The Knights of Columbus, Canon Luhovy Assembly #0374, once again hosted the Archeparchial Remembrance Day service. This was the fourth year the Assembly hosted this service, honouring men and women who have served Canada and Ukraine, with many of them making the ultimate sacrifice.

This year’s community event was held at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Trascona, with a Panakhyda service, followed by the Remembrance Day Service Program, which included the traditional two minutes of silence at 11:00 a.m.

We were honoured once again to have His Grace, Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, OSBM, as our main celebrant. Assisting His Grace were Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy and Very Rev. Fr. Mark Gnutel, pastor of St. Michael’s and Faithful Friar of Canon Luhovy Assembly, as well as Fr. John Sianchuk, C.Ss.R., Fr. Bohdan Lukie, C.Ss.R. (Knights of Columbus Provincial Chaplain), Fr. Yaroslav Buduykevych, Fr. Stefan Tyrawski, and Fr. Teoktyst Mishchuk, OSBM.

The Panakhyda service was preceded by a flag procession that was led with a cross, followed by two members of the Sister Servants pf Mary Immaculate carrying the “Heroes of Today” icon from Ukraine. Following the Panakhyda service, the Remembrance Day program began with another procession of placing wreaths at the base of the flags. Various guests and dignitaries carried the wreaths and were escorted by Sir Knights of the Assembly.

Guests who participated in the processions included Fr. Isidore Dziadyk, OSBM; UCWLC and UCBC executive representatives, Cadets from the #553 Sgt. Tommy Prince MM RCA, Comrade Thomas Krzeminski, President of the Royal Canadian Legion Wpg. Polish Br. #246 and fellow representatives, as well as Mr. Kevin Lamoureux, MP, Ms. Cindy Lamoureux, MLA, Ms. Vivian Santos, City of Winnipeg Councillor, and Mr. Jerry Daniels, Treaty One Grand Chief.

After the church proceedings, a reception was offered by Sir Knights, Brother Knights, and their spouses. During the reception, a presentation was provided by veteran Mr. Justin Woodcock, Program Manager of the First Nations Veterans Organization, introducing us to a new hero, Austin Lathlin-Bercier, an Indigenous young man, who, upon hearing of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, even though he had no connection to the Ukrainian community, chose to travel there and offer his services. Unfortunately, he made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life for the cause.