Issue 33, December 2011 UKRAINIAN REDEMPTORISTS OF THE YORKTON PROVINCE FULLY ALIVE A Velychkovsky ’s Publication

WITNESS TO THE ABANDONED Reflections on Prison did Blessed Vasyl treat those around ing that the perpetrator is punished! him, both the innocent and the guilty? Whatever our own attitude is, it reveals Life and Blessed Vasyl Thirdly, and most importantly, the to us what work we yet need to do on letter offers us a larger view that ema- our own journey to holiness. The Association of Religious in nates from the Gospel of Jesus. Jesus There are 3 things in our culture to- Manitoba [ARM] represents nearly is the Redeemer. In the Old Testament day that touch all of us and seem to go 500 Catholic religious sisters, broth- the word for redeemer is “goel.” The hand in hand: Secularism, individual- ers and priests in Manitoba. In Oc- “goel” is the one who comes to save ism and fundamentalism. These are tober 2011, ARM sent a letter to me in my “imprisonment” be it physical, very good at convincing us that religion Prime Minister Stephen Harper emotional, or spiritual. Blessed Vasyl is only about inner consolation and challenging Bill C-10, the “Safe did that for those with whom he shared private, personal salvation. These Streets and Communities Act” crime the experience of incarceration. He make it difficult for anyone to imagine bill. ARM suggests that “it is naïve was being Jesus for those most in that God could have a plan that in- to hope that society will be better need of “plentiful redemption.” cludes “more than me and my self- protected by warehousing offenders serving interests.” The fact is God does away for longer periods. We believe have a big plan and it includes those that we will be safer when the em- we often least expect. phasis of our criminal justice system The ARM letter speaks of the need is not on separation but on rehabili- for healing, both on a personal level tation and healing. For both offend- and in the context of community and ers and their victims, healing cannot relationships. It suggests that if we be achieved through punishment paid better attention to this context of alone.” The following is a reflection community & relationships, then we offered by Fr. Larry Kondra, C.Ss.R. could actually prevent some of the per- on the ARM letter in light of Blessed sonal damage individuals experience Vasyl’s heroic witness. and therefore, the need for personal healing later in life would be less. Our The letter from ARM to the Prime A prison in the Russian gulags similar to Catholic and Redemptorist tradition that where Bl. Vasyl was incarcerated. Minister offers us a number of im- teaches that conversion is a process portant learnings: The letter identifies the vocation of that takes place in the context of com- First, the letter offers us the point Consecrated persons as one of munity. of view of those with first hand ex- “walking with marginalized groups and Was not Blessed Vasyl’s confronta- perience of ministering in our pris- with people suffering broken spirits.” tion with the civil authorities of his day ons and in the justice system. Who This most clearly and certainly includes & age also about prevention and the else would know what it is really people in our public jails today. In Re- community? Whether it was marching like? Which would we trust more - demptorist language, our vocation is in the streets of Stanislaviv accompa- an opinion based on real experi- found among “the poor & most aban- nied by 20,000 people with the Icon of ence or one based merely on politi- doned.” cal ideology? The letter challenges an unfortunate In This Issue: Secondly, in our context this eve- attitude in our society today: When a ning, it calls us to be mindful of person is proclaimed criminal, we Reflections of Prison Life - 1 Blessed Vasyl’s years in prison. seem to stop seeing him/her as a hu- New Anniversary Calendar- 2 There were many kinds of people in man being made in the image of God. Velychkovsky Pilgrimage - 2 those prisons. Some fell into de- The letter also challenges our attitude Thanks to Contributors - 3 spair; others were heroic in the sac- toward victims, as if they are healed Shrine Pilgrims - 4 rifice & love shown to others. How and all is made “okay” by simply know- Prayer to Blessed Vasyl - 4

that holds human dignity & freedom in thy did, that seek truth and justice high regard! stands a better chance of getting us We are called to do the same in our into hot water… this is the road less own time and in our own place in new travelled that leads to the clash of and creative ways appropriate for to- kingdoms today. day! When members of our Redemptorist Dorothy Day is someone else who General Council came to visit us in the has and continues to inspire me. She spring, they told our Provincial council was the co-founder of the Catholic that the message of Blessed Bishop Worker movement. Dorothy spent and Martyr Vasyl’s life is bigger and much of her life among the poor in the more important than his tomb. They inner cities of the United States. She said that our first task is to be the in- is also being promoted for sainthood. struments through which Blessed Here’s what she says: Whatever I Vasyl’s life speaks the gospel of Jesus had read as a child about the saints in today’s world! A gospel that chal- had thrilled me. I could see the nobil- lenges the status quo & the ideologies ity of giving one’s life for the sick, the of the day! maimed, the leper. But there was According to Pope John Paul II, not another question in my mind. Why every holy person is made a saint; the Bl. Vasyl on death row in was so much done in remedying the important thing is to see if this holy Our Mother of Perpetual Help or go- evil instead of avoiding it in the first person really speaks the gospel in to- ing face to face with the KGB, it rep- place? Where were the saints to try day’s age and in our case, in Canada resented a clash between 2 king- to change the social order, not just & North America. Blessed Vasyl is doms: Atheistic communism & its minister to the slaves, but to do away not a gift simply to individuals but to a injustices & inequalities and the with slavery? community. As a community we need Church and the values of God’s king- In our North American culture today, to listen deeply, to pray, to read the dom it represents. Blessed Vasyl it is more likely that the practise of signs of the times, to learn the lan- stood on the front lines to prevent the charity or even religious ceremony will guage of our culture and then to articu- spread of atheism AND to defend a be met with indifference rather than late that message both in word and rich tradition of a faith community persecution or martyrdom. However, action. asking the tough questions, like Doro-

NEW ANNIVERSARY SHRINE CALENDAR

2012 marks the 10th Anniversary of the Enshrinement of the holy relics of Bishop Vasyl Velychkovsky. To com- memorate this milestone, the Shrine has produced a col- orful 2012 calendar. Each month features a different im- portant event in the Bl. Vasyl’s life. It is also a church cal- endar following the Gregorian (New) calendar and in- cludes the saint of the day and the readings. This calen- dar is available from the Shrine Office at a cost of $6.00 plus shipping and handling. Please call 204-338-7321 or email: [email protected]

Inviting Young Adults: BL. VELYCHKOVSKY PILGRIMAGE TO UKRAINE 2012 August 20 - September 5 Visit the cities and villages where Bl. Martyr Vasyl lived, worked and suffered . Some of the places we will be visiting are: , , Ivano-Frankivsk, Kovel, Kamianetz Podilsk, Kyiv, the Carpathian Mountains, Zarvanytsia, Pochaiv, etc. On this pilgrimage we will have prayer services and hear stories of Blessed Vasyl’s life as well as sight-seeing throughout Ukraine. Cost is $3600 CDN which includes: flights from Winnipeg to Ukraine and back, bus travel in Ukraine, accommodations, meals and attractions. Travel/medical insurance not included. For more information contact by e-mail: [email protected] or phone 204-338-7321. Book as soon as possible as space is limited to 16 pilgrims.

2 THANK YOU!!! Your generous donations make it possible for us to conduct our ministry at the Shrine and to promote the knowl- edge of Blessed Vasyl throughout the world. Thank you to all the contributors to the Bishop Velychkovsky Martyr’s Shrine. May Blessed Vasyl bless each one of you.

Contributions listed below are from September 1st until November 30th, 2011

500+ Maria Verrelli Onufrey Pekarsky In memory of Hnat Pisiak, Pisiak parents, Ethel Welsh Jean Hrechkosy Zawada parents, & Michael Zawada Harvey & Gloria Winn Jeanne Hrechkosy Sophia Pisiak Louise Wood Tom and Marlene Kraemer Syl Yurchak Glen and Anne LaTour 100+ William & +Kathleen Zambrick Rosalia Pernarowski Vasilj & Eugenia Bartos Greg and Mary Papinko William & Genevieve Berezny Carol Pierre Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg Inc. In Memory Of... Joanna Mason David & Beverly Hudy Anna Baran & Eugenia Galysh Elizabeth Popowich Dan & Bella Kalenchuk Ivan and Oksana Galysh Stan & Luba Sirdar K of C, St. Anne Council No. 10551 Julia Bielak Bea & Peter Popovitch Bill & Lena Lapchuk Claudia Jaresh Peter and Glikeria Iwanuck Walter & Isabel Lukie John Bjornson John Romance Emil M. Maybo Nell Lypyrypa Marissa Lorenzo Mary Milos Citulski Family Elizabeth Rorabeck +Gerard & Regina Muench William and Linda Skromeda Stan & Luba Sirdar St. Anne Ukr. Cath. Church William Domitruk James Rowan St. Basil’s Ukr. Cath. Women’s League Sonia Domitruk Leo & Rose Rowan St. Paul’s High School Linda Dudar Dr. Brian Shutiak Ukr. Cath. Brotherhood, St. Volodymyr Metro Lukie Olga Shutiak Branch 302 Fr. Yaroslaw Dybka, C.Ss.R. Michael Robert Sidak Pauline Wuschenny Steven and Mary Gregorish Darlene Sidak Augustus & Catherine Korchinsky John Skulski <100 Peter, Mary & Leonard Faseruk Stefanie Buzma Mark Cabanlong William J. Karlicki Sloboda & Chelack families Paul & Adeline Carbotte James Field Terry and Gladys Sloboda Paul & Waltraud Chrunyk Breanne & Jay Korban Stoski & Wielgoz Family Ron & Evelyn Cinch Gazdewich Family Casper and Violet Stoski Maureen Delorme Anita Mykytiuk Annie & Michael Yakiwchuk Veronica Domingo Anne Gutiw Fr. Nestor and Stella Yakiwchuk Fr. Edward Evanko Grace Lashyn Frank & Agnes Feeney Hladyshevsky Family In Honour Of... Brian Finn Helen Hladyshevsky Joe & Shirley Lisowski Anne Fontaine Lina Hretazy Peter and Marlene Skrinski Fr. Rick Ginther Rob and Tanis Atros Fr. Bohdan Lukie Karen Goossen Ronald and Paulette Sorobey Alexander and Olga Boychuk Wirlene Holowka Adam Huchko Fr. John Sianchuk Sofia Hull Jennie Huchko Rick and Cynthia Bryant Mary Kokolski Andrew & Anne Hykawy Orest and Margaret Fedorchuk Cathy Kowbel Harold and Roseanne Baehnk Alexandra Fedoruk Archbishop Albert LeGatt, D.D. Shirley Kalupar Rev. Protodeacon Stefan Tyrawski Dr. Joseph Lozinsky Stan Kalupar Mary & Allen Marcinkow Gary & Jan Lukie William Kalyniuk Jean Maksymchuk Mary Kalyniak For the health of Muller Family Volodymira Kmyteka Kevin Kwasny Deanne Nichols Tatiana Bednarsky Helen S. Korban Fred & Judy Odger Komarnicki & Symak familes Joan Sikorsky Arlene Pickel Michael & Ollie Komarnicki Mechelle Munroe Orest Pidwerbeski Michael Kucher & Maria Yvonne Mason Maureen Polischuk Mildred Kucher George O'Staff Solito Roque John Kupskay Orest and Margaret Fedorchuk Jean Rubel Stephanie Kupskay Jim Zaborowski Mary Schabel Peter Litkowich Alexander and Olga Boychuk Frank & Anne Shymko Beverley Litkowich Iris Smellie John & Mary MacIsaac Please consider Bishop Velychkovsky Stanislawa Stasiewicz E.M. MacIsaac Jenny Swydnycky Michael Mykytiuk Martyr’s Shrine when planning your estate. Oxana Tymchuk Anita Mykytiuk This will help to secure the future of this Dianne VanBavel ministry. Thank you. 3 S H R I N E P I L G R I M S

Visitors from Wisconsin seek Bl. Vasyl’s Shrine Volunteers listen to a presentation intercession for their friend during an appreciation evening

Confirmation Class from St. Nicholas Croatian

Participants of the Welcome Home “Come and See” Weekend Archbishop Albert LeGatt, D.D. of St. Boniface Archdiocese and Fr. Rick Ginter from Indiana

SHRINE SCHEDULE Prayer to Blessed Martyr

Monday: Shrine is closed Bishop Vasyl

Tuesday to Friday: 10 am to 5 pm Saturday: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm O Lord God, You are praised by the whole world for the Sunday: opened until 1:00 pm marvelous works in your saints. I thank you for the

grace you gave to Blessed Martyr Vasyl Shrine is open to the faithful during the times Velychkovsky to be a faithful witness to You unto the of Liturgical Services. The Museum is opened on weekends point of death. Through his intercession I ask for the after each Divine Liturgy. following favour for your Name is glorified forever. Amen. Group tours are available. For pilgrimage group tours call for reservations Please inform the Shrine of any favors received: 204-338-7321 or e-mail: [email protected] Bishop Velychkovsky Martyr’s Shrine 250 Jefferson Avenue EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING 7:00 pm Winnipeg, MB R2V 0M6 Liturgical Service to Blessed Vasyl Canada (Acathist or Moleben) followed by an anointing with Holy Oil blessed by his relics. Tel: 204-338-7321 or e-mail: [email protected]

Wishing all of our supporters and their families a blessed Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year

Bishop Velychkovsky Martyr's Shrine 250 Jefferson Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R2V 0M6 Tel/Fax: 204-338-7321 Email: [email protected] Website:www.bvmartyrshrine.com

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