On Saint Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2026, Columbus Homes held a grand ribbon-cutting event to officially open Zappone Manor in the Cloverdale community of Surrey, British Columbia. The event included the opening ceremony, a reception at the neighbouring Shannon hall as well as tours of the building that will provide low-income housing for more of the Greater Vancouver’s elderly residents.
The actual ceremony included the singing of Canada’s National Anthem lead by a Cloverdale Catholic School children’s choir – who also signed the words as they sang. The invited dignitaries, who had been provided with Irish green bowler hats and a pair of green-handled scissors, proceeded to cut the ribbon stretched across the whole main entrance to the new five-story building. Among the dignitaries were Members of Parliament, Members for the Provincial Legislature, the Mayor of Surrey, Knights of Columbus State Council Executives, the Columbus Homes Board of Directors and others, including Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski of the Eparchy of New Westminster and Fr. Gilles Simard, O.P. of Precious Blood Parish in Surrey (where, by the way, the Ukrainian Catholic Parish of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross also holds their Sunday Liturgies).
The President of Columbus Homes, Mike Garisto, hosted the event, exuding a rightful joy and pride in the amazing accomplishment. It was a long and sometimes arduous task that lasted some ten years from the inception of the project to this wonderful day of the grand opening. Besides Columbus Homes, many others also contributed much to realize the project. Government housing and development programs gave a great deal of financial and administrative support toward the project on all levels – federal, provincial and municipal. Organizations were also acknowledged for their getting behind the project over the years, including the Lions, the Elks, the Canadian Legion and, of course, the Knights of Columbus. The host managed to mention every group and individual from major investors to the subcontractors who provided any service toward the completion of the project.
After a series of speakers, who all spoke of their happiness that this project was finally fulfilled, Bishop Michael was asked to give concluding remarks. He too explained how happy he was that the elderly of society were being supported in this way. This project, he said, not only represents giving our elderly a roof over their heads, but a true home where they can live in safety, with dignity and within the warmth of a community that supports them. He also acknowledged the families of those being honoured at the event, including the family of the late Bruno Zappone, the local businessman and community volunteer, for whom the Manor is named. This is an even that highlighted the great contribution to society of both the family and the elderly who deserve our unwavering acknowledgement and support in return.
The Irish theme pervaded the event. It included a toast at the reception made with… in lieu of green beer or a shot of Irish whisky perhaps – a glass of green, mint-favoured Shamrock Shake. The Columbus Homes president explained that the Irish theme was very important to the now famous local housing charity, as their initial funds were gathered in their first years by distributing shamrock pins and stickers around the city for St. Patrick’s Day for donations of small change. Such a humble beginning helped them grow into the large foundation that today works to provided homes like Zappone Manor.
Нью-Вестмінстер, Британська Колумбія — Владика Фікремаріам Хаґос Цалім, єпископ Еритрейської Східної Католицької Церкви (єпархія Сеґенейті, Еритрея), здійснив пастирський візит до своїх вірних у Канаді. У межах цієї подорожі він відвідав громаду в Нью-Вестмінстері.
Прийом у єпархії
Українська католицька єпархія Нью-Вестмінстера приймала владику в Єпархіальному Центрі імені Владики Єроніма. Упродовж тижня він перебував як гість у єпископській резиденції, де разом зі своїм співслужителем, отцем Махдером Каліеабом, зустрічався з представниками еритрейської громади.
Попри насичену програму, владика Михайло Квятковський приділив час гостеві: ознайомив його з містом Ванкувером і показав український кафедральний собор Пресвятої Євхаристії.
Святкова Божественна Літургія
Ключовою подією візиту стала архієрейська Божественна Літургія, що відбулася в парафії Богоматері Милосердя в Бернабі.
Богослужіння звершувалося мовою Ґі’із за давнім Александрійським обрядом. Під час Літургії владика Фікремаріам уділив Таїнство Хрещення та кілька Миропомазань. Спів молодіжного хору, супровід барабана і дзвонів та сам ритм обряду створювали глибоку молитовну зосередженість. Літургія тривала майже три години. У центрі богослужіння була Анафора Апостолів — момент, коли спільнота особливо переживає дію Святого Духа, Який освячує хліб і вино.
Спільність і участь громад
До святкування долучилися не лише католики, але й делегація Еритрейської Православної Церкви, яку тепло прийняли. Частина вірних прибула з інших регіонів, зокрема із Сіетла (США). Перед завершенням Літургії владика Михайло звернувся до присутніх, підкресливши важливість взаємної підтримки у вірі, особливо в умовах життя далеко від батьківщини.
Братня зустріч і слово пастиря
Після богослужіння відбулася спільна трапеза. Учасники ділилися словами, співали та читали вірші. Владика Фікремаріам звернувся до громади як пастир — просто і безпосередньо. Його слова були спрямовані на підтримку віри, єдності та відповідальності за збереження духовної і культурної спадщини.
Спільна молитва та продовження візиту
Наступного дня владика Фікремаріам співслужив Божественну Літургію у візантійському обряді в українському кафедральному соборі Пресвятої Євхаристії. Після цього він продовжив свій пастирський візит до інших громад Канади.
__________________________________________
ERITREAN BISHOP VISITS HIS PEOPLE IN VANCOUVER
His Excellency Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim, Eritrean Eastern Catholic Bishop of the Eparchy of Segheneity in Eritrea, made a pastoral visit to the parishes of his Church in Canada. Among his visits was one to the community in the City of New Westminster. The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster had the honour of hosting BishopFikremariam at the Bishop Jerome Eparchial Centre. The Bishop and his priest assistant, Father Mahder Kalieab, resided at the centre and various delegations from the Eritrean community visited him there for meetings and gatherings.
Although the visiting bishop had a full schedule of meetings and tours, local UGCC Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski was able to show some sights in Vancouver and the Ukrainian Cathedral of the Holy Eucharist. Bishop Michael was also invited to participate in the large celebratory Eritrean Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and banquet, held at Our Lady of Mercy, Roman Catholic Paris temple in neighbouring Burnaby, British Columbia.
The Eucharistic Liturgy was celebrated in the Geez language and using the ancient, elaborate Alexandrian Rite. In the course of the liturgy in church, Bishop Fikremariam performed a baptism and several chrismations. The church was filled and the young singers sang both solemnly and with lively hymns with the use of a large drum and bells. Almost three hours passed from the arrival and vesting of the Bishop to the procession from the church to the banquet hall, but the time was hardly noticed. The chanting and rituals of the Liturgy brought the congregation into the presence of the angels during the Anaphora or the Apostles, as the Holy Spirit was called upon the bread and the cup, “so that He may change them into the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for ever and ever”.
Before the Liturgy was over, Bishop Michael was invited to say a few words, during which he expressed the honour that he and the Eparchy experienced in hosting the Bishop and being able to join the Eritrean community in this visitation and this celebration. The Eritrean Orthodox community also sent a large delegation to join in the festivities. They were warmly welcomed by Bishop Tsalim and the Eritrean Catholic parish. Some of those in attendance came from across the border from the American City of Seattle in Washington State.
The banquet dinner was amazing with Eritrean food and customs. Several people gave speeches, sang songs and read poems. Bishop Fikremariam Tsalim, who had travelled so far to visit his people, spoke at great length at the supper, speaking like a loving pastor and the auditorium listened with quiet and respect. Bishop Michael was also given the honour of giving the opening blessing as well as speaking a few words. In his talk he said that “now that we all know each other better, let us know that we can support and help each other live our Christian faith here in this distant land where many of us have made our home. We pray for and support our people back home. Yet we also support them by remembering who we are and how important our Christian faith and our family and religious traditions are to us always!”
The following day, Bishop Fikremariam concelebrated a morning Ukrainian Byzantine Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Catedral before leaving that afternoon to continue his pastoral visit to other parishes in Canada.
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!
Recent Comments