Eparchy celebrates 'Many Years As Bishop'

By JEFF GRAHAM

“Many Years As Bishop” was the theme of the celebration on Thursday, May 12, as Eparch (Bishop) Severian Yakymyshyn, OSBM, of the New Westminster Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) was honoured for his 10 years as a bishop and 50 as a priest.

About 300 people gathered at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church for Mass and to celebrate the work God has done through Bishop Yakymyshyn.

Nine other bishops were present at the celebration: Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, of Vancouver; Bishop David Monroe of Kamloops; Bishop Richard Gagnon of Victoria; Bishop Luc Bouchard of St. Paul; Bishop Cornelius Pasichny, OSBM, of Edmonton; Bishop Michael Wiwchar, CSsR, of Toronto; Bishop Lawrence Huculak, OSBM, of Edmonton; and Bishop Michael Bzdel, CSsR, of Winnipeg; as well as Bishop Paul Chomnycky, OSBM, Bishop for Ukrainian Catholics in Great Britain, who travelled from London for the celebration.

Bishop Chomnycky was born and raised in Vancouver. After his ordination he served in the New Westminster Eparchy.

“We have come together to give thanks to God for the priest and bishop who has lead this eparchy,” said Bishop Huculak, the homilist at Mass. He commented that Eparch Yakymyshyn’s life had changed when he agreed to lead the New Westminster Eparchy, as he was thrust into an important position of leadership.

Bishop Huculak then explained the different ministries that Eparch Yakymyshyn had embraced during his years of service as a priest and bishop. First, he said, Eparch Yakymyshyn had taken on the teaching ministry of Jesus, as he formed his flock through lived witness and preaching the Gospel. Bishop Huculak extolled Eparch Yakymyshyn’s ability to connect with people on a personal level as well as his excellent speaking skill and his ability to engage audiences.

“Sanctification,” Bishop Huculak said, “is another priestly ministry that was entrusted by God to Eparch Yakymyshyn.” He pondered how many Communion hosts had been distributed and how many confessions heard by Eparch Yakymyshyn in order to sanctify his flock. He further praised Eparch Yakymyshyn’s faithfulness and thanked him for the countless hours spent in the confessional and offering the Mass.

Bishop Huculak concluded his homily by speaking of the ministry of pastoral governance, which refers to the overall governing of the eparchy and could include anything from building churches to helping organize youth groups. Bishop Huculak praised the efforts of Eparch Yakymyshyn, and commented on what a well run eparchy New Westminster is.

At a reception for Eparch Yakymyshyn after Mass guests were treated to traditional Ukrainian food and song.

During the reception, Archbishop Roussin said, “Pope John Paul II described the Catholic Church as breathing with two lungs, through the eastern rites and the western Roman rite.” He said, “Today was a manifestation of how the two of us should come together more often.”

Archbishop Roussin also commented on how engaged he was by the Ukrainian liturgy, which is significantly different from the Roman rite. For instance, in the Ukrainian rite the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered with the priest facing away from the congregation and with different parts of the liturgy said in Ukrainian and Latin.

The night also featured a congratulatory letter from Pope Benedict XVI, who wrote to Eparch Yakymyshyn, “You have openly shown your priestly abilities,” and added, “I praise your apostolic zeal and your daily labours.”

“I feel very humble and do not have words to express my gratitude,” said Eparch Yakymyshyn. “I hope my simple thanks will do it all. I’m especially grateful to God for all of the graces bestowed in my life.”

The eparch admitted, “Many times it was a challenge, but difficulties were overcome.”

The first of four children, Eparch Severian Yakymyshyn was born in Plain Lake, Alta., in 1930 to mother Mary and father Joseph. At 15 he entered the Order of St. Basil the Great in 1945 and chose Severian for his religious name. He was ordained a priest in Rome by Bishop Ivan Bucko in 1955 and obtained a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1958. Archbishop Emeritus Adam Exner, OMI, of Vancouver was a fellow student.

After his ordination, he served as pastor of the Transfiguration Church in Mundare, Alta. from 1958 to 1961 and then as pastor of two parishes, St. John the Baptist in Borshiw Alta., and Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krakiw, Alta. from 1964 to 1969. He moved on to be assistant pastor of St. John the Baptist in Ottawa and served the Ukrainian Rite communities in Kingston and Smithfalls, Ont., from 1969 to 1976.

Within the Order of St. Basil Eparch Yakymyshyn served as an assistant master of novices and teacher at the Basilian House of Studies in Mundare from 1958 to 1961. He then served as director of the Basilian Press in Toronto from 1961 to 1964 and as director of vocations, novice master, and teacher at the Basilian House of Studies from 1964 to 1969.

Eparch Yaykmyshyn was the master of novices in Ottawa from 1969 to 1976 and a lecturer at St. Paul University from 1971 to 1972. He was the superior of the Monastery of St. Josaphat in Ottawa from 1973 to 1976 and was the director of the St. Basil the Great Liturgical Society between 1964 and 1976.

He directed the Basilian Press and Publications in Toronto from 1976 to 1979 before working for the Curia in Rome from 1979 to 1995.

Eparch Yakymyshyn was ordained Eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminister in 1995, after the death in 1992 of Eparch Jerome Chimy, OSBM, who had led the eparchy since its founding in 1974. The eparchy was administered for two years by Father Ken Olsen.

Ukrainian rite an integral part of Catholic Church

The Ukrainian Rite of the Catholic Church is one of about two dozen particular Catholic churches with its own rite, canon law, spiritual heritage, and hierarchy. It is part of the Universal Catholic Church in communion with and under the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI.

All these particular churches are fully One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, equal to each other in every respect, with the same faith and sacraments.

The difference is in the expression of faith through the liturgy and customs of each particular church. For instance, the Ukrainian Catholic Church calls the Mass the Divine Liturgy. Ukrainian Rite faithful make the sign of the cross from right to left; Ukrainian Rite dioceses are called eparchies; the churches usually have domes rather than spires; and priests wear differently designed vestments.

The name of the rite does not imply that language is an issue; services are in English, Ukrainian, or the native language of the region where the church is located.