On Tuesday 13 August 2024, we will remembering in prayer our dear priest, the late Reverend Father Steven Basarab who reposed in the Lord on 5 July 2024.
The funeral services were held with a full ‘priestly parastas’ on Saturday 25 July and a funeral Divine Liturgy on 26 July – both at St. Joseph’s Catholic church in Fr. Steve’s hometown of Chemainus, BC. The Ukrainian Catholic Bishop of New Westminster, His Excellency Michael Kwiatkowski presided at both services and was joined by a good number of priests from around the province. An inspiration to everyone present was the great number of faithful that attended the services, especially the filled the church on the day of the funeral and interment. Bishop Michael preached at the Divine Liturgy, while long-time friend, Archpriest Joe Ostopowich from Vancouver preached at the parastas. At the reception – which was very graciously hosted by the good people of St. Joseph Parish – Father Steven’s family spoke and a number of friends and former parishioners shared stories and memories.
According to our ancient and very popular tradition, we come together on the 40th-day after the death of Father Steven, who served the Lord and His People to the best of his ability as a priest for almost 35 years. The 40-day tradition certainly calls to mind the 40-day periods mentioned in scripture… the 40-day fasts of Moses (Exodus 34:28) and Elijah (1Kings 19), the 40 days during which Jesus fasted in the desert (Matthew 4), the 40 days Jesus remained upon the earth after His Resurrection, before finally ascending into heaven (Acts 1:3). It surely is also a practical tradition that after 40 days – matters have been settled, close friends and relatives have moved somewhat back into their routine of life, and now all can gather in a peaceful manner to commemorate the deceased, to reminisce and offer encouragement to each other.
What follows is the text of the eulogy spoken by our Chancellor, the Very Rev. Yuriy Vyshnevskyy, at the “tryzna” – i.e. funeral luncheon – prior to Fr. Steven’s interment.
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A Eulogy of a Brother Priest
I would like to thank the local pastor, Fr. Joseph Thomas and the entire St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish community for having us here today. Thank you for preparing such a reception for all of us. Thank you for welcoming Fr. Steven into your parish one last time.
Fr. Steven suffered from many illnesses and this was how I met Fr. Steven shortly after I was ordained a priest and arrived in Vancouver some 15 years ago. I think I met him on one, maybe two, occasions, but I could tell that he was suffering.
I didn’t see much of Fr. Steven as he was getting medical treatments. He spent some time in Saskatoon when he was under the care of the Sisters of St. Joseph who were looking after him until he was well enough to return home.
After Fr. Steven returned home, he settled in Duncan where I visited him along with our Bishop at the time, M. Rev. Ken Nowakowski. But I wouldn’t necessarily say that we kept in touch much as much as we would have liked, as I lived in New Westminster at the time. And besides being brothers in priesthood, our friendship was more professional as pertaining to our ministry.
Everything changed when I was transferred to St. Nicholas parish in Victoria (Fr. Steven was ordained at St. Nicholas on June 3, 1990) and after that I was appointed to St. Michael parish in Nanaimo.
So, about 6 years ago I started taking weekly trips from Victoria to Nanaimo. And guess what’s halfway between Victoria and Nanaimo? Duncan. And guess who lived in Duncan? Fr. Steven.
Duncan became home to Fr. Steven. He settled in Duncan Manor. He found a community at St. Edward the Confessor parish and started to attend meetings of the Knights of Columbus and serve as their Chaplain. I want to say thank you to all of you for welcoming him and for making him feel at home.
There was only one thing that Fr. Steven was missing and that was his Ukrainian heritage. Something that was “in his blood”, as he would often say. And what he was missing is an opportunity to celebrate Divine Liturgies and other services in a Ukrainian Catholic setting. And that opportunity became a reality 6 years ago when I was appointed at St. Michael’s parish in Nanaimo.
Shortly after that I reached out to Fr. Steven and we made arrangements for a Saturday pickup. Communication was a bit of a challenge as Fr. Steven didn’t have a cell phone until a year ago. It took another month or so for him to figure out how to send text messages from his phone. He was a late bloomer 🙂
Having Fr. Steven with me was like having an assistant priest. Sometimes he was an assistant priest and sometimes I was. And when I was under stress, Fr. Steven was always there for me. Even when I was not asking. But he knew. After all, Fr. Steven had so much more pastoral experience than I did.
Before going on medical leave, he served in a number of parishes across BC including Kamloops, Vernon, Grindrod. He substituted in many others. And over the years, when I would meet his former parishioners, they all had only good things to say about Fr. Steven.
St. Michael’s parish in Nanaimo became like home to Fr. Steven and the parishioners became this family. Thank you for caring for Fr. Steven all these years, for driving him on Saturdays to the parish, especially more recently after I was transferred from Nanaimo.
Fr. Steven was a completely different person from the person I met 15 years ago. And to me this was the real Fr. Steven, and not the one from the past. I remember one Saturday Fr. Steven became a part of my homily when I was talking about people we meet and changes they make in our lives, and I said something like “Fr. Steven was hitchhiking to Nanaimo … and I picked him up because he looked so harmless …” When I carefully turned around, I saw him laughing, genuinely laughing. Later it became our go-to joke.
But besides missing being a part of the parish life there was one other thing that he was missing and that was time together with his brother priests. So, he was always looking forward to spending time with us at conferences and retreats, to be in our company and he was always excited. Dear Bishop Michael, dear fathers, all I can tell you is that Fr. Steven had a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for you all.
Fr. Steven was a kind, gentle, loving and caring priest. Those who knew him, especially those who would receive an email from him can confirm that Fr. Steven would always finish his emails, or Facebook posts and text messages with the phrase “God is love”. That’s the message that he was preaching with his life.
So, I think that it’s only appropriate to conclude this chapter of Fr. Steven’s life with the words “God is love”, because now he’s beginning the next chapter of his life where the God of love will be his companion for eternity.
“Grant, O Christ, that Your servant Steven who has gone from this life to You, may be received in Your unspeakable glory where happiness reigns and the sound of pure joy is always heard.”
Сьогодні на Літургії для українських греко-католицьких громад долини річки Фрейзер (Абботсфорд-Чілівак, Суррей, Мейпл Рідж) ми мали незвичну Літургію. Запрестольною іконою – було чудове озеро Johnes Lake, а ікони намалював сам Творець. Як добре бути з Господом і у колі друзів. Чудова природа, чудовий молитовний кемпінг, чудова молодь, діти і християнські родини… Що може бути краще?
Today at the Liturgy for the Ukrainian Catholic communities of the Fraser River Valley (Abbotsford-Chilliwack, Surrey, Maple Ridge) we had an unusual Liturgy. The most picturesque Johnes Lake served us an icon behind the Altar, and the rest of the icons were drawn by the Creator Himself. How good it is to be with the Lord and in the circle of friends. Wonderful nature, wonderful prayer camping, wonderful youth, children and Christian families… It does not get any better than this?
Parastas – Thursday, July 25 at 6:00 PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic parish (9731 Elm St, Chemainus BC)
Funeral Divine Liturgy – Friday, July 26 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic parish (9731 Elm St, Chemainus BC). Reception at the parish hall to follow.
Burial – following the reception the burial will take place at St. Michael and All Angels Cemetery (9489 Chemainus Road, Chemainus BC)
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the sudden passing of my brother, Fr. Steven J. Basarab at the age of 62.
Predeceased by parents Stefan and Erna, brother Bill and half-brother Nikolay; Fr. Steven is survived by his sister Mary Ann (Ken), as well as aunts, nieces, nephews and extended family.
When Steven was in his early twenties, he attended the Seminary in Ottawa, later becoming a deacon and then a priest of the Diocese of New Westminster. He looked after his flocks, first in Kamloops, then later in Vernon and Grindrod, BC, before moving to Nanaimo. He spent his last years living in Duncan, but still making regular trips to Nanaimo generously helping all those he could reach.
Many people may not know that before becoming a priest, he took a bartending course after graduating from high school. When he completed the course, the class was going to a bar to celebrate, however, he could not attend due to the fact that he was only 18 years old and technically underage! He also worked at Noos Pizza, which was a very popular place at the time in Chemainus, making pizzas. Steven also learned to play the drums and had his drums set up in the double garage of the family home. There was a time in his life that he was also considering joining the Armed Forces, however, the priesthood called him at the same time, so he made his life choice.
Sadly, in the last years of his life, Father Steven suffered from many health issues. It brings the family comfort knowing that he is in a better place with his family members who have gone before him and is no longer suffering.
He will be greatly missed by his sister and extended family. There was a great respect between Fr. Steven and his sister, even if they had different views.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Fr. Steven’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice.
The Faithful of the Eparchy of New Westminster express their condolences to family and friends and the all who ever had the blessing of being in the pastoral care of this dedicated priest.
The funeral arrangements will be announced as they are made.
Please keep Father Steven in your prayer.
ВІЧНА ЙОМУ ПАМ’ЯТЬ! GRANT HIM, LORD, ETERNAL MEMORY!
Our parish recently marked a historic milestone: 100 years of faith, service, and community. This centennial celebration was a testament to our enduring legacy, drawing visiting pilgrims, clergy, Sisters and our Bishop Michael, making it an unforgettable event.
A Warm Welcome to Visiting Pilgrims
The festivities began on Friday afternoon with a heartfelt welcome to the pilgrims who traveled from near and far to join us in this joyous occasion. Their presence was a testament to the strong bonds of faith that extend beyond our local community. The pilgrims participated in various activities, including prayer services, a special candlelight vigil, and a procession to the cemetery where Bishop Michael led us in a Panakhyda service for all deceased founders and benefactors, creating an atmosphere of spiritual unity and shared devotion.
Honoring Our Legacy with Visiting Clergy and Sisters
The centennial celebration was graced by Sisters and numerous visiting clergy, including former pastors who have been integral to our parish’s journey. Their participation added a profound sense of continuity and respect for the rich history of our parish.
A Blessing from the Bishop
The presence of our Bishop Michael was a significant highlight of the centennial celebrations. His participation underscored the importance of our parish within the community. On Saturday, Kyr Michael led a solemn and uplifting centennial Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, his words inspired us to continue our mission with renewed vigor and dedication. He also elevated Fr. Joseph Ostopowich to the rank of Archpriest and recognized him for his 40 years of service in our Eparchy. Fr. Andriy Werbowy presented the history of Grindrod parish and how it started with just a few families from Manitoba.
Joyous Festivities and Community Spirit
The Friday/Saturday celebration included a family fun day complete with games, food, bonfire with songs and entertainment, which brought joy to parishioners young and old. The pig spit roast dinner provided an opportunity for reflection and fellowship.
Looking to the Future
As we celebrated our centennial, we also looked to the future with hope and faith. The centennial celebration was not just a reflection on the past but a recommitment to our mission and values. With the blessings of our Bishop, the support of visiting clergy, and the enthusiasm of our pilgrims and parishioners, we are poised to continue our journey of faith, service, and community for the next hundred years.
Our centennial celebration was a resounding success, a fitting tribute to our rich history, and a hopeful look toward a bright future. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us, and we look forward to many more years of worship, service, and fellowship.
“O come and taste that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 33:08)
This year, we are celebrating our Eparchial Jubilee. The motto for this Jubilee year is “Taste and see.”
We were invited to “taste and see” God’s goodness at our first Eparchial pilgrimage and centennial celebration of Sts. Peter and Paul parish in Grindrod this past June 28-29.
There were various liturgical services that took place over this weekend: on Friday, June 28th, Great Vespers with Lytia, Moleben to Mother of God, Compline and Panakhyda service at the cemetery; and on Saturday, June 29th, Matins and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. On both days, the clergy were available for confessions.
After the Divine Liturgy were the blessing of water and two new Eparchial icons dedicated to the Mother of God. Also, Fr. Joe Ostopowich was elevated to the rank of Archpriest and recognized for 40 years of service in the Eparchy of New Westminster.
The pilgrims came from all the parishes in our Eparchy and beyond. We were especially blessed with and heartened by the presence of the youth and children.
We would like to thank Sts. Peter and Paul Parish for their hospitality and accommodation of over 90 pilgrims on Friday and over 130 on Saturday.
We are grateful to Bishop Michael, the clergy, Sisters Servant of Mary Immaculate, the faithful of our Eparchy, and guests for making it such a spiritually uplifting celebration.
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