Ukrainian Catholic Parishes throughout Ukraine continue to serve as sources of our Lord’s Sacramental grace and places of spiritual consolation for the Faithful who continue to gather for prayer in churches and parish facilities. They have also become the go-to places for basic humanitarian aid, including food, water and even medical care. The Father and Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, His Beatitude SVIATOSLAV, except when for when he travels abroad to seek aid for his people or to encourage them to stay united, chooses to stay in Ukraine among his People. He just issued an appeal for aid to keep the parishes functioning throughout the harshness of winter and the tragedy of the Russian invasion. This way the people will continue to have their churches to encounter the living Christ and to give them hope and consolation and they will have a place to which they can turn for humanitarian aid.
This Sunday or in the next couple of weeks, when your Parish Priest calls for a special collection or fundraising opportunity, please consider giving generously - as you have since the beginning of the war.
May the Lord bless you!
May the Lord bless and multiply our humble efforts!
May the Lord grant an end to the war!
+Michael
Bishop, Eparchy of New Westminster
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ОСОБЛИВЕ ПРОХАННЯ ВІД ГЛАВИ НАШОЇ ЦЕРКВИ
Дорогі вірні Єпархії Нью-Вестмінстера!
Слава Ісусу Христу!
Парафії Української Греко-Католицької Церкви по всій Україні продовжують бути джерелами благодаті Таїнств нашого Господа та місцями духовної втіхи для вірних, які збираються на молитву в храмах і в парафіяльних приміщеннях. Вони також стали осередками надання необхідної гуманітарної допомоги, зокрема продуктів харчування, води та навіть медичних послуг. Отець і Глава Української Греко-Католицької Церкви Блаженніший СВЯТОСЛАВ — за винятком випадків, коли він виїжджає за кордон, щоб шукати допомоги для свого народу або підтримати єдність людей, — залишається в Україні, серед своїх людей. Він щойно звернувся із проханням про допомогу для забезпечення діяльності парафій у складних умовах зими та в час трагедії російського вторгнення. Завдяки цьому люди й надалі матимуть свої храми для зустрічі з живим Христом, що дарує надію та втіху, а також матимуть місце, куди можна звернутися по гуманітарну допомогу.
Коли цієї неділі або протягом найближчих тижнів ваш парох оголосить про спеціальний збір коштів чи благодійну акцію, будь ласка, пожертвуйте щедро — так, як ви це робили від початку війни.
Нехай Господь благословить вас!
Нехай Господь благословить і примножить наші скромні зусилля!
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council and Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle honour the Survivors of the Indian Residential School System, the children who never returned home, their families, and the generations who continue to live with its legacy. We remember also the courage of those who have shared their stories and encourage those who continue to listen, so that the truth of our histories remains the foundation upon which we build our collective futures. We cannot turn away from these truths when they are painful or uncomfortable. Our faith calls us instead to encounter them with humility, honesty, and charity as we walk together and learn to live rightly with one another.
We give thanks for signs of hope this year. The ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ knowledge-sharing symposium held in Edmonton this past spring created space for honest dialogue among diverse voices about the historical and contemporary realities that shaped colonization. Through the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, Catholic dioceses across Canada have committed $30 million toward healing and reconciliation projects developed with Indigenous communities. These are two examples of the many initiatives taking place across the country as the fruits of dialogue and relationality begin to shape a brighter tomorrow. At the same time, we cannot ignore that there has been a noticeable shift in the discourse concerning Truth and Reconciliation in recent months. There is a temptation to become distracted from the healing mission Pope Francis called us all to continue during his penitential pilgrimage to Canada in 2022. We must remain patient with one another and trust that the journey is guided by the Holy Spirit, who accompanies us at every step.
To aid in this journey, ongoing dialogue and mutual accompaniment remains paramount. Whether in parishes or at community events, occasions for learning can create opportunities for encounter, reciprocity, and relationality. We must see the faces and hear the voices of those with whom we are walking so that, in the words of the late Canadian Jesuit Michael Stogre, S.J., we might be drawn “… into the realm of discernment, decision, and action on behalf of justice and liberation.”
Finally, we wish to acknowledge that this work must be rooted in the movement of the Holy Spirit. We invite all to continue praying for this healing journey as we look ahead to December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. May Our Lady, who came to St. Juan Diego in his own language and with the face of his people, accompany us on the path of Truth and Reconciliation.
On September 25, 2026, the Very Rev. Archimandrite Richard Soo, S.J., arrived at his 70th birthday. Perhaps just a milestone in his life, but for the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Eparchy of New Westminster, this milestone is an opportunity to give thanks to God for his many years of priestly ministry, his Jesuit vocation, his love for the Christian East, and his tireless service to the Church and to all those who seek Christ.
The life and vocation of Archimandrite Richard Soo are a unique testimony to the ways in which different traditions, cultures, and spiritual experiences can meet within the Catholic Church without losing their distinctive character. Rather than losing anything, they come together for a wonderful channel of God’s grace in a ministry that couldn’t happen any other way.
Born in here in our Eparchy (okay, before it became an eparchy in 1974) in Vancouver in 1956 into a third-generation Chinese-Canadian family, Richard Soo encountered two traditions during his studies at the University of British Columbia that would profoundly shape his vocation: the spirituality of the Society of Jesus and the theological and liturgical heritage of Byzantine Christianity.
This encounter became the beginning of a distinctive vocational journey. While a university student, Richard Soo entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. In 1979, he entered the Society of Jesus, and ten years later, in 1989, he was ordained to the priesthood.
Over the years, his ministry has encompassed parish pastoral work, eparchial administrative positions, spiritual direction, refugee ministry, social justice initiatives, Jesuit formation, and the preaching of retreats.
Father Richard has described his journey as a kind of “triple conversion”: discovering the richness of Byzantine Christianity, embracing the Catholic faith, and learning how to remain faithful both to his Jesuit vocation and to the Eastern Catholic tradition.
A Vocation Where East Meets West
Throughout his years of ministry, Father Richard has become a living example that the unity of the Church does not require uniformity. The Eastern Catholic tradition is not merely a cultural inheritance or a historical expression of Christianity. It is a living way of encountering the Gospel, prayer, and the life of the Church.
This vision has been especially evident in his ministry in Richmond, where for many years he has served and helped develop an Eastern Catholic community within the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster. At the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, Divine Liturgies are celebrated in both Ukrainian and English with infusions of Mandarin, Cantonese and Arabic as needed, bringing together faithful from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Through this ministry, Father Richard has consistently embodied the rightful conviction that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has its roots in Kyiv just as the Roman Catholic Church has its roots in Rome but neither is restricted to serve people of Ukrainian or Roman, Italian heritage respectively, but also to serve the missionary mandate of Christ, to reach out to people of every nation and culture.
His ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly significant. When parish life was severely disrupted, Father Richard continued to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and accompany the faithful, using modern means of communication to maintain a connection with the community. As parish life gradually resumed, new people also began to discover the community, including converts to Catholicism, former Evangelicals, Roman Catholics, and people from many different cultural and religious backgrounds.
“The Lord Is Within You”
Jesuit spirituality and the Eastern Christian liturgical tradition complement one another in Father Richard’s ministry. For many years, he has been engaged in spiritual direction and in sharing the famous, often lifechanging, Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
During the 2025 Clergy Study Days of the Eparchy of New Westminster, Father Richard led a Lectio Divina reflection entitled “The Real Me Meets the Real God.” Speaking about prayer and the personal search for God, he emphasized:
“The Lord is within you. Simply knowing God is not enough. We need to establish a relationship with Him through prayer, Sacred Scripture, and personal experience.”
These words reflect the heart of his ministry: not simply to speak about God, but to help people discover His presence in their own lives.
A Ministry Beyond the Parish
Father Richard’s pastoral ministry has never been limited to the walls of a church. His years of service have included accompanying refugees, ministering to people on the margins of society, providing spiritual direction, and promoting human dignity.
He has also devoted considerable attention to questions of social justice and human rights. In 2014, during Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement, Father Richard organized an ecumenical prayer gathering in support of the people of Hong Kong who were advocating for universal suffrage. He also offered prayer retreats for people affected by those events.
Within the Eparchy of New Westminster, Father Richard continues to carry significant responsibilities. He serves as Syncellus (Vicar) for Marriage Matters and is a member of the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council, and the Eparchial Finance Council.
“Axios!”
A particularly significant moment in Father Richard’s life came on May 27, 2026, when, by decree of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, he was elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite at Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster. The ceremony was presided over by Most Rev. Michael Kwiatkowski, Bishop of New Westminster.
During the rite of elevation, the newly appointed Archimandrite received the traditional insignia of his dignity, including the epigonation, pectoral cross, mitre, mantle, and staff (crozier). At the proclamation of “Axios!” — “He is worthy!” — clergy and faithful expressed their joy and gratitude for his many years of dedicated ministry.
This dignity is not merely a distinction of honour, but also a recognition by the Church of Father Richard’s longstanding service within the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church over several decades, most recently to the Eastern Catholic community in Richmond, and his example of monastic/religious life.
70 Years — and the Journey Continues
As we celebrate the 70th birthday of Archimandrite Richard Soo, S.J., we remember not simply a list of dates, positions, or accomplishments. We give thanks for the life of a priest whose vocation has been a journey of seeking God, serving others, and continually discovering the breadth and richness of the Catholic Church and sharing that with those around him.
His vocation brings together his Chinese-Canadian heritage, Jesuit spirituality, the Byzantine tradition, Ukrainian Catholic tradition, and the mission of the Church in contemporary Canada. This unique combination has become a particular gift to the Eparchy of New Westminster.
On this joyful occasion, we give thanks to God for the gift of Archimandrite Richard’s life, vocation, and ministry. We are grateful for his fidelity to prayer, his openness to people, his love for the Christian East, and his witness that the Church can truly become a home for every person who seeks Christ.
May the Lord continue to strengthen Archimandrite Richard in his ministry and grant him good health, wisdom, spiritual joy, and renewed strength for many years of service ahead.
Ottawa – Next week (21-25 September 2026), the members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will gather in Montreal, Quebec, for the annual meeting of the Plenary Assembly. Through prayer, discussion, and decision-making, the Bishops will consider matters concerning the Church’s mission that benefit from their common reflection and action at the national level.
The following are among the principal agenda items and topics to be considered during the week, in a spirit of prayer and discernment:
Celebration of the Eucharist – Each day will begin with the celebration of the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Catholic faith. The President of the CCCB and Bishops ordained since the last Plenary will preside at these celebrations. A celebration of the Eucharist in the Armenian Rite will also take place, presided by the Most Rev. Mikaël Mouradian.
500th Anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe – The Most Rev. Pierre Goudreault, accompanied by the Most Rev. Bryan Joseph Bayda, C.Ss.R., and the Most Rev. Juan Carlos Londoño, will lead the Bishops of Canada in a discussion on the pastoral initiatives to explore in preparation for the anniversary.
Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute (CCBI) – Eoin Connolly, Executive Director, and Dr. Patricia Murphy, Program Director will provide updates on the activities of the CCBI. Mr. Connolly will also offer a presentation on current questions in Catholic health care in Canada.
Holy Hour with Vespers for Victims and Survivors of Sexual Abuse – The Bishops will listen to excerpts from testimonies of persons who suffered sexual abuse within the Church, gathered by the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church in France. The testimonies will invite the Bishops to acknowledge more deeply the wounds caused by abuse and to renew their commitment to truth and justice, compassionate accompaniment, repentance and conversion within the Church, and the continued protection of minors and vulnerable persons. The Most Rev. Paul-André Durocher will preside. The testimonies will be followed by a period of sacred silence, Eucharistic adoration, Vespers and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. During the Plenary, the Bishops will also continue their work concerning responsible ministry and the protection of minors and persons in vulnerable situations.
Pastoral and Institutional Work of the CCCB – The Bishops will receive reports from the Conference’s Episcopal Commissions and other bodies, including on migrant and refugee ministry, Indigenous reconciliation, family and life issues, and ecumenism. They will also confirm new appointments to the Episcopal Commissions and Standing Committees for the coming three-year term and consider the priorities proposed for the National and Sectoral Episcopal Commissions for the 2026-2029 triennium.
This year, the keynote address will be given by the Most Rev. Lizardo Estrada Herrera, O.S.A., Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) Secretary General. His address will consider how synodality is being implemented in South America.
As is customary, the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, will address the Bishops in his capacity as the Pope’s representative in Canada.
The Plenary Assembly will also receive invited observers and guests from a number of national Catholic organizations and other Churches, together with accredited representatives from the media. Invited observers and accredited media will be present on 21 September and until noon on 22 September.
What is the Plenary Assembly?
A meeting of the Plenary Assembly is a solemn and important event in the life of the Church in Canada because it gathers together all the members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), who total 81 Bishops of the Latin and Eastern Churches across Canada.
The Plenary Assembly is the principal deliberative and decision-making body of the Conference. Convoked at least once a year, it considers matters entrusted to the Conference and forms of pastoral action that can appropriately be undertaken together at the national level. Its work includes reports and questions from the Episcopal Commissions and other bodies of the Conference, as well as discussion and pastoral reflection on matters of common concern. The Conference supports the Bishops in their common responsibilities while respecting the proper pastoral governance of each Bishop in the particular Church entrusted to his care.
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Media requests: Pomeline Martinoski Director of Communications Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Email: communications@cccb.ca Telephone: 613-241-9461, ext. 225
Registration is now open for the 2026–2027 Catechists’ Monthly Online Meetings, beginning in October.
The first meeting will take place on October 5 for the Ukrainian-speaking group and October 6 for the English-speaking group. We will introduce the plan for the coming year, discuss our expectations, and welcome a special guest — Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski, newly elected Metropolitan and Head of the Patriarchal Catechetical Commission.
The annual registration fee is $50. We warmly encourage parishes to support their catechists by covering this fee whenever possible.
We invite all catechists to join us for another year of formation, fellowship, and mutual support!
Щомісячні зустрічі катехитів 2026–2027
Відкрито реєстрацію на щомісячні онлайн-зустрічі катехитів 2026–2027, які розпочнуться у жовтні.
Перша зустріч відбудеться 5 жовтня для україномовної групи та 6 жовтня для англомовної групи. Буде представлено план на наступний рік, обговорено очікування учасників, а також відбудеться особлива зустріч із новообраним Митрополитом та головою Патріаршої катехитичної комісії Владикою Михайлом Квятковським.
Річний внесок за участь становить 50 доларів. За можливості просимо парафії підтримати своїх катехитів та покрити для них реєстраційний внесок.
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