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 at the Chancery where he will be blessed all the participants. Upon returning to St. Joseph’s the day concluded with an anointing of Holy Oil blessed by the relics of Blessed Vasyl.
On Tuesday, June 27, the Feastday of Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky is an opportunity to spend time in prayer, reflection and to be inspired. Throughout the day there were various liturgical services featuring guest homilists. In the morning, there was a Divine Liturgy which included the Deaconal Ordination of Sub-Deacon Ivan Dzhur, C.Ss.R. who was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Bryan Bayda, C.Ss.R. from the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada.
In the afternoon, the Feastday continued with Praying for Ukraine followed by the Acathist devotional service in honour of Blessed Vasyl. Bishop Bryan Bayda was the guest homilist. After the service, Father John Sianchuk presented a video “Remembering Blessed Vasyl 50 years ago.” This moving presentation created an experience of the last year of Blessed Vasyl’s life (and can be viewed here).
In the evening there was a Divine Liturgy with the guest homilist Bishop Andriy Rabiy, Auxiliary Bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg. Thank you to the Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Parish Choir led by Dr. Shelly Pidsadny. The Feastday event concluded with a living rosary participated by all those in Church. At the end of each service each participant had the opportunity to venerate the holy relics of Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky and Blessed Nicholas Charnetsky and be anointed with Holy Oil blessed by the relics of Blessed Vasyl.
View some of the highlights below!
Monday, June 26
Tuesday Morning, June 27
Tuesday Afternoon, June 27
Tuesday Evening, June 27