Under the vast Manitoba sky, where the magnificent domes of the “Cathedral in the Prairie” reach towards heaven, a profound spiritual journey unfolded. From August 15-17, 2025, the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church and Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Cooks Creek became a beacon of faith, hosting its 71st annual Dormition Pilgrimage. This year, the gathering held a special significance, as the church was chosen as one of three designated places of pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year, drawing hundreds of faithful to seek grace, renewal, and hope.
A Proclamation of Hope
The pilgrimage began on Friday evening, bathed in the gentle light of the setting sun. The air filled with the meditative rhythm of the Rosary, led by the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada. This prayerful opening set the stage for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, presided over by His Grace, Metropolitan-Archbishop Lawrence Huculak, OSBM, and assisted by His Excellency, Bishop Andriy Rabiy, and clergy of the Archeparchy.
In his sermon, Fr. Stefan Tyrawski focused and explained beautifully the feast’s central mystery. The Dormition of the Blessed Mother, he stated, “is not merely a remembrance of death. It is a proclamation of hope. For even in her repose, the Mother of God shows us the path to life eternal.” He urged the pilgrims to see her passing not as a sorrowful end, but as a “glorious passage into the fullness of life in the Kingdom of God.” He invited all present to embrace the spirit of the Jubilee, to imitate Mary’s humility and faith, and to allow grace to transfigure their lives.
He concluded with a heartfelt prayer for spiritual renewal and peace: “May this Jubilee year be a time for us to renew our faith, strengthen our hope and deepen our love for God and our neighbors… May it bring long-awaited peace to the Ukrainian land… Most Holy Mother of God, save us!”
Following the Liturgy, pilgrims gathered in the church hall for fellowship, sharing delicious local sweet corn, cake, and coffee.
A Walk of Faith, A Journey to Peace
Saturday dawned sunny and bright, a perfect day for the physical and spiritual trek that lay ahead. Over 90 pilgrims, led by Fr. Mykhaylo Khomitsky and Fr. Teoktyst Mishchuk, OSBM, embarked on a 19-kilometer pilgrimage walk. Each step was a prayer, each kilometer a chance for reflection and making a confession, forging a path of spiritual endurance under the open sky.
After the walk and a period of rest, the day of prayer continued with the Stations of the Cross and another Divine Liturgy, allowing the faithful to continue their deep communion with the Lord. The beautiful weather felt like a divine embrace, affirming the goodness of the gathering.
One pilgrim later shared a powerful testimony of the walk’s healing power, “I have been here [in Canada] for a year and used to wake up every day with anxiety and restlessness. However, after the walking pilgrimage on Saturday, for the first time, I woke up with a calm heart”.
The Mother of Hope Guides Her Children
Sunday, the final day, began with a poignant link to the parish’s history. Fr. Taras Kowch, the current pastor, celebrated a Panakhyda service at the nearby cemetery on the grave of Fr. Philip Ruh, OMI, the former pastor and architect behind the magnificent church.
The pilgrimage culminated in a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy presided over by His Grace, Archbishop-Emeritus Stefan Soroka, former Metropolitan of the Philadelphia Archeparchy. The parish choir filled the grotto with uplifting responses, raising every heart in prayer.
In his homily, Archbishop Soroka wove together the themes of the pilgrimage and the Jubilee Year, calling on all to become “Pilgrims of Hope.” He defined this divine hope not as simple optimism, but as a “gift” from God and a “task” for Christians—the gift of salvation and the task of responding with our own faithfulness. He pointed to the Jubilee’s “Holy Door” as a sign that the path to God is open to all, encouraging everyone to walk it with focus and invite others along.
Archbishop Stefan further challenged the faithful to actively cultivate this hope within their daily lives. “Hope is not a passive waiting for better days,” he emphasized, “it is an active virtue, a spiritual muscle that we must exercise.” He spoke of the temptation to fall into cynicism or despair, especially in a world marked by conflict and uncertainty. “Our task,” he explained, “is to be defiant in our hope. To choose light when we see darkness, to speak of God’s faithfulness when we hear whispers of doubt. This pilgrimage walk you undertook is a perfect metaphor: sometimes the path is long, our feet grow tired, but we continue on, trusting that our destination is worthy and that God walks with us.”
He then drew a beautiful connection between the hope of the Blessed Mother and the Holy Eucharist. “Mary, in her great fiat, her ‘yes’ to God, became the first tabernacle, bearing the source of all hope within her. When we approach the altar and say ‘Amen’ to receive her Son, we are called to do the same.” Archbishop Soroka urged everyone to see the Eucharist not just as a ritual, but as the true sustenance for their journey of hope. “It is here, in this sacred meal, that we are fortified. It is here that Christ himself becomes our hope, dwelling within us so that we may carry His light, His peace, and His unwavering hope into every corner of our lives and our world.”
Archbishop Stefan offered practical ways to become “tangible signs of hope”: through positive conversation, gentle encouragement, and small acts of kindness. He continually pointed to the Blessed Mother as the perfect model. Mary’s unwavering faith and willing surrender to God’s will, he explained, teach us how to “breathe the air of hope” and become beacons for a world in need.
The Divine Liturgy, as each Divine Liturgy throughout the weekend, concluded with prayers in the intention of the Holy Father, allowing the faithful that have received the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Eucharist to get a plenary indulgence. As if on cue, just as the ed, a gentle drizzle began to fall—a soft blessing upon the renewed souls. God is good!
A Tapestry of Faith and Gratitude
This pilgrimage was indeed a living testament to the universality of faith. It brought together people from all walks of life—recent immigrants from Ukraine seeking solace, Ukrainian Canadians honouring their spiritual heritage, families from the Philippines, and many other nationalities. Their diverse backgrounds were woven together by a common faith in God and a shared devotion to the Blessed Mother. As Saint Paul writes, in Christ, there are no divisions; all are one before God (Gal. 3:28).
The fruits of the pilgrimage were abundant. One pilgrim summed up the experience perfectly: “For me, it was a spiritual battery charge for the whole year”. It was a time to find peace, receive forgiveness, and recommit to living as God commands.
Such a spiritually enriching pilgrimage is a gift in itself—one lovingly prepared and offered by the entire parish community. The heartfelt gratitude of all who attended is extended to Fr. Taras Kowch, the pastor, the parish council, the dedicated parish choir for their beautiful singing on Sunday, and the countless parishioners and volunteers. Your tireless work, warm welcome, and generous hospitality created the sacred space where this tapestry of faith could be woven and God’s grace could flow so freely.
As the pilgrims of Cooks Creek return to their daily lives, they do not go alone. They go as torchbearers of hope, their spiritual batteries recharged, their hearts at peace, and their spirits lifted by the enduring intercession of the Mother of God. “Пресвята Богородице, спаси нас!” (“Most Holy Mother of God, save us!”) Amen.
