Canada has a national body of Catholic Bishops known as the CCCB—the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. However, the country is also divided into four regions so that the Church can better address local pastoral issues and needs across our vast nation. The Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops (AWCB) was established in 1974 to serve as a gathering for all Catholic bishops—both Eastern and Western—from across Canada’s western provinces, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
By actual territorial designation, the AWCB includes 22 eparchies and dioceses. Although there are other Eastern Catholic bishops who oversee parishes in Western Canada (e.g., Chaldean, Melkite, Syro-Malabar, etc.), the Ukrainian Catholic hierarchy participates most regularly in the gatherings and activities of the AWCB. Ukrainian Catholic Bishop David Motiuk of Edmonton has even served as the President of the Assembly. The Ukrainian Catholic bishops currently serving as active members of the AWCB are Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak (Winnipeg), Bishop David Motiuk (Edmonton), Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski (New Westminster), Bishop Michael Smolinski (Saskatoon), and Bishop Andriy Rabiy (Winnipeg).
The AWCB’s 2025 annual gathering took place in the Saanich municipality of the Greater Victoria area on Vancouver Island from February 25–27. A unique aspect of this year’s gathering was that, although the bishops stayed nearby, all prayer services, sessions, and most meals occurred at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Parishioners were invited to attend the daily Eucharistic Liturgies, which added a wonderful spirit to the services. The Ukrainian Catholic bishops were invited to lead several services: Bishop Andriy Rabiy of Winnipeg led the First Hour on the second day, and Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski led the Divine Liturgy on the third day, with the other bishops concelebrating.
The Ukrainian Catholic Byzantine Divine Liturgy was truly a highlight of the gathering. In addition to the four Ukrainian bishops, two of our Island priests helped arrange the services and brought their faithful to join in the responses. Father Yuriy Vyshnevskyy (St. Nicholas, Victoria) and Father Stepan Vytvytskyi (St. Michael, Nanaimo), along with their parishioners, truly brought the Liturgy to life for a congregation that included many with little prior experience of the Byzantine Rite. The choir from Victoria truly uplifted the souls of all present. During his homily, Bishop Michael spoke on the Jubilee Year, the work of the bishops during the assembly, and requested prayers for the bishops, for an end to the war in Ukraine, and for personal conversion and renewal.
The three-day AWCB conference addressed a variety of topics, including catechesis, clergy formation, insurance, evangelization, MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying), and reconciliation and collaboration with Indigenous peoples, as well as Catholic education, vocations, religious movements, ecumenical outreach, and social communications.
Please pray for your bishops. As Bishop Michael said in his homily: “If you could be present for the sessions of the assembly of bishops, I know you would be inspired by the way the bishops truly love the Lord and the Church. They are focused on the spiritual and pastoral well-being of God’s People and seek the best ways to serve them, despite challenges and even very complicated situations!”
