Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg Media

Msgr. Bozyk fell peacefully asleep in the Lord on December 16, 2006 at the Riverview Health Centre at the age of 91.

Vladimir was born to Rev. Pantelemon and Raifta Bozyk on October 13, 1915.  After graduating from St. Paul’s High School in Winnipeg, Vladimir attend St. Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton.  He was ordained to the hold priesthood in Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church, where his father was pastor, on July 24, 1938.

Father Bozyk’s early pastoral assignments included Welland, Kitchener and Brantford, Ontario.  In 1942 he was transferred to serve Holy Ghost and Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic parishes in Winnipeg.  During this time he served as chaplain for Ukrainian Catholic Students at the University of Manitoba where he organized the Gamma Rho Kappa Society, which later became the Obnova Club.

In 1950, Father Bozyk was assigned to serve parishes in the Dauphin area and then in 1951 again returned to Winnipeg to the Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral and a year later became pastor at Gonor, MB where he remained for twenty years.  It was during this time that he created the Catholic Catechism Correspondence Programme from which more that 4300 student across the prairies benefited.

In 1972 Father was assigned to Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Parish in East Kildonan where he served for 22 years.  Here he was instrumental in building the priest’s residence, the parish centre, and the Kildonan Senior Citizens Complex.  Under his leadership a Marriage Preparation Programme was developed which he conducted for over 20 years.

In 1993 Father Valdimir was honoured with the title Mitrat followed by the title Monsignor.  In 1994, he was appointed pastor of St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish where he served for 6 years until his retirement in 2000.

Msgr. Bozyk was very generous in supporting missionary activity both in Ukraine and in Canada.  He edited several booklets such as Prayers for Holy Communion and Questions Catholics Ask, as well as Catechism and Prayer Books for distribution in Ukraine.  Just within the last few months he saw the completed translation into English of his father’s book, Church of the Ukrainians in Canada 1890-1927.

Msgr. Bozyk was predeceased by his parents, his brother Paul and sisters Luba and Olga.  He leaves to cherish his memory his nieces and nephews, Olga Schaefer and Michael Pavloff (Alice) of Coral Gables, Florida; Robert Wall (Patricia) of San Antonio, Texas; Donald Wall of Newark, New Jersey; Patricia Bozyk; Christopher Bozyk (Sandra) of Vancouver, B.C.; Barbara Bozyk; and Gregory Bozyk (Angel) as well as many friends and hundreds of faithful whose lives have been touched by his ministry.

Sermon at the Order of Burial of Mitrat Msgr Bozyk

Rev. Michael Krochak

We gather together today as we mourn the loss of a dear uncle, priest, and friend  - Msgr. Vladimir Bozyk  - a man who has touched the lives of so many of us in deep and profound ways  - a man whose words and example have helped us set a course for our own lives.  He baptized and Chrismated some of us and our children; he taught catechism and prepared so many for receiving the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Matrimony, he heard our confessions, encouraging and  guiding us in our journey back to Christ, he anointed our sick loved ones, he counselled us in our confusion, comforted us in our sorrow, rejoiced in our times of rejoicing. He preached the Good News of the Gospel to us. As a priest for more than 60 years he became a servant to all the people of God, and he carried out his mission with commitment and love  - always with a sense of humour and an understanding of the human condition. His attitude was always positive; his cup was always more than half full and he encourage others to view life in the same way. I’m sure that almost everyone here has a favourite story  - a favourite memory of how Msgr. Bozyk brought joy and blessing to their life. He will be dearly missed.

Yet even as we mourn our loss, we celebrate in his victory. He has completed the course and he has attained the prize for which he had devoted his life  - an eternal crown in God’s heavenly kingdom. Like St. Paul, Msgr. Bozyk can say: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. ” (2 Timothy 4:8)

We hear St. Paul using the analogy of our life being a “fight”  - a struggle. While it’s true that Jesus has given us eternal life as a free gift, it is by no means a free ride. Again we refer to St. Paul who reminds us that we have to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” (Phil. 2:12) and he reminds us that we are in a constant struggle with the “powers of darkness”.  There is so much all around us, luring us away from the path of righteousness, enticing us to seek our own pleasures and self-gratification, persuading us that we don’t need God or religion to find happiness. For the Christian who has heard Christ’s call to “take up your cross and follow Me” there is a daily battle between Christ’s call and the call of the world. Each day we are faced with the decision as to which voice we will follow  - and often, as we all know,  it isn’t easy to distinguish between them.

To stay on the right path requires focus  - focus on the goal  which is eternal life with Christ. And the only way to maintain this focus is through self-disciple. in much the same way as an Olympic athlete needs to stay focused and be committed to the discipline of his training program. A temporary lapse can have disastrous results. And even though we call it self-discipline, it cannot be attained on our own or through our own energy and good intentions. Without the grace of God we are powerless.

Those of you who were closest to Msgr. know that he was disciplined in his lifestyle  - careful about what he ate, how he exercised faithfully, in how he conducted himself in social gatherings. Is there anyone here who has never marvelled at how he was always able to keep himself so fit and looking so much younger than his years? But even as he was disciplined in these ways, he was even more so in his prayer life. Not only was he faithful to the daily Liturgy and Holy Eucharist, he was also faithful to the Rosary and to reciting his daily office. Shortly after Christmas last year his health took a real downward turn, yet he seldom missed joining me for daily Liturgy. Even if it meant he had to sit down for a while during the service, but he was there, participating, offering himself to God in praise and thanksgiving. This was important to him, and he never let anything stand in the way. This is an example we would all to imitate.

Msgr. Lived to celebrate his 91st birthday. Many people much younger retire and are no longer active in any organization. They say they’ve done their share  - “Let somebody else do it.” That was not Monsignor’s attitude. Although he was no longer active in parish work, he continued as long as he could to read, to learn and to share his insights with those he came into contact with. .In his “retirement” continued his work of promoting Catechism in Ukraine and was very generous in supporting the efforts of evangelism both in Ukraine and in other mission territories. Only a couple of months ago, though his strength was slipping away and it was difficult even to walk, he decided to study more about the Jewish faith so he could better understand how it relates to our Catholic faith. And he saw to the completion of translation into English of his father’s book on the history of the Church in Western Canada. He can all take a lesson from him that we are never too old to be of use in doing God’s work.

At his ordination 68 years ago, the young Father Vladimir heard the words, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedec.” Today, we look back and see how well he lived up to those words, how aptly they describe his ministry.  And we thank God for the gift of Msgr. Vladimir while he was with us, and for the many blessing and graces we have received through his ministry. And as we remember him in our prayers, may we also remember to pray for all priests and for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, so that others may continue the ministry of the Gospel with the same zeal, as did our dearly departed Msgr. Bozyk.

It was sometime in June that Monsignor learned that cancer was attacking his digestive system. He knew his time on earth was drawing to a close, and he was ready to meet his God. He often looked back with gratitude as he recognized how God had blessed his life, how God was always with him. He looked to the future with that same confidence which David the Psalmist expressed  - “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Msgr., we commend you into the welcoming arms of your heavenly Father.

Rest in peace. Spocheviy z Bohom.

Copyright © 2007 Archeparchy of Winnipeg