EASTER 2025 HIGHLIGHTS – NEW WESTMINSTER EPARCHY

The clergy from around the eparchy shared some photos, reports and stories of how the parishes joyfully celebrated the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ. By all reports, one thing is consistent and interesting, but especially hopeful – every parish and community saw an increase in the number of participants this year! Some of the people who augmented the numbers this year may very well be what some call “B.C.E.W.F. church-goers” (Baptism, Christmas/Easter, Wedding and Funeral), but there were also a good number of newcomers who intend to stay around and explore the “spiritual wealth” of Christ’s Church (CCEO 16ff). This is good news!

All parishes offered the glorious Easter Sunday liturgy filled with resounding, repeated singing of the proclamation that “Christ is risen from the dead! By His death he trampled death! And to those in the grave, He granted life!

Depending on the territory that the priest has to cover, most parishes started with a sunrise Resurrection Matins service and a procession around the church. This moved into the Eucharistic Divine Liturgy with so many special “propers” combination that we wait all year for…. “Christ is Risen!”…. “All you, who have been baptized into Christ…!…“The Angel cried out…!”… and many soul-lifting Ukrainian Catholic Easter hymns! Then there was the Easter food blessing of baskets and then people getting together for that amazing Easter breakfast and some parishes even held and Easter festival (like Abbotsford) or hayivky dancing on the street.

As during Passion Week, Bishop Michael tried to visit as many parishes as possible in the Greater Vancouver area. Every parish was an experience of hope where larger and smaller communities gave glory to God in the best way they could…. and they did wonderfully! The Lord is surely well pleased with every parish and mission.

Resurrection Procession video at New Westminster [HERE]

Singing at the Abbotsford Easter Fest [HERE]

PASSION WEEK 2025 HIGHLIGHTS – NEW WESTMINSTER EPARCHY

Passion Week is always a solemn period following or rather at the dramatic conclusion of the Great Fast. The mystery, the theology, the drama and melodies of the many Holy Week services draw many to their local parish churches. The week from Palm (‘willow’) Sunday through the Scriptural events of the Passion of the Christ right up to the gathering at the tomb of Christ in the cool pre-dawn darkness for the nadhrobne is a period rich in interactive events, processions, prostrations and verses and music that moves one’s soul to unexperienced heights.

This year, as in the past, all of the parishes of vast territory of the Eparchy of New Westminster held as many services as they could and in accord with the ancient practices that have replenished the souls of the faithful from the most remote mountain village in Ukraine to the grand city cathedrals and throughout the world to so many countries wherever the Ukrainian Catholic Church is established. British Columbia was no exception. God bless the parish priests and the faithful that collaborated with them to bring to life the Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday experience.

Great and Holy Friday procession at Holy Cross Parish, Surrey, [HERE]

POPE FRANCIS REPOSES IN THE LORD

ETERNAL MEMORY!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

We received the news that Pope Francis died almost an hour and a half after sunrise of “Bright Monday” 21 April 2025. Although he was struggling in his recovery from pneumonia for which we was recently hospitalized, his death still came as somewhat of a surprise as the reports of his recovery were positive.

The immediate response to the announcement of his death were calls to prayer in our parishes. As Easter Monday is an important liturgical day, all clergy celebrated a Divine Liturgy at which they shared the news the late Pontiff’s death and led the faithful in some appropriate prayer. A prayer which was conducted in a joyful and hopeful spirit as the Church continues to celebrate the life-promising resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The present plans are that the funeral for Pope Francis will take place in the Vatican according to the funeral rites for a Roman Pontiff that were recently simplified by Pope Francis himself. This will occur on Saturday 16th of April 2025. Then his casket will be entombed at the great Marian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore according to Pope Francis’ request. He will be the eighth Pope to be buried in that one of four “major basilicas” famous for its relics of the crib of the infant Christ. “Maria Maggiore” has seen the pilgrim traffic increase exponentially this year as it hold one of the Holy Doors that thousands want to pass through during this Jubilee Year of Hope (Ювілейний Рік УГКЦ). Now with Pope Francis interred there, the number of pilgrims will be unimaginable as many will want to visit to pray at his tomb.

Pope Francis in his dozen years has left his mark on the Church. This includes the shift in spirituality, moral outlook and attitudes toward the poor. Church leadership has also been influenced one way or another by Pope Francis. Twenty-two of the bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church – approximately 38% of the Synod – were either approved or appointed by Pope Francis. The Bishop of our Eparchy of New Westminster, Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski, was also appointed by Pope Francis on 24 August 2023. By some estimations, some 80% of the Cardinals that will choose Pope Francis’ successor to the Chair of Peter, were “created” by Pope Francis in the 10 Consistories that he convened over his 12-year Pontificate. Among the Cardinals is the Ukrainian Bishop of Australia – His Eminence Mykola Bychok(Миколай Бичок). He will participate in the upcoming Conclave that will choose the Church’s next Pope.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement that highlights some of the ways that Pope Francis has touched the life of the Canada. They also sent out prayer cards and other prayers for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. This is a version of the prayer from the card…..

Prayer upon the Death of Pope Francis

O God, faithful rewarder of souls, grant that your departed servant Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on earth.

For You, O Christ our God, are the resurrection, the life and the repose of Your servant Pope Francis, who has fallen asleep; and we give glory to You, together with Your eternal Father, and Your most holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

In blessed sleep grant eternal rest, O Lord, to Your ever-to-be-remembered servant Pope Francis, and make his memory everlasting. Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen from the dead…..   

Easter Letter 2025 – Canadian Bishops (ENG, UKR)

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Message for Easter 2025 by Bishop William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

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.

PALM SUNDAY WEEKEND LENTEN MISSION AT PRINCE GEORGE

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!

(photos: Volodymyr Mykhalyshyn)

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