# JOURNAL OF A CATECHIST’S ADVENTURE

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2026/07/journal-of-a-catechists-adventure/
- Published: 2026-07-27T21:51:41-07:00
- Author: Website

**June 12.** With Volodymyr Mykhalyshyn cantoring, I offered an early morning Divine
Liturgy in the house chapel at the New Westminster **Bishop Jerome Eparchial Centre**(
named for the first Bishop Jerome Chimy, OSBM who was appointed in 1974). Then he
drove me out to the Vancouver Airport for and early morning flight to Toronto for
a stop, and then to Rome. There was enough of a layover time in Toronto to have 
a late lunch with the pastor of St. Nicholas Parish, Very Rev. Dr. **Roman Lobay**,
and the **Teply family** from that parish - a family of teachers in the Catholic
school system there. Yet, all good things have their end…. back to the airport, 
on to Rome. 

**June 13.** Arrive in Rome. A seminarian picked me up at Fumincino Airport and 
took me to St. Josaphat Pontifical Seminary where I was warmly met by the new Rector,
Fr. **Bernard Pidhirny**, OSBM. I offered a private Eucharistic Liturgy and, rested
and then went down into the city for a walk around St Peter’s Square. Had, of course,
a real cappuccino and… perhaps a bit of gelato… 

**June 14.** Flight into Slovakia – first to Bratislava and then Kosice. I had not
taken this route before to get to Ukraine since my student years (and that was by
train), but this time my Ukraine trip started in the far west in the city of Uzhhorod.

**June 15.** A very kind priest of the Redemptorist Vice-Province of Michalovce,
Slovakia, Father Antony. met me at the airport in Kosice to drive me to the border
crossing at the city of Uzhhorod where I would have to cross on my own by foot and
someone would meet me on the other side. Before we made it to the border however,
we made a stop at the huge Byzantine minor basilica of the Descent of the Holy Spirit
and shrine, operated by the Redemptorist Fathers in Michalovce. There the Redemporists
offered kind hospitality and a tour of their monastery and shrine. In the basilica
are enshrined the relics of the Redemptorist martyr, **Blessed Methodius** (Dominik
Trčka) CSsR, who served the Eastern Catholics in that part of Europe including western
Ukraine and eastern Czechoslovakia. He died in prison at the hands of the Communist
regime. 

**June 15.** We arrived at the border at the same time as a couple of buses, so 
the line was long and we had to wait at the gate a couple of hours before I could
enter the control area. Fr. Antony was kind enough to wait with me. When the time
came, I bid farewell to Fr. Antony and made my way into the line and procedure –
first the Slovakian side, then across to the Ukrainian side. Truth be told, I found
both sides were thorough and no-nonsense, but fair and efficient. When I passed 
through the final gate into Ukraine a twinge of emotion welled up in me as well 
as sense of joy. I was back and it was good to back! But, yet there was the war…

To my relief, there was a gentleman from the Mukachevo Eparchial centre in Uzhorod
to meet me. It was a very hot day. [If fact, the whole travel experience, except
for the two days of the annual pilgrimage to Zarvanytsya, were SCORCHING hot days(“
speka” as they say in Ukraine)] However, the car started moving and the breeze helped
cool things off. As we were driving, an suv cut two lanes in front of us and almost
caused an accident except for the lighting-fast move of our driver. Now I’m not 
sure where it came from, but I muttered, “what an idiot” (Prydurok ostaniy). Then
I realized that wasn’t very appropriate, so I apologized to the driver. He wryly
replied, “well, if its true, its true…”. 

**June 15.** We arrived at the palatial Mukachevo Eparchial chancery and residence
of the Bishop in the heart of Uzhhorod. [Yes, the Eparchy is named for a neighbouring
city, but back in the day the Hapsburg dynasty gifted the eparchy this beautiful
cathedral and monastery-like complex. So they moved their administration to Uzhhorod,
while maintaining the traditional name of Mukachevo]. It was repurposed in the Soviet
years. You can imagine how the communist regime let the building decay, but now 
it is being refurbished into an appropriate residence and centre to serve the growing
pastoral needs of the great Subcarpathian Eparchy of far western Ukraine. Bishop**
Teodor Matsapula**, IVE, the young energetic Bishop of the Eparchy, met me at the
centre and had me escorted to my room on the top floor. (I felt somewhat sorry for
the deacon who carried may larger suitcase all the way up the winding stairs.) It
was a very comfortable room. I rested a bit. 

That evening some of the heads of the eparchial and exarchal catechism commissions
from around Ukraine started to gather for our meetings the next day. Those who arrived
earlier, including the Director of the Pedagogical-Catechetical Institute of the
Ukrainian Catholic University, Dr. **Nazar Duda**, were invited to join Bishop Teodor
for a walking tour along the **Uz River** that runs down the centre of the city.
We began at the historic **Ashkenazi Synagogue** and made our way past the **Augustin
Voloshyn** monument (the Ukrainian Catholic monsignor who was a leader of Subcarpathian
Ukraine and even became its declared president at one point), and then up to a new
cemetery where many soldiers who have died defending Ukrainian against Russia’s 
brutal invasion are interred. We offered prayers there for the deceased and sang
them a heartfelt “Vichnaya pamyat;”. 

**June 16-17.** We began two days of sessions with all the local heads of catechetical
commissions of all the eparchies and exarchates of Ukraine. Bishop Teodor welcomed
us and expressed his vision and hopes for a vibrant catechism movement within his
own eparchy. As the Head of the Patriarchal Catechetical Commission, I gave the 
opening talk, during which I stressed three points: 

- the paramount importance of catechesis in the Church today and the gratitude of
the Bishops and the Church, as a whole, for the amazing efforts of catechists, 

- the importance of a strong Biblical foundation together with easy, yet immeasurably
effective methods of **Lectio Divina** and the myriad of great Catholic Bible-study
resources online – especially from the Catechetical Commission, and 

- to be aware of shifting social and moral movements in the world and within our
own society and to boldly and with the love of Christ respond readily with the light
and truth of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ’s Church. 

In these two days, these top catechists, priests, Sisters and laypeople, entrusted
with the development of strong catechetical programs throughout their eparchies –
shared best practices, sometimes commiserated about some challenging trends. Yet
they were clearly filled with hope, and made plans for events and new movements 
in the immediate future. Bishop Teodor and his team also took the group on a tour
of the budding Catholic school network in the city and other historic or developing
sites, all within walking distance.  

We also saw the massive bomb shelter beneath the complex where children are rushed
down when the sirens go off. 

**June 18-19**. Formal and informal meetings at the Offices of Patriarchal Catechetical
Commission at the Lviv Patriarchal Centre and especially at the Theological Faculty
building of the **Ukrainian Catholic University** near **Holy Spirit Seminary** –
all along…. Saint John Paul II Avenue in Lviv. Preparation was also underway for
the big final round of Ukraine’s national “**Search for Truth**” Contest, hosted
by the Commission. 

**June 20.** The annual All-Ukraine “**Search for Truth**” contest in two age-groups.
The best teams from practically every eparchy and exarchate throughout Ukraine and
some from western Europe – including England, Norway, Italy and Germany competed
on their knowledge of the Catechism. Especially the Youth Catechism, “**We Walk 
With Christ**” issued in 2020. Younger children gather in the morning for an intense
and fun, but serious, string of ever-tougher questions. They do amazingly well! 
Although, there eventually are three teams that do better than the rest and take
the top three places. The same happens in the afternoon with the older youth. I 
served as judge on a panel of three – two other professors from the University. 
There was some disappointment by some of the teams. Understandably. They poured 
their hearts and souls into this contest. They travelled far – some from areas of
frequent bombardment and hardship. But we tried to impress upon them how truly amazing
they were in how they did – whether or not they went home with trophies and prize
money. A documentary (or adventure) video will have to be made of this contest. 
It would surely be an inspirational watch for anyone throughout the Church, throughout
the world for that matter. 

**June 21.** The first **All-Canada “Search for Truth”** Contest! Yes, the very 
next day, we hosted from the Pedagogical-Catechetical Institute at UCU, the very
first Catechism “Search for Truth” contest with teams entering from **Newfoundland**,**
Toronto**, **Saskatoon** and **British Columbia**! This was accomplished online 
and worked very well! I again served as one of the judges on the panel. The children
again, all did very well. They too received certificates and mementos of their participation.
Next year there will be even more groups from each of Canada’s five eparchies. 

**June 22-24.** Catechism Sessions at the Institute. Beautiful daily Divine Liturgies
in a filled chapel at the UCU Theological Faculty. (it was melting hot, but spirits
were soaring) 

**June 24.** Online meeting with the heads of Catechism Commissions/’Departments
for the Ukrainian Catholic eparchies and exarchates of Western Europe. 

**June 25.** Trip to meet Bishop Dmytro Hryhorak at the city of Chortkiv. Discussion
about new formation programs for their catechists – that will be offered by the 
Catechetical-Pedagogical Institute in Lviv. The Bishop is in full support! 

**June 26.** Major pilgrimage at **Stradch**, Ukraine. An ancient site of early 
martyrs, some 2000 tortured and executed by the invading Tatars in the 12^(th) century.
Thus, the name of the village (“Stradch” signifies a place or event of execution).
More recently, as the Communist Soviets were passing through, the parish priest,
Fr. **Nicholas Conrad** and his cantor, **Volodymyr Pryjma** were killed - the former
shot, the latter mercilessly beaten to death. His Beatitude **Sviatoslav** and many
bishops and clergy and thousands of other pilgrims gathered at the outdoor altar.
It was a time of grace and inspiration to have such a public manifestation of faith
in this time of war. Families of fallen soldiers were specially honoured. Some local
politicians attended as well as former President of Ukraine, **Petro Poroshenko**.

**June 27.** The graduation of one of the largest classes in the history of the 
Catechetical-Pedagogical Institute. I was joined by Bishop **Vasyl Tuchapets**, 
OSBM from the city of Kharkiv and Bishop **Mykhailo Bubniy**, CSsR from the city
of Odesa – both providing pastoral care and leadership in the eastern and southern
regions where the war rages most intensely. At the graduation ceremonies, the president
of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Metropolitan **Borys Gudzak** also addressed
the graduating Catechists. It was truly a happy day for the catechists and their
families that came out to be with them on this special day after some three tough
years. Many will go on to at complete the master’s program and some, further.  

**June 28.** Annual national All-Ukraine pilgrimage of Catechists. This was going
to happen in the new shrine at Starunya in the Ivano-Frankivsk province (oblast),
but since His Beatitude Sviatoslav was leading the 25^(th) anniversary celebration
of Pope St. John Paul’s 2001 visit to Ukraine at Lviv, the catechists decided to
go there instead. It was a (HOT!), but glorious day as almost the entire synod of
bishops from around the world joined the Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and
many priests and, again, thousands of pilgrims, at the Parish Church of the Nativity
of Mother of God in Sykhiv where Pope John Paul II met with hundreds of thousands
of youth a quarter of a century ago. They remember this. Ukraine remembers this.
It was a moment of raising the spirits and dignity of an entire nation into the 
love of Christ and His Church. Ukraine was never the same after that. 

At this event, I had the honour of representing the hundreds of Catechists who had
gather by greeting His Beatitude and presenting him with one of the recent accomplishments
of the Patriarchal Catechetical Commission - a newly publishes Ukrainian version
of the famed **Jerusalem Bible**. After the Divine Liturgy, the Catechists still
made their way to a beautiful forest park to pray a Way of the Cross. This was followed
by a Moleben’ to Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska, who the Synod declared in 2025 
to be the patron of Catechists of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Then the awarding
of the ‘**catechist of the year**’ trophies to catechists chosen by their peers 
in each jurisdiction throughout Ukraine. 

To be continued…. 

Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski 

Chair, Patriarchal Catechetical Commission                         

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