ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO WINNIPEG'S NATIONAL MARTYR'S SHRINE
June 27, 2022
BLESSED VELYCHKOVSKY MARTYR'S SHRINE HOSTS ANNUAL FEAST OF NEW MARTYRS OF UKRAINE
On the eve of the Feast of the Blessed Hieromartyr Nicholas Charnetsky and Companions, Redemptorist Father, Rev. John Sianchuk, CSsR welcomed the pilgrims to the opening evening of the special 20th anniversary program at the National Shrine of Blessed Hiermartyr Vasyl' Velychkovsky in Winnipeg, Canada.
Sunday evening, 26 June 2022, Fr. Sianchuk, together with other clergy, sisters and many lay faithful, gathered in the parish church of St. Joseph - to which the Shrine of Blessed Velychkovsky is attached. Thus began two days of celebration with a Moleben' service dedicated to the holy martyr. The special guest-preacher was the Pastor of St. Basil the Great Parish in western Winnipeg - Rev. Fr. Mykhaylo Khomitskyy. As well as the many great lessons that can be learned from Blessed Vasyl', Fr. Mykhailo shared about his own personal experiences with the saintly Bishop. He also directly pointed out the link with the pastoral guidance that Blessed Martyr Velychkovsky provided in times of past wars with the horrible war now being waged by Russia against the people of Ukraine.
Following the Moleben', those gathered participated in one of the favourite highlights of the annual pilgrimage - a Rosary Walk to the chancery residence where Blessed Vasyl' resided before his untimely death in 1972. The entourage walked several blocks from the Shrine to the old "bishop's palace" along the Red River on Scotia Street.
The annual celebration of Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky continues for the second day with many events all dedicated this year to prayer for Ukraine where people are dying daily from the ravages of war. Guest speaker on the second day is Redemptorist Priest from Ukraine - Rev. Fr. Yevhen Zadorozhnyi, CSsR.
All are welcome to attend! Come pray for Ukraine!
