On Monday, March 3, 2025, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, visited the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Manitoba Provincial Council (UCC) in Winnipeg. During the meeting, he expressed his deep gratitude to the Ukrainian community in Canada for its selfless activity and unwavering support for Ukraine.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav was greeted by President Joanne Lewandosky and members of the UCC. On behalf of the Manitoba Council, the entire congress, and the Winnipeg community, she warmly thanked Patriarch Sviatoslav for his visit.
Mrs. Lewandosky emphasized the vital importance of assisting refugees from Ukraine. “Thanks to financial assistance from the Manitoba government and the Ukrainian community, for almost three years now, we have been able to help the displaced with food, clothing, furniture, advice, and a kind word,” she said. “All our help is more than just charity. It reminds us that we are all the same in the face of the enemy. All of us, as Ukrainians, are one big family.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Mrs. Lewandosky for their support of the displaced, noting that “the Ukrainian community in Manitoba, and specifically in Winnipeg, has truly opened its heart to accept our people and help them.”
Patriarch Sviatoslav also noted the importance of international support: “Returning to Ukraine, I will bring to our brothers and sisters—who are fighting for Ukraine today under bombs and shelling—the good news that the global Ukrainian community, and specifically the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Canada, supports Ukraine and is fighting for it.”
His Beatitude then presented Mrs. Joanne Lewandosky and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Manitoba with a Patriarchal Letter of Acknowledgment, commending their outstanding contributions and dedication to their work.
“With this Patriarchal Letter, we wish to express our gratitude to you and recognize your devoted and persistent work for the development of the Ukrainian community in Manitoba, as well as your support for newly arrived Ukrainians in Canada and the people in Ukraine. In appreciation of your zeal for the glory of God and the good of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, we express our heartfelt gratitude and recognition,” the letter reads.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mrs. Lewandosky presented His Beatitude with an icon of the Mother of God of Canada, written by a Ukrainian iconographer in Winnipeg.
Reference
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is the primary organization representing the Ukrainian community in Canada. Founded in 1940, the UCC serves as an umbrella for over 1.4 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent, coordinating the activities of numerous member organizations. The UCC is actively engaged in advocating for the rights of Ukrainians, representing their interests before the Canadian government, and supporting Ukraine—particularly since 2014—by facilitating humanitarian, financial, and political assistance. The organization also coordinates cultural events, promotes the preservation of the Ukrainian language and traditions, and supports youth initiatives. Its national headquarters is located in Winnipeg.
