Our Church begins the Decade of Mission 2026, a special time of prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal leading us from the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord to the Feast of Pentecost.
This year, the Decade of Mission is dedicated to the Ukrainian family, which continues to suffer deeply from the consequences of war, separation, pain, and uncertainty. Throughout these days, we will pray for the preservation and renewal of our families, so that our homes may become true “domestic churches,” filled with God’s peace and love.
This initiative has been especially blessed and encouraged by
Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski,
who invited all faithful of the Eparchy to unite in daily prayer and reflection during these Mission Days.
Bishop Michael especially encourages all faithful to:
• take part in this spiritual journey,
• gather together in family prayer,
• reflect on the Word of God,
• and share these materials with relatives, friends, and fellow parishioners.
Each day until Pentecost, a different priest of our Eparchy will guide us through a daily reflection, prayer service, or Moleben connected to the Gospel reading of the day.
We will also send daily messages and video reflections throughout the Decade of Mission.
📺 Please find today’s video reflection below:
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Thursday, May 14 — Feast of the Ascension
“Peace Be With You: Hope for the Ukrainian Family”
Luke 24:36–53
Reflection by Fr. Mykhailo Ozorovych
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May this Decade of Mission become a blessed time of healing, reconciliation, and renewal for our families, our parish, our Church, and Ukraine.
May the Holy Spirit renew our families, strengthen our faith, and fill our hearts with God’s peace.
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Thursday, May 14 (Feast of the Ascension)
“Peace Be With You: Hope for the Ukrainian Family” Luke 24:36–53 — Fr. Mykhailo Ozorovych
On this day of the Ascension of the Lord, the Gospel tells us how the risen Christ stands among His disciples and says to them: “Peace be with you!” This is not merely an ordinary greeting. In the biblical sense, peace (shalom) means fullness of life, reconciliation with God, and inner wholeness. At that moment, however, the disciples are filled with fear, confusion, and guilt after the Passion of Christ. Therefore, Jesus first seeks to embrace them with His peace.
It is important to note that Christ brings this peace with the wounds in His hands and feet. He does not hide the marks of His suffering after the Resurrection, although He could have appeared without them. The Lord keeps them as a sign that true peace is always connected with sacrifice. Thus, the peace Christ brings is not the absence of difficulties or pain, but the fruit of love that has passed through the Cross and proved stronger than death.
These words resonate deeply today, as in the fifth year of full-scale war the Ukrainian people bear the heavy burden of loss, pain, and uncertainty. These wounds have especially affected the Ukrainian family. Sadly, we are witnessing one of the highest divorce rates since Ukraine’s independence, and a demographic crisis of alarming proportions, with deaths nearly three times exceeding births. War not only takes lives—it exhausts relationships and destroys family bonds.
That is why the theme of the family is central in the life of our Church today. This was evident in last year’s Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome, whose main theme was “Pastoral Care of Families in Time of War.” Today, one of the most important tasks for both the Church and our nation is the preservation of the Ukrainian family. Our families, marked by many wounds, need the Church’s support more than ever to receive the peace with which Christ came to His disciples.
In time of war, it is especially important that our families are not left alone with their pain, crises, and fears. The Church is called to be present—to support, to listen, to heal, to help restore unity, and to teach that love which is not destroyed even in the midst of trials. For this reason, this year’s Decade of Mission is dedicated to family life. From today until the Feast of Pentecost, we will reflect day by day on passages from the Gospel of John in the light of married and family life. Together we will seek answers to important questions: how to preserve love in times of trial, how to learn unity, forgiveness, sacrifice, and mutual support, and how to build a family centered on God.
May this time become an opportunity not only for deeper reflection, but also for the renewal of our family relationships, shared prayer, and the rediscovery of God’s beautiful plan for marriage and family. For it is through strong, loving, and faithful families that the Lord will build a bright future for the Church and for Ukraine.
Missionary Tasks:
1. Personal level: Commit during the Decade of Mission to attend the principal services of your parish in order to properly prepare for the Feast of Pentecost.
2. Parish level: Propose to your parish priest a concrete form of support for families: a common prayer gathering or a small support group for couples experiencing difficulties.3. Missionary level: This week, take a concrete step toward a family or person experiencing crisis or who
Ukrainian Catholic Church Українська Греко-Католицька Церква
Prot. 2026/ENW/073
PASTORAL APPEAL of the Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster to the Faithful on the Occasion of Mission Days 2026
Christ is Risen!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Each year, our Church faithfully embraces the beautiful tradition of Mission Days (Декада місійності), a special period of prayer, reflection, and renewed evangelical zeal AND ACTION in all our parishes throughout the world.
This year, Mission days 2026, which begins on the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord (Thursday May 14, which coincides with Canada’s annual March for Life this year!) and concludes on the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (May 24), is dedicated in a particular way to the family.
As we enter the fifth year of the full-scale war in Ukraine, we cannot ignore the deep wounds inflicted upon families - separation, loss, uncertainty, and suffering. In this context, our Church invites us to turn our hearts toward God with renewed trust and hope. The central prayer intention of these ten days is the preservation and renewal of our families, so that our homes - sometimes marked by pain (as in Ukraine) or other challenges - may once again become places of peace, healing where the faith is lived as true domestic churches that radiate hope into the world.
During these ten days, we are encouraged to reflect daily on passages from the Gospel of John, as seen through the lens of married and family life, and to respond through concrete missionary actions on a personal, parish, and broader community level.
This year, I am especially grateful to the priests of our Eparchy, who have generously undertaken a unique common initiative. In addition to the celebrations and reflections in your local parishes, each day from the Feast of the Ascension to Pentecost, one of our priests will offer a pre-recorded Moleben or some other prayer service, together with a reading of the prescribed Gospel passage and a brief reflection.
These daily spiritual offerings will be made available on the official Facebook page of our Eparchy, making it possible not only for our faithful locally, but also for those beyond our Eparchy, to unite with us in prayer and preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
I warmly invite each of you to:
take part in this spiritual journey,
gather with your families in prayer,
reflect on the Word of God,
and share this initiative with your relatives, friends, and fellow parishioners.
Let us make Mission Days a time of grace - when our families are strengthened, our faith renewed, and our hearts opened more fully to the presence of God. Let this period especially serve as a reminder and encouragement for us to fulfil our divine calling to share our faith with those around us and to transform the society around us into one that reflects Christ’s Gospel teaching without compromise!
May the Risen Christ bless your homes with peace, and may the Holy Spirit descend abundantly upon our families, our Church, and our world.
On Sunday, May 10, the local Ukrainian Catholic community gathered for a celebration of faith and history. Fr. Andriy celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the historic St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Coldstream, continuing a cherished annual tradition.
Following the service, the congregation moved to the cemetery where Fr. Andriy blessed the graves, a solemn moment of remembrance for the pioneers and parishioners who laid the foundations of the community.
A Legacy in Wood and Stone
St. Nicholas holds the distinction of being the oldest Ukrainian Catholic Church in British Columbia. Its story began in 1936, built on land generously donated by Konstantine and Anne Scherba.
Though modest in size—measuring just 14 x 36 feet—the church served as a vital spiritual hub for decades. While it eventually fell into disuse after a larger parish was established in Vernon, its historical significance was never forgotten.
Restoration and Renewal
In 1991, the building was officially designated as a municipal heritage site, sparking a dedicated restoration effort. By 1997, the meticulous work was completed, and the doors of the "little church" were reopened to the public.
Today, the annual May Liturgy serves as more than just a religious service; it is a tribute to the resilience of the early Ukrainian settlers and a celebration of the enduring spirit of St. Nicholas.
З великою радістю запрошуємо вас долучитися до урочистого Акафісту до Пресвятої Богородиці, який відбудеться у середу, 27 травня 2026 року о 6:30 PM у Катедральному Соборі Пресвятої Євхаристії у New Westminster.
Під час молитви, за декретом Блаженнішого Святослава, ієромонах, всечесний о. Річард Су, SJ, буде піднесений до гідності Архимандрита.
Це особлива і радісна подія для всієї нашої Єпархії та Церкви.
Holy Eucharist Cathedral
501 Fourth Avenue, New Westminster
Запрошуємо всіх до спільної молитви та святкування!
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With great joy, we invite you to join the Akathist to the Mother of God on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 6:30 PM at Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster.
During the service, by decree of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Hieromonk Very Rev. Fr. Richard Soo, SJ, will be elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite.
This is a joyful and significant occasion for our Eparchy and the wider Church community.
Holy Eucharist Cathedral
501 Fourth Avenue, New Westminster
All are warmly welcome to join us in prayer and celebration.
The annual Knights of Columbus ‘State Convention’ in Richmond, British Columbia is a major event for the Knights and their spouses of all the councils throughout the territory. This year demonstrated that with hard work and goodwill, the convention continues to be an amazing, brilliantly organized and inspiring event.
The Knights’ jurisdiction on Canada’s Pacific west coast is overseen and coordinated by the Knights of Columbus British Columbia and Yukon State Council. As the name suggests, local councils and assemblies are spread across the vast Canadian Province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. A smaller, yet very important, District Deputies convention is held annually near Christmas. However, the State Convention is the event that has many appointed delegates from Councils far north into the Yukon territory and throughout BC’s Islands, costal area and to the far reaches of the interior.
The three-day event is truly jampacked with meetings, presentations, elections, deliberations, voting and ceremony. Intertwined with all of this is an appropriate liturgical and prayer schedule that one would expect with a Catholic men’s order that encompasses well over two million members throughout the world. One of the powerful features was the Blessed Sacramsnt chapel that was established on the first day and remained until the concluding Mass on the last day. Knights and Ladies volunteered to take turns keeping vigil every hour, day of night, in the presence of the Lord throughout the convention.
There are three major Eucharistic Liturgies celebrated during the Convention. On the first day, the Archbishop of Vancouver, His Grace Richard Smith presided at the Mass held in a large hall within the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel and Convention Centre. On the second day, the Knights hold a Memorial Liturgy to remember all their brother Knights who died over the course of the last year. This service was led by present State Chaplain, Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster. He was joined by priests and singers from the Eparchy, particularly from the Cathedral parish. This included the Vicar General, Very Rev. Mykhailo Ozorovych, Chancellor Rev. Dr. Yury Sakvuk and Parish Priest of the Surrey and Maple Ridge mission communities – Rev. Fr. Mykhailo Postoliuk. They were joined by former State Chaplain, and popular journalist Monsignor Vincent Hawkeswell. Everyone received a liturgy book to fully participate. A booklet with the list of names of the deceased Knights was also printed for the occasion.
The Sunday Liturgy was led by the Bishop of Kamloops, Most Rev. Joseph Nguyen, who preached a sometimes humorous, but inspiring homily that encouraged the Knights to boldly continue their mandate. Knights of Columbus State Director for Evangelization and Faith Formation, Brother Jamey Guerrero, brilliantly coordinated all the Liturgies and the special Adoration Chapel.
It is customary that the wife of the State Deputy, this year in the person of Lady Imelda Nacar, organizes a parallel program for the souses of the Knights who are also attending the State Convention. State Chaplain Bishop Michael was also asked to address the women’s gathering on the subject of prayer.
The convention also included several social and formal events like the Hawaiian-themes overing party and the formal State Dinner on the second evening. These were enjoyed by all and contributed to the collaboration of Knights and their families, as everyone was made to feel very welcome. As one of the guest dignitaries from an American state jurisdiction announced, “I and my wife have taken notes as to how to organize the amazing social gatherings!”
At the close, all the delegates expressed their gratitude to State Deputy Edgar Nacar and his executive for one of the most memorable and successful State Conventions in recent history.
3 травня у м. Нью-Вестмінстер владика УГКЦ Михайло Квятковський відвідав культурно-освітній захід, організований спільнотою Ukrainian Sich у співпраці з партнерами з України.
Подія розпочалася зі спільної молитви, під час якої пролунало пасхальне привітання: «Христос Воскрес!», що надало зустрічі духовного змісту та відчуття єдності.
У програмі відбулася онлайн-лекція з України на тему: «Відвага бути першими: українки в історії», яку представила пані професорка, докторка філологічних наук Алла Швець . Також учасники мали нагоду ознайомитися з виставкою «Неймовірні», створеною у партнерстві з Музеєм жіночої та гендерної історії (м. Харків).
Окрему увагу привернула експозиція, присвячена видатним українкам різних епох - жінкам, які формували культурну, наукову та суспільну спадщину України. Їхні історії стали живим свідченням сили, витривалості та інтелектуального внеску української жінки у світову історію.
Під час обговорення після лекції владика Михайло наголосив на важливості врахування ролі Лігу українських католицьких жінок Канади у подальших дослідженнях українського жіночого руху в Канаді. За його словами, їхня багаторічна діяльність, яка об'єднувала тисячі жінок, зробила вагомий внесок у духовний, культурний і національний розвиток українців у Канаді та продовжує приносити плоди.
Під час дискусії пані професорка Алла Швець також відповіла на запитання щодо співпраці Церкви з українським жіночим рухом. Вона згадала про підтримку жіночих ініціатив з боку митрополита Андрея Шептицького.
Його Преосвященство висловив вдячність за змістовну та добре підготовлену лекцію, підкресливши її пізнавальну цінність і користь для присутніх.
Щиро дякуємо організаторкам - Тетяні Знак, Вікторії Корнеюк - та всім учасникам за глибоку, змістовну і духовно насичену зустріч.
(Статтю та фото надав Володимир Михалишин)
LECTURE BY PROFESSOR ALLA SHVETS ON GREAT WOMEN IN UKRAINIAN HISTORY
On May 3, in the city of New Westminster, His Excellency Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski, Bishop of the Eparchy of New Westminster, attended a cultural and educational event organized by the Ukrainian Sich community in collaboration with partners from Ukraine.
The gathering began with a communal prayer, during which the Paschal greeting “Christ is Risen!” was proclaimed, imparting a sense of unity and spiritual depth to the occasion.
The program featured an online lecture from Ukraine entitled: “The Courage to Be First: Ukrainian Women in History,” delivered by Professor Alla Shvets, Doctor of Philological Sciences. Participants also had the opportunity to view the exhibition “The Incredible,” presented in partnership with the Museum of Women’s and Gender History.
During the discussion following the lecture, Bishop Mykhailo emphasized the importance of including the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada in further research on Ukrainian women’s movements in Canada. He noted that their long-standing work, which has engaged thousands of women over the years, has made a significant contribution to the spiritual, cultural, and national development of Ukrainians across Canada and continues to do so.
During the discussion, Professor Alla Shvets also addressed questions regarding the Church’s cooperation with the Ukrainian women’s movement. She highlighted the support given to women’s initiatives by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky.
His Excellency expressed his appreciation for the well-prepared and insightful lecture, noting its educational value and the benefit it brought to all in attendance.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the organizers, Tetiana Znak and Victoria Korneiuk, as well as to all participants, for a meaningful and spiritually enriching gathering.
[Article and photos provided by Volodymyr Mykhalyshyn]
З великою радістю запрошуємо вас долучитися до урочистого Акафісту до Пресвятої Богородиці, який відбудеться у середу, 27 травня 2026 року о 6:30 PM у Катедральному Соборі Пресвятої Євхаристії у New Westminster.
Holy Eucharist Cathedral
With great joy, we invite you to join the Akathist to the Mother of God on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 6:30 PM at Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster.
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