On Monday, March 3, 2025, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, visited the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Manitoba (UCC) in Winnipeg. During the meeting, he expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian community in Canada for its selfless activity and support for Ukraine.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav was greeted by Joanne Lewandowsky, president, and members of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. On behalf of the Manitoba council, the entire congress, and the community in Winnipeg, she warmly thanked Patriarch Sviatoslav for the visit.
Mrs. Lewandowsky emphasized the importance of helping refugees from Ukraine. âThanks 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 warm word,â she said. âAll our help is not just charity. It reminds us that we are all the same in front of the enemy. All of us, Ukrainians, are one big family.â
His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Mrs. Lewandowsky for their support of the displaced, noting that âthe Ukrainian community in Manitoba, in Winnipeg, has actually opened up to accept our people in order to help them.â
Patriarch Sviatoslav also noted the importance of international support: âReturning 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, that the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Canada supports Ukraine,and it is fighting for it.â
His Beatitude then presented Mrs. Joanne Lewadowsky and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Manitoba with a patriarchal letter of acknowledgment, commending their outstanding contributions and dedication to their work.
âWith this patriarchal letter, we want to express our gratitude to you and recognize your devoted and persistent work for the development of the Ukrainian community in Manitoba and for the support of newly arrived Ukrainians in Canada and the Ukrainian people in the 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,â the letter says.
At the end of the meeting, Mrs. Lewandowsky presented His Beatitude with an icon of the Mother of God of Canada, painted by a Ukrainian icon painter in Winnipeg.
Reference
The Ukrainian Congress of Canada (UCC) is the major organization representing the Ukrainian community in Canada. Founded in 1940, the UCC unites over 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian origin and coordinates the activities of numerous Ukrainian organizations. The organization is actively engaged in protecting the rights of Ukrainians, lobbying their interests before the Canadian government, and supporting Ukraine, particularly since 2014, by providing humanitarian, military, and political assistance. The UCC organizes cultural events, promotes the preservation of the Ukrainian language and traditions, and supports youth initiatives. The headquarters is located in Winnipeg.
