Table for Two 2013

This year was the first time my husband and I participated in Table for Two and we were really impressed!  It was held just after Valentine’s Day, and it was a great alternative to going out in the hustle and bustle of that celebrated day. 

We started the evening off with a delicious punch, and selected our very own table for two!  The hall had a romantic feel, with a nice, small group of couples.  It was intimate enough to converse freely, and nice not to have to compete with the noise at a busy restaurant.  We enjoyed a tasty three course meal and had an amazing dessert and each were accompanied with a conversation starter to get us talking about ourselves as a couple and as individuals.  It was nice, as you don’t normally connect and converse on an intimate level when you have dinner.  It seems that we talk more about the day to day things, happenings at work, and upcoming plans.  Rarely do we venture into talking openly about our hopes, fears, and dreams.

The evening was rounded out with an inspirational presentation from Cheryl and Mike Lisowski about their relationship, trials, and faith.  It was nice to hear how other couples face struggles, and how they draw closer together to overcome bumps in the road.  Hearing how they rely on each other through conversation and faith to bring them together really touched us.  I am grateful that they shared their story and put themselves out there to show that every couple faces struggles. It’s how you deal with them that counts.

Table for Two is the perfect way for couples, whether dating, engaged or married, to reconnect and become reacquainted with each other on so many levels.

~Amanda Kueneman

Click:   Easter Message from Fr. General Michael Brehl,C.Ss.R.

The YORKTON PROVINCE is pleased to announce the hiring of Michelle Thiessen in a part time position as the RYM Director in Winnipeg.   Michelle is no stranger to this work nor to this position.  She had been the RYM Director in a full time capacity back in 2006 & 2007.   Michelle brings loads of experience, enthusiasm and, as a Partner in Mission, an appreciation for our Redemptorist charism and heritage.    We offer our prayerful best wishes to Michelle in this challenging ministry to the youth and young adults in the Ukrainian Catholic Church of Winnipeg, nurturing in them our sense of mission and outreach to the poor and most abandoned.

Michelle can be reached at the RYM Office via  email: rymcssr@gmail.com  and phone: 204-799-1060

Good conversation happened around important themes:  Among whom and for whom do we proclaim Good News today? (Constitution 3);  inviting new people to become partners in mission; the important difference between mission and ministry; equality and uniformity.

All the participants were asked to continue the reflection and discussion in their respective local groups and share their learnings with the partners who could not attend.

Obituary of Bishop Hrynchyshyn   <click link to read the obituary)

On Saturday, September 8, the Synod of Ukrainian Catholic Bishops held its opening ceremonies in St. Joseph’s Church in Winnipeg.   Patriarch Sviatoslav was welcomed at the door of the church by the pastor, Fr. Bohdan Lukie, C.Ss.R. and then the Bishop’s assembled in the front pews.  On behalf of the Redemptorists, Fr. Provincial Larry Kondra, C.Ss.R. greeted the Patriarch and the Bishops assuring them of our prayers for a successful synod.   Gathered in St. Joseph’s to witness this historic event were members of the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate, the Basilian Fathers and the Redemptorists.  In addition, 3 groups of laity were invited to be present: The volunteers of Blessed Martyr and Bishop Velychovksy Shrine, the Redemptorist Partners in Mission and the volunteers of The Welcome Home – A mission of St. Alphonsus.

The Bishops began by singing the Moleben to the Holy Spirit.  They then came forward to the tetrapod to make an oath and take a lit candle; the newest Bishop in our Church, Bishop Boris Gudziak, led the Patriarch and Bishops in procession into the Shrine of Blessed Vasyl where the candles were placed in a solemn moment of prayer.

In August, Fr. Larry Kondra, C.SsR returned to the Island Lake First Nation’s community of St. Theresa Point.  He was invited to be the guest speaker at the annual Family Camping Retreat.  About 300 folks camped out under the sun and the stars, enjoying this time of prayer and hospitality.   Saturday was a busy day for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, about 7 1/2 hours, ending late into the evening under a starry sky painted by a beautiful display of Northern Lights.   After the closing Liturgy on Sunday,  people stayed for a traditional “give away” which included medals of Blessed Vasyl and our Mother of Perpetual Help from our Shrine in Winnipeg.   “I am always so blessed by the people,” comments Fr. Larry, “It is always a celebration of God with us!”  An invitation for August 2013 was already given at the end of the retreat.

From August 16^th to 19^th approximately 120 Ukrainian Catholic young adults and speakers gathered together at Wilderness Edge Retreat Centre in Pinawa, MB for Unity 2012. The theme was “Into the Wild” inspired by Isaiah 40:3. This theme continually pointed us towards realizing the purpose of Unity: to understand, embrace, and celebrate our faith at a national level.

We began on Thursday with a hay ride and a steak Barbeque cooked by our clergy including a couple of bishops. We were greeted byour facilitators, Lesia Sianchuk and Fr. Ivan Nahachewsky, who did an excellent job of connecting the various elements of the weekend together and keeping us engaged. The opening ceremonies included a Moleben to Blessed Nykyta Budka and the assembling of the Unity cross, made with wood from each of the different Eparchies, all of which were represented including BC! The program finished with a chance to gather in assigned small groups for the first time of many to share.

Co-facilitators: Lesia & Fr. Ivan

After celebrating the Divine Liturgy on Friday morning the podium was turned over to our keynote speaker, Fr. Athanasius McVay. As this Unity coincided with the 100^th Anniversary of having a Ukrainian Catholic Bishop in Canada, he spoke about Blessed Nykyta Budka. Over the course of the weekend he shared the life story of this martyr, including how he came to Canada at a young age in order to take charge of the largest diocese in the world. Learning details about his life in Ukraine, Canada, and finally in Kazakhstan where he suffered and died for Christ challenged and inspired us to live our faith with the same passion and commitment today. These sessions and the question and answer period brought each of us young adults closer to our first Canadian Bishop and gave us a fuller appreciation of our roots.

Fr. Athanasius on Blessed Nykyta

During the afternoon the group spilt up to attend three workshops of their choice. Options included: Fr. Taras Kowch speaking about his grandfather Blessed Emilian; Fr. Michael Smolinski CSsR discussing seeing Christ in the Poor especially through his experience at The Welcome Home;  Melita Mudri-Zubacz sharing the history and spirit of liturgical singing; Sr. Emily Schietzsch SSMI talking about vocations including her own path to becoming a sister; Fr. Michael Kwiatkowski motivating all to take ownership in the Church’s mission today; Sr. Teresa Matwe, SSMI drawing attention to the sex trade in Ukraine; Fr. Mark Gnutel covering the concept of communication between people and God; Mary Jane Kalenchuk, Ksenya Kavets, and Fr. John Sianchuk CSsR exploring the life of Blessed Vasyl and the ministry of his Shrine in Winnipeg. It was a privilege to have such an epic group of presenters and we were stoked to have them. Friday evening wound up with Taste of the Eparchies, giving each province a chance to strut their stuff. Highlights included Mundare kubasa, waffles and maple syrup shots, province themed shooters and skits, and karaoke. Fun was had by all.

Three Bishops sporting yorktonredemptorist.com sunglasses!

Our third day started with Third Hour. Fr. Athanasius took the stand again for more keynote speeches during the morning. In the afternoon we got the chance to get to know Bishop David, Bishop Bryan, and Metropolitan Lawrence a little better as in the words of the Metropolitan, we- the mob of young people- captured and interrogated them. Really, we just presented them with questions, in the form of tweets, about themselves and about living out our faith. Then Fr. Stephen Wojochewski led us in a reconciliation session and service, followed by the opportunity to go to one of 12 priests for personal confession. There were also two sisters available to talk to and pray with during that time.

Saturday Night Kolomeyka

Wilderness Edge set the tone for our closing banquet by providing a pig roast. A group of young adults did improv as entertainment and thank-you’s were said, especially to Tamara Lisowski, the Manitoba Youth Coordinator who was the mastermind behind Unity 2012 and to her dedicated team of young adults. That night we had a chance to dance to the sounds of Sloohai during the Zabava!

The weekend quickly came to a close with a memorable Divine Liturgy at the Cooks Creek grotto on Sunday morning. Metropolitan Lawrence’s homily on the gospel of the Rich Young Man challenged us all to examine what we are willing to give up in order to follow Christ on our own journeys into the wild. We were sent off to our own Eparchies renewed and transformed, with a blessing and an invitation to come to Unity 2014.

Unity 2012 at Pinawa

The Redemptorist Academy of Moral Theology in Rome conducted an off-site course in Thailand, June 17-30, 2012.  The theme    was “Moral Issues in Pastoral Ministry.”    Confreres from Asia-Oceania comprised the majority in attendance but others came from various locations in the Congregation.   Fr. Dmytro Dnistrian, C.Ss.R. made the journey from Saskatoon.   Fr. Dmytro said it was a long way to travel but the course was worth it!

Apparently, this program was the first of its kind offered by the Academia Alphonsianum and it is hoped it will be offered in other locations in the coming years.