"The No. 1 priority for . . . the church is evangelization, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today's world."
His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk
(Rome, 31 March 2011)
GENERATIONS OF FAITH - 2012
Come and join us for lunch, conversation and prayer
Session 3: Reconciliation (Penance or Confession)
Held @ Richmond Funeral Home on February 26, 2012
Session 4: Marriage
Held @ Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Surrey on April 29, 2012
Registration form for Session 3 - February 26, 2012
For more information please visit our GOF website
View Photoalbum from last GOF in Vancouver - photos by: Doreen Kostynuik
Bishop Ken celebrating Divine Liturgy at St. George's Cathedral on January 22
Theophany on the river bank of the Dnipro River in Kyiv
Video of the Theophany Great Water Blessing celebration this past Thursday on the river bank of the Dnipro River in Kyiv with the new Ukrainian Greek Catholic Sobor/Cathedral in the background. His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav is the main celebrant and you can see in the gold coloured vestments, Bishop Paul of Stamfornd - near New York, then Bishop Josyf an Auxilary Bishop in Kyiv and then our Eparch Bishop Ken.
Bishop Ken's Letter - Announcing the Bishop Jerome Eparchial Centre
To the Faithful of the Eparchy of New Westminster
January 19, 2012
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dearly Beloved in Christ!
I have, over the past few years, had an opportunity to speak with many of you with the intent of soliciting your feedback on how best to utilize the Episcopal Residence in New Westminster.
To that end, I am very pleased to announce that the Episcopal Residence will be renamed the Bishop Jerome Chimy Eparchial Centre, and renovated to fully meet it’s newly expanded role in the life of the Eparchy.
The Bishop Jerome Centre was originally built by our Beloved Bishop in 1976 and became the official residence of the Eparch. During the time of Bishop Jerome, the Episcopal Residence housed not only the Bishop, but up to 3 Sisters Servants, 2 priests and any out of town guests on official visits to the Eparchy. The Episcopal Residence during the time of Bishop Severian housed the Bishop, one or two priests, a hospodar and also allowed Bishop Severian to provide a welcome place for visitors to the Eparchy. As the Eparchy has grown and evolved, other arrangements have been provided for housing the sisters and priests of the Eparchy in the lower mainland and now the Episcopal Residence is no longer needed as simple housing. The interior of the building is showing its age after 36 years of chancery and residential use with minimal renovations.
Acting on your suggestions, and with the support of the Eparchial College of Consultors and Finance Council, various Parish Council Chairs, the Eparchial UCWLC and other interested parties, we have secured rezoning from the City of New Westminster to allow us to legally operate our administrative offices in this location. We have also undertaken to reallocate over 4,300 square feet of space in the new Bishop Jerome Centre from living quarters to become an Eparchial Library, Archives, Chancery, Administrative and Pastoral Centre, Religious Education office and meeting places. The remaining area will be separately accessed and will serve as the official residence of the Bishop and any visitors to the Eparchy.
To ensure the Bishop Jerome Centre is safe for all occupants, we are following the advice and instructions of our structural architect and thus are upgrading the structure to meet all modern code requirements. Other changes to make the Centre more welcoming for all of our faithful and guests include upgrades to provide handicapped accessibility.
In March of 1976, just a few short months after the December 28th, 1975 ground-breaking ceremony was celebrated and the construction of the Episcopal Residence began, Bishop Jerome wrote the following to the faithful of the Eparchy of New Westminster:
“As it now stands, construction of the Bishop’s Residence is well under way. Completion is expected sometime in May and the official opening and blessing is anticipated for June 13, 1976.
“The Diocesan Expansion Fund campaign has been launched for the construction of the Bishop’s Residence. However, we should look beyond the physical structure of the residence. We should look at it as a symbol – a symbol of unity of our Eparchy, a symbol of our achievements in this province, a symbol of our awareness of our identity. No one can doubt the importance of this purpose.
“Your generous contribution towards the Diocesan Expansion Fund is a great investment, it is a contribution to our Church and to our national heritage. Therefore let’s all join hands, young and old, rich and poor, strong and weak, to achieve this goal.”
I would like to echo the words of our Founding Bishop of blessed memory and also announce that the renovations to the interior of the building have begun and are expected to continue until the early summer of 2012. The total cost of the renovation is estimated at around $250,000. We have already raised funds of over $150,000 including a grant of $50,000 from Catholic Missions in Canada who were very excited when they saw the plans for this Centre. We are seeking benefactors to help support this enhancement to the future life of the Eparchy and would ask you to consider a contribution to the Bishop Jerome Chimy Eparchial Centre in your annual gifting or perhaps in your will.
Bishop Jerome demonstrated the foresight and courage to construct the Episcopal Residence during the infancy of our Eparchy. All who have seen the vision for this space believe that the Bishop Jerome Chimy Eparchial Centre is a fitting tribute and legacy to our Founding Bishop. The Centre will continue to be a vibrant hub of Eparchial life that reflects the energy of this Spiritual Father and the love he had for all the faithful of the Eparchy. This rededicated facility will continue his work of Evangelization and will be focal point from which we can follow Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel and share the Good News of Christ’s love and mercy with the people of British Columbia and Yukon.
With prayerful best wishes and assurance of my Episcopal Blessings,
I remain sincerely yours in Christ,
+Ken
Eparch of New Westminster
PASTORAL LETTER
OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF CANADA
Announcing
The Year 2012 -
A YEAR ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD!
To the Very Reverend Clergy, Monastics
and Religious Sisters, Seminarians and Laity of the Ukrainian Catholic
Church in Canada:
Dearly Beloved in Christ!
Following his baptism in the River Jordan and his subsequent time of prayer and fasting in the desert, Jesus began his 3 years of public ministry. He entered the synagogue in Nazareth and read the following words from the Prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” [Lk 4:18-19]
As we, the members of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, begin the New Year 2012 with the commemoration of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River and the start of his public ministry, we too are called upon to begin a year acceptable to the Lord. This year will mark several important events in the life of our Church, which we wish to officially announce with this letter.
The Centenary of Blessed Bishop Nykyta Budka
In 1912 the first bishop appointed to lead the Ukrainian Catholic faithful in Canada arrived in Winnipeg to begin his public ministry. The newly ordained Bishop Nykyta Budka began the pastoral work of coordinating the clergy, religious sisters and brothers, together with the laity of the Ukrainian Catholic Church scattered across the vast country of Canada into a united Church, initially as a single Canada-wide Exarchate. This later grew into a Metropolitan Province with an Archeparchy and four Eparchies.
The task awaiting young 35 year-old Bishop Budka was immense. Not only did he strive to unify Ukrainian Catholics into an organized Church, but he needed to obtain civil recognition of our Church by the government of Canada, to establish and develop good relations with the dominant Roman Catholic Church and other denominations, and help the Ukrainian immigrants who had been settling here since 1891 to face the challenges of a new culture and a new way of life. Indeed, Bishop Budka had to carry out his ministry according to the scripture text mentioned above: bringing joy to the poor, visiting the imprisoned, helping the sick, and assisting all those oppressed with the difficult conditions of pioneer life.
Bishop Budka carried out his mission in Canada from 1912 until his final return to Europe in 1928. He suffered much during this period and his health deteriorated. In Ukraine he returned to pastoral ministry. With the rise of communism, Bishop Budka, although still a Canadian citizen was arrested together with the other bishops in Ukraine and sentenced to a concentration camp in Kazakstan, where he died in 1949. In 2001, during the historic pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II to Ukraine, Bishop Budka was beatified, together with other martyrs of the faith and now holds the title of BLESSED Bishop Nykyta Budka.
Ukrainian Catholic Synod of Bishops scheduled for Winnipeg 2012
To mark this important centenary of Blessed Bishop Nykyta Budka for our Church the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of Canada invited the Ukrainian Catholic Synod of Bishops to hold its annual meeting in Canada in 2012. This invitation has been accepted and we are happy to announce that this gathering of Ukrainian Catholic Bishops from around the world will be held in Winnipeg from 9-16 September 2012. Of the current 51 bishops (including those in retirement) it is expected that around 35-40 bishops will take part. Although the Synod itself, according to canon law, is open only to bishops, various public functions are being planned, including the opening Divine Liturgy in Winnipeg’s Sts. Vladimir & Olga Cathedral on September 9th. Also planned are a public banquet on September 16th, and visits by bishops to various churches in Manitoba on Sunday, September 16th.
A committee has been organized to make logistical plans for this Synod and its activities in Manitoba. All plans are ultimately subject to approval by the Secretariat of the UGCC Synod of Bishops from Ukraine.
Visit of newly elected Patriarch Sviatoslav
In March of 2011, following the resignation of His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the UGCC Synod of Bishops elected Bishop Sviatoslav Shewchuk, 40 years of age, as the new Father and Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Following the confirmation of his election by Pope Benedict XVI, His Beatitude Sviatoslav was installed in Kyiv on 27 March 2011. His Beatitude will be in Canada not only to take part in the Winnipeg UGCC Synod, but will also make pastoral visitations to the other eparchies in Canada during September 2012. Each Eparchy is responsible for planning the details of the Patriarch’s visit in its particular area. With the pastoral visit of Patriarch Sviatoslav, the ties of our Church in Canada with the Church in Ukraine will be strengthened, and the memory of Blessed Bishop Nykyta Budka will be honoured.
Dearly Beloved in Christ!
Indeed the year 2012 will be for Ukrainian Catholics in Canada “a year acceptable to the Lord!” It will be a time not only to remember the past, but to celebrate it as well. It will be a time to receive guests and offer hospitality in the name of the Lord. And it will be a time to review and renew our pastoral mission in the world we live. Let us continue our pilgrim journey with Christ our Saviour, into this special year, through the prayers of Blessed Nykyta Budka, our first bishop and martyr.
6/19 January 2012, Feast of the Theophany of our Lord
Prot H/1/2012
+ Lawrence Huculak OSBM, Metropolitan Archbishop of Winnipeg
+ David Motiuk, Eparchial Bishop of Edmonton
+ Stephen Chmilar, Eparchial Bishop of Toronto
+ Ken Nowakowski, Eparchial Bishop of New Westminster
+ Bryan Bayda CSsR, Eparchial Bishop of Saskatoon
PASTORAL LETTER OF HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV TO THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND ALL THE FAITHFUL OF THE UKRAINIAN GREEK-CATHOLIC CHURCH
[12.17.2011]“The Vibrant Parish – a place to encounter the living Christ”
Read full letter in English or Ukrainian
BISHOP KEN'S CHRISTMAS PASTORAL LETTER
[12.17.2011]To the Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy, the Religious and Laity of the Eparchy of New Westminster and to all People of Good Will
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This year we have been celebrating the one hundred twentieth anniversary of the settlement of the first Ukrainians in Canada. Our pioneers celebrated Christmas Eve on the vast Canadian prairies far, far away from their native land. No doubt the youngest child (as our centuries old tradition have it) stood at the window waiting to see the first star of Christmas Eve, then announcing to the entire household that their celebrations could begin.
Standing at the window symbolizes the effort of every Christian to recognize the star of Bethlehem that leads us to Christ our Saviour. The Magi from the East followed the star. Like us with our busy lives the Magi also had to overcome many obstacles to find the Christ Child. When they found the Christ Child they did him homage.
In St. Matthew's narrative of Christ’s Birth, it is the Magi who come to adore the Child Jesus. They were three kings or wise men. We could say that they represent the three components of the human person, the body, the soul and spirit; intellect, sentiments and will.
The three Magi prostrate themselves before the Divine Child. In Him they recognize the Saviour. God himself is manifested in the Child Jesus. God is reflected in the human person who is a singular and unique expression of God in the world. Through the grace of God we have become divinized; our mortal nature has been transformed. We do not need to chase after created idols. Divine life is already within us.
Dearly Beloved in Christ! the star of Bethlehem and the Magi are the windows that help us fathom the Mystery of Christ’s birth. With the humble faith of the first pioneers in Canada, we too watch for the “Star” on Christmas Eve celebrating and living the gift of Christ’s Incarnation. At the Christmas Eve celebrations and the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ we experience the mystery of Christmas Eve with our family and our Holy Supper traditions. We attend and celebrate the Solemn Divine Liturgy with our families and community. We sing carols and rejoice, and by doing this we are called to reflect upon the spiritual meaning of the Mystery we are celebrating: CHRIST WITH US!
In this festive and blessed time of the Nativity I joyfully extend to you my dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ my Episcopal blessings and my prayerful heartfelt greetings: Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
+Ken (Nowakowski)
Bishop of New Westminster for Ukrainian Catholics in British Columbia and the Yukon
PASTORAL LETTER OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF CANADA ON THE OCCASION OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
[12.15.2011]Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
To the Very Reverend Clergy, Monastics and Religious Sisters and Brothers, Seminarians and Laity of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race… while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2,11,13).
Celebrating the one hundred twentieth anniversary of the settlement of the first Ukrainians in Canada, we see how the words of St. Paul to Titus fulfilled in the history of our Ukrainian Catholic Church.
As we joyfully celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, a scene narrated by our first settlers comes to mind.
“When our first Christmas Eve arrived on the farm, Mother prepared the house to give it a festive atmosphere. The sun had already set. Mother told Petryk to stand on the bench and look through the window for the appearance of the first star in the sky. It was very cold outside.
“He had to keep scratching the frost off the single pane of glass to see through it. Mother already had about six of her dishes on the table when Petryk, pointing his finger, cried out: ‘There is the star’! ‘It was time for the holy supper.’ Before sitting down on benches, they all made the sign of the cross and said a prayer.”
This was Christmas Eve celebrated by our pioneers over a hundred years ago. Petryk standing at the window symbolizes the effort of every Christian to recognize the star of Bethlehem that leads us to Christ our Saviour. The Magi from the East followed the star. They overcame many obstacles. When they found the Christ Child they did him homage (Mt. 2,11).
In St. Matthew’s narrative of Christ’s Birth, it is the Magi who come to adore the Child Jesus. They were three kings or wise men. They represent the three components of the human person, the body, the soul and spirit; intellect, sentiments and will.
The three Magi prostrate themselves before the Divine Child. In Him they recognize the Saviour. God himself is manifested in the Child Jesus. God is reflected in the human person who is a singular and unique expression of God in the world. Through the grace of God we have become divinized; our mortal nature has been transformed. We do not need to chase after created idols. Divine life is already within us.
Dearly beloved in Christ! The star of Bethlehem and the Magi are the windows that help us fathom the Mystery of Christ’s birth. The humble faith of the first pioneers in Canada, little Petryk watching for the star on Christmas Eve demonstrate how our people celebrated and lived the gift of Christ’s Incarnation.
At the Christmas Eve celebrations and the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ we experience the mystery of Christmas Eve with our family and our Sviat Vechir traditions. We celebrate the Solemn Divine Liturgy. We sing carols and rejoice. We reflect upon the spiritual meaning of the Mystery we are celebrating.
In this festive and blessed time of the Nativity we extend to you Brothers and Sisters in Christ our prayerful heartfelt greetings. May the Christ Child, true heavenly Light, enlighten our lives so that we may show forth His light to the world.
The Blessing of the Lord be upon you!
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
+ Lawrence Huculak, OSBM, Metropolitan Archbishop of Winnipeg
+ Michael Bzdel, CSsR, Archbishop Emeritus of Winnipeg
+ Michael Wiwchar, CSsR, Bishop Emeritus of Saskatoon
+ Severian Yakymyshyn OSBM, Bishop Emeritus of New Westminster
+ Cornelius Pasichny, OSBM, Bishop Emeritus of Toronto
+ David Motiuk, Eparchial Bishop of Edmonton
+ Stephen Chmilar, Eparchial Bishop of Toronto
+ Ken Nowakowski, Eparchial Bishop of New Westminster
+ Bryan Bayda, CSsR, Eparchial Bishop of Saskatoon
РІЗДВЯНЕ ПОСЛАННЯ БЛАЖЕННІШОГО СВЯТОСЛАВА
[12.15.2011]Високопреосвященним і Преосвященним Архиєпископам та Митрополитам, боголюбивим єпископам, всечесному духовенству, преподобному монашеству, возлюбленим братам і сестрам, в Україні та на поселеннях у світі сущим
Христос народжується –славте!
Христос із небес – зустрічайте!
Христос на землі – бадьортеся!
Канон Утрені Різдва Христового
Дорогі у Христі!
Цими словами із канону різдвяної Утрені хочу привітати всіх вас зі світлим святом Різдва Христового. Сьогодні Христова Церква закликає нас не просто вкотре відзначати це свято, а й запрошує прославляти, зустрічати Бога, який прийшов до нас у людському тілі, та кріпитися присутністю цього небесного Дитяти.
«Христос народжується – славте!» Це запрошення набирає для нас особливого значення, коли приєднаємося до безпосередніх учасників і свідків події цього дивного народження. Ті, хто славить новонародженого Божого Сина, – це передусім небесні ангели. Це вони відкривають перед пастирями, які стоять вночі на сторожі своїх отар, чудесну новину про народження Сина Божого, співаючи величну пісню: «Слава на висотах Богові, а на землі мир людям його вподобання» (Лк. 2, 14). Чи не вперше ангельські сили стають поруч з людьми і разом з ними творять один-єдиний народ, небесний і земний хор. Ця вселенська прослава, яка лунає єдиним багатоголоссям неба і землі, наче показує, що у таїнстві воплочення Сина Божого небесна і божественна дійсність поєднується з людиною, з її історією, минулим, сучасним і майбутнім. У цьому таїнственному поєднанні в особі новонародженого Ісуса Христа, Бога і людини, відбувається обмін дарами між ними: Творець відкриває повноту свого вічного життя людині, а життя людини вповні відкривається Богові, стає простором Його присутності та діяння. Ось чому славити новонародженого Спасителя – означає насамперед відкрити Його присутність у нашому житті. Сьогодні Бог дійсно є з нами, у сучасному моменті історії нашого народу, того об’єднаного Божого люду, який від ангелів вчиться, як гідно предстояти перед Богом і Його величати. Прославляючи різдвяною колядою народженого Спасителя, ми разом з ангелами сповіщаємо прихід небесної радості, що усуває земний смуток і розпач, даруючи людині дар вічного життя із Богом.
«Христос із небес – зустрічайте!» Зустрічаючи Сина Божого, який в людському тілі прийшов на світ, ми визнаємо, що сам Бог захотів увійти в життя кожного з нас, аби на себе взяти всі наші провини, недуги, болі й негаразди, а нам дарувати своє вічне блаженство та щастя. Момент, коли Спаситель торкається кожного із нас зокрема та силою і діянням Святого Духа вносить своє вічне життя у наше людське життя, ми називаємо Святим Таїнством. Таких Таїнств у Христовій Церкві є сім: Хрещення, Миропомазання, Євхаристія, Покаяння, Священство, Подружжя та Єлеопомазання. Ці Таїнства є плодами і наслідками народження Бога у людському тілі. Щоразу, коли ми приймаємо і беремо участь у тому чи іншому Святому Таїнстві, нам дається великий дар зустрічі з Христом-Господом, а ця зустріч переображує наше життя, наповнюючи його любов’ю Отця, благодаттю Сина і силою Святого Духа. Таким чином Божа присутність через Святі Таїнства робить нас учасниками Божого життя, згідно зі словами св. Атанасія: «Бог став людиною, щоб людина могла стати богом за благодаттю». Цю благодать Христового Різдва особливо важливо для нас відкрити і оцінити у цьому Новому 2012 році, який наша Церква, у її підготовці до святкувань 1025-річчя Хрещення Русі-України, присвячує Святим Таїнствам. Отож, зустріти новонародженого Христа сьогодні можна передусім у Святих Таїнствах, особливо в Євхаристії, яка є центром і вершиною всього життя Церкви. Нашою живою участю у Святих Таїнствах, зокрема Покаянні та Євхаристії, ми найкраще зможемо підготуватися та відсвяткувати цьогорічне Різдво Господа нашого Ісуса Христа. А впродовж цього Нового року стараймося глибше збагнути і відкрити для себе безцінний скарб Святих Таїнств у Христовій Церкві та користати з них на наше освячення і спасіння.
«Христос на землі – бадьортеся!» У цю таїнственну різдвяну ніч небесний ангел-благовісник каже нам, як колись вівчарям: «Не бійтесь, бо я звіщаю вам велику радість, що буде радістю всього народу!» (Лк. 2, 10). Сьогодні ми, на жаль, мусимо ствердити, що в наше українське суспільство повертаються різні страхи минулого. Навіть після двадцятьох років будівництва Української держави ми є чомусь надалі стривожені тим, чи справді збережемо її незалежність, волю та українську самобутність. Страхаємося некерованості світових економічних криз і новітніх форм соціального та національного поневолення. Тому ця ангельська благовість: «Не бійтеся!» – має з особливою силою промовити нині до наших сердець. «Христос на землі – бадьортеся!» – співає сьогодні Христова Церква. Бадьорімося всі ми, бо присутність на землі воплоченого Христа – нашого Спаса – це для нас джерело невимовної сили й надії в нашому земному житті з його змаганнями та випробуваннями. Лише у Його народженні, у Різдві незмінного і вічного Бога, народжується нове й краще майбутнє, яке дає зміст і певність нашому теперішньому. Хто сьогодні віднайшов свою надію у маленькій Дитині – новонародженому Спасителеві, той вже знайшов допомогу і силу для свого непростого, мінливого та непевного сьогодення.
Дорогі в Христі! У цей світлий і радісний день славмо новонародженого Ісуса нашою прабатьківською колядою. Нехай вона сьогодні усуне з наших сердець усякий страх і смуток. Зустрічаймо сьогодні Предвічного Бога відкритим серцем і сповняймося Його небесною благодаттю, радістю та миром. Нехай ця різдвяна радість підбадьорить і скріпить нас у нашій щоденній праці та молитві, дарує єдність і злагоду в наших громадах. Нехай різдвяна зірка, що колись привела мудреців до вертепу, де спочивав Цар віків, освітить нам дорогу до нашого майбутнього в Христі-Ісусі.
Христос рождається! Славімо Його!
+ СВЯТОСЛАВ
Дано в Києві, при Соборі Воскресіння Христового,
4/21 листопада в день Праздника Введення в храм Пресвятої Богородиці
Bishop Ken installs Fr. Andrii Chornenkyi as Parochial Administrator of Exaltation of the Holy Cross Parish in Surrey
[11.27.2011]Photographs by Doreen Kostyniuk
100th Anniversary Celebration for St. George’s Cathedral in Saskatoon
[09.17.2011]We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to the following celebration: St. George’s Cathedral in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan will be celebrating 100 years as a parish in 2012. The Celebrations will take place on Oct.5, 6 and 7th 2012.
Friday, October 5, 2012 – Wine and Cheese
Saturday, October 6, 2012- Divine Liturgy & Banquet
Sunday, October 7, 2012- Divine Liturgy & Brunch
Ми хочемо скористатися нагодою і повідомити Вас про важливу подію, яку ми всі скоро відзначатимемо. У 2012 році катедра Святого Юрія у Саскатуні святкуватиме соту (100) річницю з часу свого заснування. Головні святкування відбудуться 5, 6 та 7-го жовтня 2012 року.
More information will follow as details are arranged. Please mark your calendar!