ON THE OCCASION OF THE FEAST OFTHE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD
To the Reverend Fathers, Religious Sisters,
Venerable Monastics, Seminarians, & Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
Dearly Beloved in Christ!
Let us recall a time in our lives when we longed to belong… A person visited Ukraine many years ago for the first time. When he returned to Canada, people asked, “what was it like?” With some difficulty, he struggled for words to describe what it meant to him and how it felt. He ended by saying that the trip completed him in a way he didn’t know he was incomplete— to visit the people and places of his heritage and cultural roots. He discovered that he belonged. Is there a moment in your life when you became aware that you ‘longed to belong’?
Each time we celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, the sacrament of the Eucharist, indeed, each time we celebrate Easter, we come just a bit closer to understanding this mystery of ‘longing to belong’. God fashioned us to belong in loving relationships, especially within the immeasurable, uninterrupted, and eternal Life of the Trinity. In a sense, death is the hopelessness of not belonging to God and never knowing His eternal friendship. However, the Resurrection is God’s free offering to us, a resurrection from this type of death, from the feeling of not belonging to God!
Yet, our fragile faith requires effort on our part. Distractions and temptations often lead us to doubt this profound truth. Where is the Body of Christ in the midst of the uncertainty in life that comes from greed, empty promises, political strife, natural disasters, imprisonment, loss of limbs, loss of peace of mind, war, and death? We are sometimes overwhelmed by loneliness and feeling incomplete.
Today, however, Jesus offers us the Body of Christ, the faithful, people in our families, parishes, and religious communities. The Holy Spirit chooses to dwell in each person. Despite many weaknesses, we are chosen by God to help one another reflect on this truth and experience it in tangible ways. Jesus Christ is Truth. The Body of Christ is Truth. And we are part of that Truth. That is where we belong. When do we feel this most deeply? We belong the most when we welcome others and remind them that they, too, belong to the Body of Christ, the Church. In truth, God created us with this deep desire to belong, a ‘longing to belong’. In Him, ‘we are completed in a way that perhaps we didn’t know we were incomplete’.
Our experience of the Risen Lord is a journey of discovering how we belong – with each confession and every time we receive the Eucharist, with every psalm and hymn that we sing. Every time I forgive someone from my heart, I relive and witness to the resurrection of Jesus. He said the greatest commandments in the Gospel are… “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (MK 12:29-31 NRSV)
As members of the Body of Christ, may each of us humbly ask for the grace to continue to acknowledge the desire of every human heart, the desire to belong and to participate in the eternal Life of the Trinity. In this Body, the Theotokos is ‘our hope, our protection, our refuge, our comfort, and our joy’. During this Year of Jubilee of Hope, may we celebrate this awareness of everyone’s ‘longing to belong’. As members of the Body of Christ, may God bring hope to others through each of us, our families, and our communities.
Sincerely Yours in the Risen Lord,
+ Lawrence Huculak, OSBM
Metropolitan Archbishop of Winnipeg
+ David Motiuk
Eparchial Bishop of Edmonton
+ Bryan Bayda, C.S.s.R.
Eparchial Bishop of Toronto
+ Michael Kwiatkowski
Eparchial Bishop of New Westminster
+ Michael Smolinski, C.S.s.R.
Bishop of Saskatoon
+ Andriy Rabiy
Auxiliary Bishop of Winnipeg
+ Michael Wiwchar, C.S.s.R.
Bishop Emeritus of Saskatoon
Given on April 12, 2025
On Lazarus Saturday and commemoration of holy confessor Basil
________________________________________________
ПАСТОРАЛЬНЕ ПОСЛАННЯ
УКРАЇНСЬКИХ КАТОЛИЦЬКИХ ЄПИСКОПІВ КАНАДИ
НА СВІТЛИЙ ПРАЗНИК ВОСКРЕСІННЯ ГОСПОДНЬОГО
Всечеснішим отцям, преподобному монашеству,
семінаристам, братам та сестрам у Христі!
Христос Воскрес! Воістину Воскрес!
Улюблені у Христі!
Згадаймо момент у житті, коли ми прагнули бути частиною чогось… Багато років тому один чоловік уперше у своєму житті відвідав Україну. Коли він повернувся до Канади, люди запитували: «Як це було?» Він з труднощами підбирав слова, щоб описати, що це для нього означало і які відчуття викликало. Наостанок він сказав, що ця подорож заповнила порожнечу, про яку він навіть не знав: вона дала можливість відвідати людей і місця своєї спадщини та культурного коріння. Він зрозумів, що знайшов своє місце, до якого належить. Чи був у вашому житті момент, коли ви усвідомили, що «прагнете належати» до когось чи до чогось?
Кожного разу, коли ми беремо участь у Таїнствах Сповіді та Євхаристії, кожного разу, коли ми святкуємо Великдень, ми стаємо ближче до розуміння таїнства «прагнення належності». Бог створив нас для того, аби ми належали до відносин у любові, особливо в неосяжному, неперервному та вічному житті Пресвятої Трійці. Можемо сказати, що смерть є безнадією, що полягає у відсутності належності до Бога та вічної дружби з Ним. Воскресіння – це дар Божої милости, звільнення від цього типу смерті, від відчуття, що ти не належиш до Бога!
Проте наша крихка віра потребує зусиль з нашого боку. Відволікання і спокуси нерідко призводять до того, що ми починаємо сумніватися в цій важливій правді. Де ж Тіло Христове серед непевности життя, зумовленого жадібністю, порожніми обіцянками, політичними чварами, стихійними лихами, ув’язненнями, втратами кінцівок, відсутністю душевного спокою, війною та смертю? Часом ми страждаємо від самотності та відчуття, що нам чогось бракує!
Сьогодні ж Ісус дарує нам себе через своє Тіло, вірних, членів наших родин, парафіяльних і монаших спільнот. Святий Дух обирає перебувати в кожній людині. Попри наші слабкості, ці обрані Богом люди перебувають біля нас, щоб допомогти нам замислитися над цією істиною та пережити її. Ісус Христос є Істиною. Тіло Христове – це Істина. І ми є частиною цієї істини. Ось де наше місце. Коли ми це відчуваємо найсильніше? Найбільше ми відчуваємо свою приналежність до Бога тоді, коли приймаємо інших і допомагаємо їм згадати, що вони також належать до Тіла Христового, тобто до Церкви. Насправді Бог створив нас з цим глибоким прагненням і «бажанням належати». У Ньому ми сповняємося так, що, можливо, навіть і не помічали, що нам бракувало.
Наш досвід Воскреслого Господа – це подорож відкриття нашої належності, Сповідь за Сповіддю, Євхаристія за Євхаристією, псалом за псалмом, гимн за гимном. Кожного разу, коли я прощаю комусь у моєму серці, я переживаю і свідчу воскресіння Ісуса. Він сказав, що суть Євангелія полягає в тому, щоб «любити Господа, Бога твого, усім серцем твоїм, усією душею твоєю, усією думкою твоєю й усією силою твоєю, і ближнього твого, як себе самого». (Мк 12:29-31)
Будучи Тілом Христовим, нехай кожен з нас смиренно просить благодаті продовжувати ісповідувати природу прагнення кожного людського серця належати, а отже – брати участь у вічному житті Трійці. У цьому Тілі Пресвята Богородиця є «нашою надією, покровом, захистом, потіхою та радістю». У цей Ювілейний рік надії святкуймо це усвідомлення загального «прагнення належати». Нехай Бог, через нас, наші родини та спільноти, як через членів Тіла Христового, дарує іншим надію.
As President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, I extend to you the ancient Orthodox Easter greeting: “Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!”
Each of the Gospel accounts of that first Easter morning presents us with the testimony of Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple, who encountered the astonishing reality of Christ’s Resurrection. Their despair, sorrow, and sense of loss gave way to newfound hope. The seeds of these Gospel events continue to be sown in our lives today, serving as a sure sign of the Risen Lord’s presence and the power of His Resurrection at work in our world.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis calls upon all the baptized, each with their unique gifts and ministries, to take co-responsibility in ensuring that the many signs of hope bear witness to God’s presence. Each year, our Holy Week celebrations lead us through the proclamation of the Word into the sacramental presence of Christ. This rich spiritual journey invites us to embrace the mysteries of our salvation with renewed faith and devotion. We walk the path of Christ’s Passion and death on the Cross, enter the silence of Holy Saturday, and then rejoice in the hope awakened within us as we renew our baptismal faith at Easter—professing our belief in Christ’s victory over death and the promise of eternal life.
This is the enduring presence of the Risen Christ in the life of the pilgrim Church—a presence illuminated by the Holy Spirit with the light of hope. It is a flame that burns continuously, “like an ever-burning lamp, to sustain and invigorate our lives” (Spes Non Confundit, no. 3).
May this light of hope, peace, and new life shine through our witness of Easter faith in the ordinary moments of family life, our parishes, schools, and workplaces. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, may we proclaim with renewed boldness: “Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!”
Easter 2025
The video message may be accessed by clicking the following link.
Saint George Parish in the City of Prince George held its “Lenten Mission” on the weekend of Palm Sunday this year 12-13 April 2025. On Saturday morning they hosted their annual Easter Bazaar where they sold thousands of varenyky (perogies) and paskas (easter bread) and other baked goods. They not only sold fresh or frozen items for people to take home for their upcoming family Easter celebrations, but they also served up countless hot meals that parishioners and visitors enjoyed right there in the parish hall.
By evening, Bishop Michael arrived from New Westminster for the beginning of the “mission” program. This began with Confessions then vespers with lytia (special verses and the blessing of bread, wheat, wine and oil) and the first talk of the Mission. The vespers was begun by parish priest, Fr. Andrii Chornenkyi as Bishop Michael heard confessions. Later Bishop Michael also joined for the Lytia and to preach his homily. Vespers was followed by the blessing of a new chalice and diskos altar set that was recently sponsored by the parish and brought from Ukraine. Following the blessing, everyone approached for an anointing (myrovannya) and some of the lytia bread.
At his first talk, Bishop Michael spoke about the hope and grace that Lazarus Saturday proposes at this point in our Lenten Journey and in our anticipation of Passion Week that is about to begin and Easter that is only a week away. He used points from the special Ambo Prayer of Lazarus Saturday as highlights for his talk. He strongly encouraged everyone to make time to make a “good” Confession – if they hadn’t already – as a profound preparation to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord in a week’s time. He also congratulated the parish on sponsoring a new chalice set for the parish. That the sacred vessels came from war-torn Ukraine would keep the parish united with Ukraine in prayer for an end to the war. Furthermore, the chalice set will serve as a sign of hope that even though the country is undergoing daily Russian bombardment and the chaos of war – Ukraine is able to produce such beautiful vessels for the glory of God.
Bishop Michael continued to hear confession after vespers as well. Father Andrii and family hosted Bishop Michael and his driver Volodymyr Mykhalyshyn for supper. Longtime parishioners, Mal and Lilian Maximitch hosted them for the night.
On Sunday morning the Mission continued with Bishop Michael hearing confessions as long as needed. The Divine Liturgy for Palm (Willow) Sunday was celebrated, during which Bishop Michael preached his second homily. He emphasized the significance of Christ humbling himself as He entered Jerusalem because of His great love for us and His key desire to serve us that we would attain life eternal. He spoke of the Jubilee Year and how we must use the extraordinary grace and favour of this year for a full personal conversion and then share our faith with all those around us. We have so much that we can give. The world, including thousands of our neighbours right here in this city, would love to have what you have – if only you would offer it to them and invite them to come with you to your church. He said that perhaps we feel we don’t have much to offer, but that simply isn’t true. We have the faith and power joy of the Gospel and the teachings of our Church to share with those hungering for it. Like Peter and John in the Acts had neither silver nor gold, but they shared what they had – the grace of their faith (Acts 3:1-6). And that is infinitely greater than what people even have the courage to hope for in our society.
At the end of the Liturgy, the willow branches (used in the Ukrainian tradition rather than palms) were blessed and everyone was invited forward to receive the anointing and a willow to take to their homes. The responses to all the services and blessings were sung by the parish choir which is directed by Dobrodiyka (Yimost’) Halyna Chornenkyi. They sang wonderfully and seemed to know all the melodies and tones in both English and Ukraine. Some special parts were also sung by parish cantors, Ian Wallace and Andriy Stepanchuk .
Then, as is usually the case, there was an amazing hot buffet fellowship lunch of (don’t get me started…) varenyky, holubtsi, salmon, salads, borstch, chili, desserts, etc. Besides eating a wonderful meal, everyone had a chance to meet and chat with each other.
Now we enter Passion Week and move through the drama and joy of Christ’s love and His Resurrection which He was won for all of us!
🟡🔵 Sunday, April 20, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM and beyond 📍 St. Ann’s Catholic Church & Mill Lake Park, Abbotsford
Join us in Abbotsford for a joyful and vibrant celebration of the Ukrainian Easter Festival (Великодній FEST)! This year’s celebration will bring together our community in prayer, tradition, music, and fun.
🕐 1:00 PM – Divine Liturgy & Blessing of Easter Baskets Location: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 33333 Mayfair Ave Come and take part in the Resurrection Divine Liturgy, followed by the traditional Blessing of Easter Baskets (пасок, крашанок, ковбаски, та інше).
🕝 2:30 PM – Continued Celebration at Mill Lake Park After the liturgy, we will move to Mill Lake to continue the celebration with exciting Easter activities for the whole family:
🥚 Pysanka Battle – a fun egg-tapping competition
🎶 Spring Dances – traditional Ukrainian music and games
🕵️ Easter Egg Hunt “Find the Pysanka” – a kids’ scavenger quest (registration required!)
🧺 Potluck Brunch – bring your paska, eggs, sausage, and other Easter favourites to share with the community
📌 Please bring picnic blankets or folding chairs for your family to sit comfortably on the grass.
‼️ Registration required for the egg hunt – scan the QR code in the poster to register by April 10
Let’s come together to rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ and celebrate our beautiful Ukrainian Easter traditions in faith and fellowship!
On the weekend of April 12–13, St. George’s Catholic Church (2414 Vanier Dr, Prince George, BC V2N 1T7) will have the special blessing of welcoming Most Reverend Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski for a Lenten Parish Mission — a time of spiritual renewal.
Saturday, April 12
The mission begins Saturday evening with Confession at 5:30 PM in both English and Ukrainian, followed by Great Vespers with Lytia and Anointing with Blessed Oil at 6:00 PM. During the service, Bishop Michael will give the 1st Lenten Mission Lesson and bless a new Eucharistic chalice set. Confessions will continue again at 7:00 PM.
Sunday, April 13
On Sunday morning, Confession begins at 9:30 AM, followed by Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM, during which the 2nd Lenten Mission Lesson will be offered. After that blessing of pussy willow branches (верба).
This is a grace-filled opportunity to reflect, pray, and prepare our hearts for the Resurrection.
As he has tried to do since becoming the eparchial bishop, Bishop Michael visits as many parishes as possible during Pilipivka (the pre-Christmas St Philip’s Fast) and the Great Fast for at least a day of spiritual renewal of Confessions, a spiritual talk and a Eucharistic Liturgy. This past weekend Bishop Michael was invited to come to Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Grindrod and Holy Trinity in Kamloops. Sister Angelica (Hodowanska) and Sr. Janice (Soluk) of SSMI offered to come for the mission “pilgrimage”. This made the lengthy travel time fly by quickly as they prayed, talked and were able to have two “meetngs in motion” when Fr. Wasylinko joined them for the drives between Grindrod and Kamloops.
The first stop was in Grindrod. As expected, there were many people wanting to take advantage of the visiting clergy to make their “Easter Confession” and contemplate the Scripture readings for the Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast. It was also the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great and Bishop Michael read the lengthy, but profound, Anaphora in its entirety – a read meditation about life and salvation in itself! During his homily, the Bishop spoke about the perfect opportunity for repentance and renewal that the Great Fast offers us – especially in the light of the Jubilee Year that is upon us. There was no rush after the services. The Bishop, Fr. Wasylinko and the Sisters spend time chatting with everyone who wanted.
The long nighttime drive (in the rain as well!) from Grindrod to Kamloops gave Parish Priest, Father Wasylinko an opportunity to discuss the needs, hopes and dreams of the Kamloops Parish.
The Sunday “mission” at Holy Trinity Parish the next morning was much the same as in Grindrod. Many people to Confession, a special homily and the Divine Liturgy. Everyone was invited to join in the parish hall for a dinner after which there would be a parish meeting with Bishop Michael to discuss the opening of the parish to a local Orthodox community. However, before the meeting the parish was blessed with an very special guest who made a presentation to the whole Ukrainian People through the smaller Ukrainian Community of the city of Kamloops (see below).
AN EXTRAORDINARY ENCOUNTER – AN EXPRESSION OF SOLIDARITY
Manny (Clarence T) Jules, member and former chief of Canada’s Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation (of Kamloops), and present Chief Commissioner for First Nations Tax Commission, visited Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Parish in the city of Kamloops to express his solidarity with the Ukrainian People in this time of great trial. On the fourth Sunday of the Great Fast, coinciding with a visit of Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski, Commissioner Jules, and his team, joined the parishioners for lunch and then spoke to them about the formulation of the Sacred Covenant between the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the Diocese of Kamloops and the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation. Manny Jules was very instrumental in the formulation and signing of the Covenant that too place in 2024.
The Chief Commissioner also shared the amazing story of how two First Nations Chiefs travelled to the Vatican and to Europe with a famous Oblate missionary priest a great friend of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, Father Jean-Marie Le Jeune. The two First Nations leaders were Chief Johnny Chilliheetza and Chief Louis Clexlixqen and they shared the extraordinary experiences of their 1904 trip in a diary. This account is published in an English and Chinook book available on online. Chief Manny presented Bishop Michael and Fr. Andrzej with signed copies for their respective communities. The visitor’s special gift, that he crafted himself, he gave to the local Ukrainian Community. It was a indigenous hand-drum decorated with the popular Ukrainian colours of blue and yellow, depicting two hands reaching toward each other in friendship. This drum will be framed and displayed at the parish church.
After his principal talk, Chief Manny and a number of parishioners shared several stories of how the first Ukrainian settlers and Canada’s first peoples, had a solid respect for each other and helped each other in difficult times.
НАДЗВИЧАЙНА ЗУСТРІЧ – ВИРАЗ СОЛІДАРНОСТІ З БОКУ КОРІННОГО НАРОДУ КАНАДИ
Менні (Кларенс Т) Джулз, член і колишній голова (вождь) канадського першого народу Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (з околиці Кемлупс), а нинішній головний комісар податкової комісії перших націй, відвідав українську католицьку парафію Пресвятої Трійці в місті Камлупс, щоб висловити свою солідарність з українським народом у цей час великого випробування. У четверту неділю Великого посту, яка збіглася з візитом Владики Михайла Квятковського, комісар Джулз та його команда приєдналися до парафіян на обід, а потім розповіли їм про формулювання Священного Завіту між Архієдієцезії Ванкувера, Дієцезією Камлупса та нацією Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc. Менні Джулз дуже допоміг у формуванні та підписанні цього Завіту/Угоди, що відбулося у 2024 році.
Головний комісар також поділився дивовижною історією про те, як два вожді перших націй подорожували до Ватикану та до Європи разом із відомим священиком-місіонером-облатом, і великим другом корінних народів Канади, отцем Жаном-Марі Ле Жуном. Двома лідерами корінних народів були вождь Джонні Чілліхіца та вождь Луїс Клексліксен, і вони поділилися надзвичайним досвідом своєї подорожі 1904 року в щоденнику. Ця розповідь опубліковано в книзі англійською мовою та Chinook, доступній в Інтернеті. Начальник Менні подарував владиці Михаїлу та міцевому парохові о. Андрієві Василинькові з підписаними копіями для їх відповідних громад.
Особливий подарунок відвідувача, який він зробив власноруч, він передав місцевій українській громаді. Це був індіяський ручний барабан, прикрашений популярними українськими кольорами синьо-жовтим, із зображенням двох рук, які дружно тягнуться одна до одної. Цей барабан буде обрамлений і виставлений у парафіяльній церкві.
Після головної промови, вождь Менні та кілька парафіян поділилися кількома історіями про те, як перші українські поселенці та перші народи Канади добре поважали один одного та допомагали один одному у важкі часи.
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