News

The Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church elected Most Rev. Sviatoslav Shevchuk Major Archbishop

Lviv, Ukraine, 25March 2011: Most Reverend Sviatoslav Shevchuk was elected Major Archbishop at an Electoral Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Lviv/Bruhovitchi 21-24 March 2011, in accord with the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches and the Particular Law of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC).

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI confirmed and blessed the election of Bishop Sviatoslav according to the decision of the Electoral Synod of Bishops of the UGCC on 23 March.

Since March 2010, Bishop Sviatoslav, 40 years old, has been the Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) of the Protection of the Mother of God in Argentina.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the newly elected Head of the UGCC made his profession of faith and promise to carry out faithfully his office in the presence of the bishops of the Electoral Synod.

The ceremonies of the enthronement of His Beatitude Sviatoslav as Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych took place in Kyiv (Ukraine), on Sunday, 27 March, during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the patriarchal Sobor of the Holy Resurrection of Christ.  This Divine Liturgy beginning at 10:00 AM brought to completion the Electoral Synod.

The Electoral Synod was called as a result of the announcement of the retirement of His Beatitude Lubomyr Cardinal Husar on 10 February 2011 due to his deteriorating health.  His Beatitude Lubomyr had been elected Major Archbishop at an Electoral Synod in Lviv, in January 2001.

Most Reverend Ihor Vozniak, Archbishop of Lviv, was appointed Administrator of the UGCC and will continue this role until the official enthronement of His Beatitude Sviatolsav.

The Electoral Synod followed a day of prayer and reflection by the membership of the Synod.  Sunday, 20 March, Archbishop Ihor along with the bishops celebrated a Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral Sobor of St. George, in Lviv.  After the Divine Liturgy the bishops visited the crypt at St. George’s Cathedral and prayed at the tombs of the Servant of God Metropolitan Andriy Sheptytsky, Patriarch Josyf Slipij, Major Archbishop Myroslav Ivan Cardinal Lubabivsky as well as other church leaders of the UGCC.   Very Rev. Doctor Borys Gudziak, rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv led the bishops in their day of spiritual reflection.

Generations of Faith

Generations of Faith for Byzantine Churches (GOF) is an intergenerational event-centred approach to faith formation for the whole parish.

The goal of the program is simple - to bring people of all ages in the parish together to learn and participate in all aspects of their faith together through:

  • Divine Liturgy
  • Church Year (feasts and seasons)
  • The Mysteries
  • Morality
  • Social Justice

(For further information on GOF see: http://www.gofbyzantine.org/

The next session of GOF will be held on Sunday 10th April, 2011 from 12:15pm – 4:00pm at Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 550 W. 14th St, Vancouver.

The theme will be preparing for Easter:

  • Adults will prepare by entering into the experience of the myrrh-bearing women who arrive at the tomb and discover it is empty! An angel tells them, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said . . .” (Matthew 28:5-6)
  • With the help of the children of the Ukrainian Heritage School, children will learn about the traditional Easter basket, the foods that are blessed and the symbolism of the Pysanky, our Ukrainian Easter eggs.

For more information and a registration form visit www.nweparchy.ca or contact Anna Vyshnevska whose phone number is 604-525-1261.

Easter Food Fair

Saturday, April 9: Church Hall - 1110 Caledonia Ave (Cnr Cook), 11:00 am - 2:00pm.

HOT LUNCH WILL BE AVAILABLE

Frozen Foods for Sale:

  • Cabbage Rolls
    • meat
    • vegetarian
  • Perogies
    • Potato, Cheddar and Onion
    • Sauerkraut
    • Cottage Cheese
  • Borscht

Fresh Foods for Sale:

  • Beet Horse Radish
  • Ukrainian Sausage
  • Cabbage Rolls

Baked Goods for Sale:

  • Ukrainian Easter Bread – Babkas
  • Pastries

For further information contact: Robert Herchak - 250-384-2255

The St Nicholas Church Hall, 1110 Caledonia Ave, is available for rent. Our hall is suitable for a variety of catered as well as non-catered events. Wheelchair Accessible.

Maximum Occupancy: 80

For all inquiries and bookings please contact:

  • Rectory: 250-384-2292 or
  • Hall: 250-384-2255