The parishioners of the Eastern Catholic Church in Richmond, BC are journeying through the Great Fast, making their way toward the glorious Easter celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. They also have another joyful event on the horizon - the ordination to the diaconate of Subdeacon Christopher Chiu.
Subdeacon Christopher was ordained at Holy Eucharist Catedral in New Westminster last year. He has now completed further studies and preparation and is ready to be ordained just over a year later at his home parish in Richmond on the 17th of May 2026.
On the Second Sunday of the Great Fast, Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski made his way to the parish to visit the parishioners, pray the Divine Liturgy with them and enjoy some fellowship. The Parish has two Sunday Liturgies - one all Ukrainian to provide Eucharistic experience for the newcomers from Ukraine and some longtime parishioners and their children. The second liturgy is prayed in English with some Cantonese and Arabic on occasion, as well as other languages. The congregations at both liturgies invariably gather for food and fellowship following the services.
The congregation is not massive and so the parishioners know each other like family. However, they are warmly welcoming of anyone who visits their parish or wants to join. For the pastor, Father Richard Soo, SJ, the rich Byzantine liturgical tradition is important and vibrant when properly understood and celebrated. This shows among his parishioners who earnestly learn the services and the melodies – including the seasonal verses and compositions that are used only during particular periods throughout the Church year. He enthusiastically serves both liturgies with the challenges of various languages and various cultural approaches. The liturgies are prayerful and uplifting. The many other services and gatherings also provide parishioners with catechism and spiritual sustenance.
At the beginning of the year, the parish agreed to provide space in their parish centre for a new branch of the Eparchial “Ridne Slovo” school that meets every Saturday for families of the Richmond area wanting a Ukrainian cultural and catechetical experience for their children.
Visit the parish’s website for times of Liturgies and events. Among other wonderful experiences, you will be assured of a warm welcome by Fr. Richard and the parishioners.
The Catholic bishops from across western Canada met in Victoria for their annual Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops. This assembly is one of four subdivisions of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops that gathers the bishops and eparchies/dioceses of Western Canada into specific groups to share similar interests and concerns. The other three “regions” are those for the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario.
The bishops covered a great number topics that concern the pastoral life of the region and which would be of great importance to each of the eparchies/dioceses individually. These topics were many, but included: Vocations; Artificial Intelligence; Higher Education (Catholic Universities and Colleges); Legal Matters (canonical and civil); Finances; Insurance; Marriage Encounter; Implementation of Synodality; Etc. Etc.
One of the items was to discuss and make preliminary plans for the 2027 Ad Limina visit of the bishops to Rome. The visit includes a meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Leo and visits to all the of Vatican dicasteries (departments) and a pilgrimage to the Tombs of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and to the four major basilicas. All the bishops of the world strive to make an Ad Limina to Rome every five years to report on the life of their eparchy/diocese and seek council and spiritual refreshment. Due to circumstances in the world over the last number of years, the last time the AWCB made their ad limina to Rome was almost a decade ago in 2017. Although the Ad Limina is more than a year away, there are major reports to prepare and logistics to arrange.
The bishops also engaged in prayer and liturgy – which was usually open to those parishioners who wanted to attend. One of the “Morning Prayers” was a Lenten “First Hour” that was led by the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops. Auxiliary Bishop of Winnipeg, Bishop Andriy Rabiy, had prepared the booklets and led the service in the local church. Four of the participants were Ukrainian Catholic Bishops from Saskatoon (Bishop Michael Smolinski, CSsR), Edmonton (Bishop David Motiuk), New Westminster (Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski), and the above-mentioned representative of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg. Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg, did not attend the AWCB this year. At one of Eucharistic Liturgies, the students from a local Catholic School came to sing. One of the singers was the daughter of Fr. Yuriy Vyshnevskyy, the pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in Victoria.
The local host was the Bishop of Victoria, Bishop Gary Gordon, who helped the AWCB staff – especially the President Archbishop Stephen Hero and Secretary Josée Marr - to provide a very well-organized conference.
Pray for your bishops and all the bishops of Western Canada (and throughout the Church, for that matter!) as they do have so many responsibilities and they do strive to provide apostolic pastoral leadership to all the faithful of the eparchy/diocese entrusted to their pastoral care.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Vancouver and B.C. Branches and associated organizations like the Ukrainian Canadian Advocacy Group, organized a major event in the heart of the city on the square before the Vancouver Art gallery. Many people gathered to mark the 4th Anniversary of Russia’s brutal and criminal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The bloody conflict began twelve years ago with the gunning down of the “Heavenly Hundred” on the streets of Ukraine’s capitol city Kyiv and then the devious and shameful invasion of Crimea and the southeastern provinces. That was initiated a decade of terrorist activity and bloodshed in those regions that cost thousands of lives. Then, on 24 February 2022, the world watched in disbelief as Russian tanks, now brazenly, breached Ukraine’s borders and charged toward Kyiv. An invasion that Moscow reportedly thought would last a few days, Putin has now dragged on for four years, costing hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian (and Russian) lives.
It was noticed at the rally that support had spread from the local Ukrainian community to include many others. Many brought their national flags to show their support for the beleaguered Ukrainian people who have endured Russia’s war for many years now. For those who thought it could become more inhumane, the Russian military has increased its intentional bombing of civilians and destroying the energy infrastructure in the hopes of inflicting suffering and death by freezing at the height of winter.
The rally, part of the “Global Rally for Ukraine” that saw major rallies in most major cities around the world, was attended by Canadian politicians from all levels of government federal and provincial, including British Columbia’s Minister of Finance, Brenda Baily, and the Mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim. Several other elected officials representing all political parties spoke at the rally.
The Choir of the Ukrainian Catholic Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster, opened the rally by leading the singing of the Canadian and Ukrainian national anthyms and the now famous prayer for Ukraine, “Bozhe velykyj” (Great God). Then Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski, Ukrainian Catholic Bishop for Canada’s Westcoast, gave a brief message, invoked a minute of silence “for the victims and those whose lives have been forever altered” and then led the multitude in the praying of the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. In his words, Bishop Michael appealed for a more concerted effort to implore the Lord for a end to the war and a just resolution.
In his message, the Bishop appeal for intensified prayer. [Translation:] “Ukraine needs material support, and many of you here are making every effort to help provide that support. Ukraine needs moral support, to which each of you is witnessing today with your presence. But above all, Ukraine needs divine intervention, without which all human efforts are in vain (Psalm 127:1). So today and always let us not forget our sincere and unceasing prayer. The people of Ukraine are a people of God. The Lord is always with us, and He will lead us through these dark times to light, truth, and peace.”
He also added, “God bless you all for coming out today. By your presence here, you offer the beleaguered people in Ukraine a witness of support and hope. By standing with Ukraine, you offer the world hope that there is still right in this world, and that there are still those willing to stand for truth and freedom!”
Joining the vast crowd of participants were representatives of several of our parishes including clergy and religious Sisters. All parishes throughout the Eparchy will commemorate the anniversary with earnest prayer during their regularly scheduled services in these days as well as special prayer events on the actual day that the full-scale invasion began – 24 February.
Cheese-fare Sunday is also known as “Forgiveness Sunday” is the last Sunday (and the last day for that matter) before the Great Fast (a.k.a. Lent) begins on Monday (but really on that Sunday evening with “forgiveness vespers”). Cheese-fare Sunday is so called as it traditionally would be the last day to polish off any, well, cheeses and other dairy products in the pantry before the 40-day fast begins the following day. The previous Sunday, known as “Meat-fare Sunday” would have been the last day to empty the house of any meat products in anticipation of the approaching Lent. [Perhaps to help with the meat consumption, the Church grants a dispensation from the meat-fasting rule on the second week prior to Meat-fare – i.e. the week between the Sundays of the Publican and the Pharisee and the Prodigal Son. A bit confused? Ask your parish priest.]
The Sunday is also known as “Forgiveness Sunday”, because it is an opportunity when communities can come together on the eve of the Great Fast and become reconciled by asking the Lord and by asking each other for forgiveness. This is practiced in monastic and other communities of consecrated life, but in recent years, most parishes hold some similar event together with “forgiveness vespers” on Sunday evening. This act of the entire community asking for forgiveness of each other and granting it is truly a powerful action by which to enter into the spirit of Lent.
Bishop Michael visited St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic parish in Vancouver on Cheese-fare Sunday morning for the Ukrainian-language Liturgy. Archpriest Fr. Joe Ostopowich and Deacon Howard Burton concelebrated, while pastor Fr. Joseph Pidskalny, OSBM preached the homily. A highlight of the service was when Bishop Michael welcomed a couple, Lawrence and Sarah, who had just recently officially joined the Ukrainian Catholic Church and were canonically enrolled into the Church and parish. This small, but special event, brought a lot of joy to the parish. “Like a wedding” as one said. [Please keep the couple in your prayer, as they are soon expecting twins…]
Following the Divine Liturgy, everyone was invited to the parish centre for a pancake breakfast hosted by the parish branch of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada. The breakfast actually went well beyond pancakes with a lavish spread of great food that included vast platters of fresh fruits. In the course of the breakfast, the Ladies held a “door prize”. Everyone received a ticket when purchasing their admission and they thus had a chance to win one of many donated prizes. Fr. Joseph also brought attention to parishioner Frank who on that very day was also celebrating his 95th birthday. He is one of those rare souls blessed with good health at that age and lives fully independently with his wife who was also present.
May our good Lord bless St. Mary’s Parish and all the parishes of our New Westminster Eparchy with a powerful and life-changing Great Fast!
Lent is a time in which the Church… invites us to PLACE THE MYSTERY OF GOD BACK IN THE CENTRE OF OUR LIVES! in order to find renewal in our faith and keep our hearts from being consumed by the anxieties and distractions of daily life. […]
This year, … The willingness to LISTEN is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into relationship with someone. […]
Our God is one who seeks to involve us. […] WE MUST ALLOW GOD TO TEACH US TO LISTEN AS HE DOES! we must allow God to teach us how to listen as he does. …
If Lent is a time for listening, fasting is a concrete way to prepare ourselves to receive the word of God. Abstaining from food is an ancient ascetic practice that is essential on the path of conversion. Precisely because it involves the body, fasting makes it easier to recognize what we “hunger” for and what we deem necessary for our sustenance. […]
I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of REFRAINING FROM WORDS THAT OFFEND AND HURT our neighbor. Let us begin by disarming our language, AVOIDING HARSH WORDS AND RASH JUDGEMENT, refraining from SLANDER and SPEAKING ILL of those who are NOT PRESENT and cannot DEFEND THEMSELVES. […]
Likewise, our parishes, families, […] undertake a shared journey during Lent, in which listening to the word of God, as well as to the cry of the poor and of the earth, becomes part of our community life, and fasting a foundation for sincere repentance. […]
I impart my heartfelt blessing upon all of you and your Lenten journey.
An English audio reading of the full message [HERE]
ПОСЛАННЯ ПАПИ ЛЕВА НА ВЕЛИКИЙ ПІСТ 2026 РОКУ
Великий Піст – це час […] повернути таємницю Бога в центр нашого життя, щоб наша віра наново віднайшла свій порив, а серце не розсіювалося серед щоденних тривог і відволікань. […]
Цього року […] готовність слухати є першою ознакою, яка виявляє бажання вступити у стосунки з іншим. […]
Увійти в цей внутрішній стан сприйнятливості означає ДОЗВОЛИТИ БОГУ НАВЧАТИ НАС СЬОГОДНІ СЛУХАТИ, ЯК ВІН СЛУХАЄ […]
Якщо Чотиридесятниця є часом слухання, то піст є конкретною практикою, яка налаштовує на прийняття Божого слова. Дійсно, утримання від їжі є дуже давньою і незамінною аскетичною вправою на дорозі навернення. Саме тому, що залучає тіло, він робить більш очевидним те, щодо чого ми «голодні» і що вважаємо суттєвим для нашого існування. […]
Тому я хотів би заохотити вас до дуже конкретної і часто недооціненої форми стриманості, а саме до утримання від слів, які ображають і ранять нашого ближнього. Почнімо роззброювати мову, відмовляючись від гострих слів, від поспішних суджень, від того, щоб говорити зле про тих, хто відсутній і не може захиститися, від наклепів. […]
Подібним чином, наші парафії, сім'ї, церковні …під час Чотиридесятниці ступати спільним шляхом, на якому слухання Божого слова, а також голосіння вбогих і землі, ставатиме формою спільного життя, а піст підтримуватиме справжнє покаяння. […]
Від серця благословляю вас усіх і ваш великопосний шлях.
Прочитайте повне послання Папи Лева на Великий піст 2026 року [ТУТ]
In these days we mark the 12th anniversary of Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and the 4th anniversary of the full-scale invasion.
These have been years of profound suffering and loss, but also years of courage, sacrifice, and steadfast faith. Our people continue to carry a heavy cross, placing their trust in God’s mercy and justice.
I invite everyone to join in prayer:
for the eternal rest of fallen soldiers and all innocent victims;
for the healing of the wounded;
for the release of those held in captivity;
for comfort for grieving families;
for an end to this brutal war!
and for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
May the Lord strengthen our people in faith, preserve them in unity, and guide them on the path of truth and life.
O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance.
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
I call upon all of our priests, and all our monastic communities and all our faithful to conduct special prayer events or to include prayers and petitions in their regularly scheduled Liturgies on Sunday, February 22nd and Tuesday, February 24th.
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