“God pointed to you. He has entrusted you to be the angel of our metropolia in Canada.”
— Patriarch Sviatoslav, addressing Metropolitan Michael Kwiatkowski
On Sunday, November 8, 2026, the 24th Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski — who has shepherded our Eparchy of New Westminster since 2023 — was enthroned as Archbishop and Metropolitan of Winnipeg for Ukrainians in Canada. The Divine Liturgy took place at the Cathedral of Saints Volodymyr and Olha in Winnipeg, with Patriarch Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), presiding.
Who gathered
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, members of the UGCC Synod of Bishops from around the world, and many clergy. Joining in prayer were representatives of Canadian government — including the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg — the Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, Ukrainian community organizations, religious, and a large gathering of faithful and guests from several countries.
The appointment
During the Divine Liturgy the Nuncio read the papal bull of Pope Leo XIV appointing Bishop Michael, and Bishop Andriy Khimyak, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, read the Patriarchal decree. The decree records that on July 9, 2026 the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Archbishop Lawrence Huculak and named Bishop Michael to the Winnipeg see. It asks him to guard and strengthen the faith and to serve the faithful and the salvation of their souls, and it recalls that the Winnipeg Metropolia is the fruit of the faith, sacrifice, and labour of generations of Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Canada. The Patriarch also expressed gratitude to Archbishop Lawrence and to his predecessors.
The homily: “Do not be afraid, only believe”
Reflecting on the Gospel of the day — the healing of the woman with the flow of blood and the raising of Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:41–56) — the Patriarch said these episodes tell one story: faith meeting human hopelessness, and God’s power to restore life even when hope itself seems to have died. “Human hopelessness mocks us and says, ‘It is all over,’ but Christ says to you and to me: ‘Arise!’” Christ, he stressed, comes not merely as a healer or teacher but as Lord and Giver of life — and we meet Him truly only when we open to Him not just the door of our home but our hearts, in faith.
An “angel” of the Church, and a builder of unity
November 8 is also the feast of the Archangel Michael and all the Heavenly Powers. The Patriarch recalled that the Archangel is the patron of Kyiv, and spoke of people who sensed the presence of Michael and the heavenly hosts over the city when Russian forces approached in February 2022 — a witness, he said, to God’s power when human efforts seemed doomed.
Drawing the parallel, he noted that ancient Christian tradition calls a bishop the “angel” of his Church. A bishop:
- prays for his people and guides them by the Word of God;
- serves the Holy Mysteries;
- is the chief evangelizer and catechist, a teacher of piety and prayer;
- is a witness of faith, hope, and love.
For the Metropolitan in Canada, he added, there is a special calling to be a servant and builder of unity: the unity of each person with God, unity among the eparchies and parishes in Canada, and unity between the Church in Canada and the Mother Church in Ukraine — all in communion with Pope Leo XIV.
Words of gratitude and prayer
The Patriarch noted that the choice of Bishop Michael came from the Synod’s prayerful discernment, and recalled his studies in Rome, his work at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, and his pastoral experience in Canada. He thanked Archbishop Lawrence Huculak for his many years of service, and thanked Metropolitan Michael’s mother. He asked everyone to pray for the UGCC in Canada, for the new Metropolitan, and for an end to the war in Ukraine, and entrusted the Ukrainian people, army, and Church to the protection of the Archangel Michael. To Metropolitan Michael he said he would not walk alone: the Synod of Bishops and the Patriarch himself would accompany him.
In reply, Metropolitan Michael thanked the Patriarch for coming to Winnipeg, calling his presence a sign of the unity of the Ukrainian Church throughout the world and a ray of hope in the darkness surrounding our people. He gave thanks to God for his calling, to the Synod for its trust, and to his mother, family, and all who prayed with him.
Please keep Metropolitan Michael in your prayers as he begins this new ministry. You can also read our Eparchy’s own message of congratulations.
Summary based on the report by the UGCC Department of Information (ugcc.ua). Read the full story with video and photo gallery and the Patriarch’s complete homily (in Ukrainian). Photos: UGCC.