much more than simply saying certain words. It means asking with faith, humility, and openness to God’s plan. As we pray each day in the “Our Father”: “Thy will be done.”
God does not always give us everything we want, but He always gives us what leads to salvation, peace, and true life.
Christ promises not only answers to prayer, but a deeper joy — a joy that does not disappear in difficulties or depend on changing circumstances. It is the joy that comes from living close to God.
This truth is especially important for marriage and family life.
Very often prayer in the family becomes only a list of needs and worries: • health, • finances, • problems, • fears for children or the future.
God invites us to bring all these things to Him. But Christ also calls families to pray together in a deeper way: “Lord, what do You desire for our family?”
When husband and wife begin seeking God’s will together, something beautiful happens: • peace grows, • unity deepens, • forgiveness becomes easier, • and love becomes stronger than pride.
God’s plan for the family is revealed in simple but powerful ways: • to forgive even when it is difficult, • to listen before speaking, • to choose love over being right, • and to seek God’s way instead of only our own.
When families pray for these things, Christ’s promise is fulfilled: “You will receive.”
Perhaps not always what we expected, but exactly what we truly need — peace, perseverance, unity, and complete joy.
Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski continues to encourage all faithful of our Eparchy to deepen family prayer during these Mission Days and to open their hearts to God’s will through trust, faith, and unity.
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Thursday, May 21 “The prayer that brings complete joy into the family” John 16:23–33 Reflection by Fr. Andriy Chornenkyi
Personal level: During prayer today, try to speak less and listen more to God, trusting Him not only with your requests but also with guiding your life.
Parish level: Reflect on how your parish can become a place where families learn to discover God’s will together.
Mission level: Give witness of living faith through peace in your family, forgiveness, mutual support, and trust in God even during difficulties.
May Christ teach our families how to pray with faith and trust. May our homes be filled with peace, unity, and lasting joy. And may the Holy Spirit guide every family to seek God’s will above all else.
As we continue our Decade of Mission 2026 on our journey toward Pentecost, today we reflect on Christ’s promise that sorrow and suffering, when lived with God, can be transformed into joy and new life.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks honestly to His disciples about pain and sorrow: “You will weep and lament… but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20).
Today’s reflection is offered by Fr. Yuriy Vyshnevskyi, who reminds us that Christian life does not free us from suffering, but teaches us how God can transform even our deepest struggles into sources of grace, wisdom, and hope.
Very often people expect that faith should protect them from every hardship or difficulty. Yet Christ never promised His followers an easy path. Instead, He promised that He would remain with us through every trial and lead us toward resurrection and joy.
To explain this mystery, Jesus uses the image of a mother giving birth. The pain is real, but it is not meaningless — it leads to new life.
This truth speaks powerfully to family life today. Every family experiences struggles, disappointments, fears, sacrifices, and moments of suffering. Yet families rooted in God often discover that trials can deepen love, strengthen unity, and bring hearts closer together.
When lived with faith:
sorrow can become compassion,
sacrifice can become love,
weakness can become trust,
and hardship can become a path toward deeper joy.
The true strength of a Christian family is not found in a life without problems, but in remaining faithful to God and to one another through every season of life.
Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski continues to encourage all faithful of our Eparchy to remain steadfast in prayer and hope during these Mission Days, trusting that God continues to work even through life’s difficulties.
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Wednesday, May 20 “Sorrow That Turns into Joy: God’s Path for the Family” John 16:15–23 Reflection by Fr. Yuriy Vyshnevskyi
📺 Please find today’s video reflection below: https://youtu.be/XWyEF41cgsQ
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Missionary Tasks for Today:
Personal level: Accept your difficulties today not as defeat, but as a place of encounter with God and growth. Parish level: Pray for families undergoing trials and support them with kindness and attention. Mission level: Be witnesses of hope—show through your life that even in hardship, life with God leads to deeper love and joy.
May Christ strengthen every family carrying sorrow or hardship. May He transform fear into trust and suffering into hope. And may the Holy Spirit lead our families toward the lasting joy that comes from God.
Dominican Priest, Father Jaroslaw Krawiec, O.P. who was appointed by the Vatican Dicastery for Eastern Churches as the Visitator to the Ukrainian order of the Basilian Fathers. This means that he is entrusted with the duty of visiting all the homes and institutions of the Order of Saint Basil the Great of St. Josaphat throughout the world.
There is no urgent concern with the Basilian Order. It is just a regular visitation that is scheduled to take place every number of years. This visitation is conducted by one appointed by the patriarch or by the local bishop if the order is on the patriarchal level or on the eparchial level respectively. If an order is what is known as “pontifical right” i.e. under direct authority of the Pope, then it is up to the Pope through his Vatican staff to appoint a visitator. The Basilian Fathers are of an order on that level, so the Vatican, via its Eastern Churches department, appointed Fr. Krawec who is of a major Roman Catholic Order – the Dominicans a.k.a. the Order of Preachers – he is, however, presently serving in Ukraine and has extensive knowledge of the Basilian Order.
FYI - Canon 413 of the Code of Canon of the Eastern Churches, states that Religious institutes [including Orders, Congregations, etc.] that are of “pontifical right” - are subject directly and exclusively to the Apostolic See [i.e. the Vatican]. However, if they are of “patriarchal” or “eparchial” right, they are directly subject to the patriarch or eparchial bishop [].
The Eparchy of New Westminster has enjoyed a lot of activity of the Basilian Order for well over a century. It was the saintly great Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky of Lviv (a Basilian, by the way) who first tried to organize Ukrainians in Vancouver in 1910 and sow the seeds for the establishment of a parish community. Although his efforts were misread at the time, shortly after, there was activity. From 1911, Basilian missionaries served all over what is today the territory of the Eparchy and they established one of the oldest and largest parishes in 1927 – St. Mary’s in Vancouver. The first two bishops appointed after the Eparchy was formally established in 1974 were of the Basilian Order. They were Bishop Jerome Chimiy, OSBM (1974-1992) and Bishop Severian Yakymyshyn, OSBM (1995-2007). Today, St. Mary’s Parish continues to thrive although with two Basilian Priests providing pastoral ministry - Fr. Joseph Pidskalny, OSBM and Fr. Dionysiy Zavedyuk, OSBM.
It is customary for Visitators to pay a visit to the local Bishop when visiting monasteries in his area. Father Jaroslaw Krawiec visited with Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski during his stay in Vancouver.
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