Bishop Velychkovsky National Martyr`s Shrine
Canada's second martyr's shrine
bvmartyr On Wednesday, June 26th, on the eve of the Martyr’s Feastday, pilgrims gathered at St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church – Bishop Velychkovsky National Martyr’s Shrine in anticipation of the Feastday, which was the next day. The evening began with Great Vespers and Litya. The guest homilist, Father Peter Babej from Edmonton, Alberta, was introduced and … Read more
This year, the shrine held its annual Feastday for Blessed Vasyl commemorating the 50th anniversary of his death. On Monday, June 26th in anticipation of the Feastday, there were Great Vespers at St. Josephs Ukrainian Catholic Church. A Rosary Pilgrimage Procession followed to the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg Chancery. Bishop Rabiy met the pilgrimage … Read more
This is a heartfelt and tender dedication to his mother by Vasyl Velychkovsky, then a Redemptorist priest and missionary. It appeared in 1938, in an almanac published by the Ukrainian Redemptorist Fathers at Stanislaviv, Ukraine, to honor the holy Mother of God of Perpetual Help. The dedication beautifully illustrates the sentiments of Bishop Velychkovsky, as … Read more
Over the last 15 years, the Bishop Velychkovsky Shrine has been supporting a sister in Ukraine – Sister Julia, now known as Sister Natalia, who was working with orphans and eventually began working with girls/young women at risk. She was able to establish a home for these girls, living with them and providing support, guidance, … Read more
On Sunday, June 26th – on the eve of the Ukrainian Martyr’s Feastday. The faithful gathered at St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Winnipeg, the location of the Blessed Velychkovsky National Martyr’s Shrine. There was a Moleben in honour of Blessed Velychkovsky with guest homilist Fr. Mykhaylo Khomitskyy. The service was followed by a Rosary … Read more
The St. Malo Catholic Summer Camp in St. Malo Manitoba, under the Catholic School of Evangelization came to visit the shrine during our feastday celebrations on June 27, 2022. At their camps they provide a space for the campers to have a deep and personal encounter with the Living Christ, through prayer times, sacraments, but … Read more
The year of 2021 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Beatification of our Ukrainian martyrs. On June 27, 2001 in Lviv, Ukraine, Saint Pope John Paul II proclaimed Nicholas Charnetsky and 24 companions blessed martyrs. Bishop Vasyl Velychkovsky, whose holy relics we venerate here in the Shrine, was one of them. On June 27, 2021, … Read more
On Wednesday August 12th 2020, the Shrine staff welcomed Honourable Raquel Dancho, MP for Kildonan-St. Paul, Winnipeg, to the Museum and Shrine. Ms. Dancho and her assistant Jennifer had a tour conducted by Eric Kolsun, our summer student. They heard the life story of Blessed Vasyl and the Shrine ministry in both Canada and Ukraine. … Read more
On June 27, 2020 our annual Blessed Vasyl Feasday celebrations were organized virtually. COVID-19 virus posed a lot of challenges. Therefore, following the rules of physical distancing, we were able to stream the services online from the Blessed Vasyl YouTube channel. The celebrations began at 9:00 am with the Divine Liturgy followed by a testimony … Read more
On Friday Jan 31st 2020, a group of priests came to visit the Shrine and honour Blessed Vasyl`s holy relics. We were blessed to learn about one of them – Father Lionel Thieballt. After viewing a video presentation about Bishop Velychkovsky, Father Lionel recognized our martyr and shared a beautiful story. In 1972, Father Lionel … Read more