NEW BISHOP OF NEW WESTMINSTER ANNOUNCED
August 24, 2023
The Vatican announced on Thursday, 24 August 2023, that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed Very Rev. Michael Kwiatkowski, Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster (Canada). Father Michael Kwiatkowski, until now the Chancellor of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, becomes the 4th Bishop for Ukrainian Catholics in the Province of British Columbia and the Yukon since the Eparchy was created in 1974.
Fr. Michael was born 21 November 1961 while his family was living in Elphinstone, MB. The son of Edward Kwiatkowski and Phyllis Zemliak, he is the 3rd of 7 children. He attended elementary and secondary schools in Brandon MB, completing his high school at the Redemptorist Fathers' St. Vladimir's College and Minor Seminary in Roblin MB. After initial University studies and some work experience, Michael began his seminary formation on 7 September 1980. He resided at St. Josaphat Pontifical Seminary in Rome, attending courses at the Angelicum, where he earned a BA in Philosophy (1980-1982) and a BA in Theology (STB) (1982-1985).
He received minor orders in his seminary chapel in Rome by Archbishop Myroslav Marusyn in June of 1985. He was ordained to the Diaconate on 14 September 1985 at St. Vladimir's College by Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk CSsR. He was ordained a priest on 28 July 1986 in Brandon MB, also by Metropolitan Hermaniuk. He was first appointed to serve as assistant pastor at the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish (Boyd) in Winnipeg. During this period, he also served as Secretary at the chancery and on the Tribunal staff as Defender of the Bond. He obtained a Certificate in Medical Ethics Studies, at Lincoln NE in 1989. In 1992 he returned to Rome to undertake studies in Canon Law. During this period, in 1994, he served as Pastor of Dormition of our Lady Ukrainian Catholic Parish, Manchester, England. He completed his doctoral studies at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome successfully defending his dissertation in 2000 on "The Participation of the Laity in the Power of Governance", earning a Doctorate in Canon Law (JCOD).
Fr. Michael lived in Ukraine from 1996-2006, while the Church was reestablishing itself after years of underground existence. There he became chancellor of the Patriarchal Curia, and served as Judge and head of the Major Archbishopric Tribunal. He served as Vice-Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, taught courses in Canon Law and directed the University's department of pastoral life for six years.
He returned to Canada to serve as Spiritual Director at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Ottawa from 2006 - 2009. From 1 August 2009 - 2021, he undertook parish ministry at Holy Eucharist Parish in Winnipeg, and from 2021 until the present has been parish priest at the Protection of Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Winnipeg. He serves on the Winnipeg Tri-Diocesan Pro-Life Committee as well as the Tri-Diocesan Prison Ministry Committee. He was State Chaplain for the Manitoba Knights of Columbus from 2016-2019.
Fr. Michael has served as the Chancellor of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg from 1 August 2014, and as a member of the Patriarchal Council of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church since its establishment in 2019 in Ukraine. For several years he was also the Archeparchial representative to the Canadian Federation of Presbyteral Councils, for which he served as National President from 2017-2020.
Metropolitan Lawrence, Bishop Andriy, the clergy, religious sisters and lay faithful of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg extend prayerful best wishes to Bishop-Elect Michael Kwiatkowski as he begins this new ministry to the People of God in the New Westminster Eparchy. We wish to assure him of our solidarity and support, through the prayers of Blessed Bishop Nykyta Budka, Bishop and Martyr.
Plans for his episcopal ordination and installation are yet to be finalized.
Оголошення Українською мовою, натисніть [ТУТ]
Annuncio in lingua Italiana, clicca [QUI]
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