Month: May 2026

📺 Please find today’s video reflection below:

“The Holy Spirit — the Source of Living Water for Marriage and Family” John 7:37–39

Сьогодні, як Ви помітили, молебень це свого роду поєднання Молебню до Богородиці, який ми молимося протягом травня, а також деяких уривків із Молебню до Святого Духа, оскільки нині ми святкуємо дивовижне свято Зіслання Святого Духа.

Я дуже радий і пишаюся священниками нашої єпархії, що вони погодилися зробити цьогорічну Декаду місійності особливою. Дехто з них проводив молитву, а також запропонував проповідь-роздум на тему дня. Загальна тема цього року це християнська сім’я, але кожен із десяти місійних днів має також свою окрему, більш сфокусовану тему. Сьогоднішня тема стосується наших стосунків зі Святим Духом і Святого Духа як «джерела живої води для друзів та родини».

З одного боку, мені досить легко провести заключні роздуми про Місійні дні, тому що вже було висловлено так багато важливих думок. Усе, що тепер залишається сказати, це або підсумок уроків, або просте: «Амінь! Я погоджуюся, і давайте почнемо жити згідно з тим, чого ми навчилися під час цієї Декади!» З іншого боку, є дещо, що варто додати, оскільки сьогодні ми святкуємо Зіслання Святого Духа і те, що після цього моменту Церква та світ уже ніколи не були такими, як раніше.

Бачите, сенс Декади місійності полягає в тому, щоб просвітити нас знаннями, навичками та мужністю, які нам потрібні, щоб нести Добру Новину Євангелія та силу вчення і таїнств Церкви всім навколо нас. А Місійні дні покликані об’єднати нас у молитві як єдину Божу спільноту, якою ми маємо бути. Декада місійності покликана зміцнити нас і заохотити до сміливого проголошення правди про Спасіння всім народам. Саме це зробив Святий Дух у день, який дехто називає «днем народження Церкви», коли Він зійшов на апостолів у пориві вітру та з’явився над кожним у вигляді вогненних язиків. Як ми щойно чули в читанні з Діянь Апостолів, вони сповнилися Святого Духа, говорили різними мовами та наріччями і сміливо виходили до людей, до членів родини, друзів, незнайомців і навіть ворогів, до кожного, хто був готовий слухати. Вони радісно та переконливо проголошували істину Божого Слова та радість вічного спасіння. Саме до цього ми покликані, і саме для цього Господь дасть нам сили!

У сьогоднішньому Євангелії ми бачимо надзвичайний момент ентузіазму, обіцянки та пророцтва від Ісуса Христа. Що каже Святе Письмо? В останній і найбільший день свята Сукот, або Свята наметів, Ісус раптом вигукнув на весь голос: «Хто спраглий, нехай прийде до Мене, і хто вірує в Мене, нехай п’є: з лона його потечуть ріки живої води!» Він говорив до людей із радістю, любов’ю та такою глибокою владою, що вони визнали Його святість і чистоту, а істина, яку Він проголошував, закарбувалася в їхніх серцях і душах. Це була правда, і вони знали, що це правда, а правда зробила їх вільними. Навіть охоронці, яким наказали Його заарештувати, просто не могли цього зробити. Вони казали: «Хіба ви не чуєте Його? Послухайте, що Він говорить. Ніхто ніколи так не говорив!»

Мої брати і сестри, ця благодать Святого Духа дана нам від моменту нашого миропомазання і супроводжує нас упродовж усього життя. Сьогодні, у свято Зіслання Святого Духа, ми також хочемо глибоко пити живу воду, яку дає нам Господь, і ділитися нею з тими, хто поруч із нами та хто спраглий. Ми хочемо дозволити благодаті Святого Духа надихнути нас ділитися навіть тією малою благодаттю, яку, як нам здається, ми маємо. Ми хочемо дозволити Святому Духові надихати нас словами, давати нам мужність і красномовство висловлювати їх згідно з Божою волею. Ми хочемо продовжувати черпати цю живу воду через катехитичне навчання, ще частіше приходячи до Церкви Христової, щоб молитися, навчатися та зростати у святості. Господь, безсумнівно, закликає нас іти до наших сімей та кіл друзів і свідчити про віру, як ті апостоли, про яких ми читаємо в сьогоднішньому Євангелії. Поділимося зі світом живими водами істини, спасіння та вічного життя, якими Господь ділиться з нами, щоб ми насолоджувалися ними та передавали їх іншим.

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Today we conclude the Mission Days on this Pentecost Sunday, but just like Pentecost and the Descent of the Holy Spirit were a whole new beginning for the world, so are mission days are not a conclusion, but a whole new beginning for us!

Today’s theme for the Mission Days tenth day is “the Holy Spirit as a source of living water for friends and family”. In today’s Gospel we hear of how Jesus comes into Jerusalem, kind of unknown, for the annual Festival of Booths. On the big concluding day, he stands in the open and shouts out in a loud voice that everyone hears! “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” He goes on to share more about the Faith that mesmerizes everyone. Even the guards that are sent to arrest Him, Don’t arrest him. Their response is sort of “are you kidding!? Don’t you hear this guy!? Listen to what He is saying. Never has anyone spoken like this!” We have become informed and encouraged and empowered over these Mission Days. We have prayed together daily and learned and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit and we are ready to perform these next Mission Days tasks prescribed for this day:

Missionary tasks: 1. On a Personal level: Let us ask the Holy Spirit today in prayer to show us what our hearts most thirst for. 

2. on the Parish level: Let us organize or join in a common prayer to the Holy Spirit in the parish for families, we can think of  families that are experiencing separation as a result of the war. There are many among us who have left family members in Ukraine and they are here. Far away. They are concerned and their family members in Ukraine are concerned. We can also call to mind families around us who are going through challenging times, perhaps our own families. Families that are troubled and families that have new concerns – a newborn child, need for financial or emotional and spiritual support.  

3. Then there us what the guidebook is calling on the Missionary level: This is something a bit more concrete. Let us try to become “bearers of living water” for others – let us support a specific family that is experiencing difficulties with a kind word, attention, prayer, or simply by our presence.

To help us with all that and to inspire us with the great importance for us to Evangelize all peoples – beginning with our own families, I want to familiarize us with a Papal Document about Evangelization issued by Pope Saint Paul only a year after our Eparchy was established in 1974. It is about Evangelization in the Modern World and its called, Proclaiming the Gospel. What key messages can we take from this to help us participate in the Evangelization of the world around us beginning with ourselves and our families?

First,  Jesus: The First and Greatest Evangelist, we take His example of speaking with truth and humility at every opportunity even to the point of the sacrifice, in His case, even the sacrifice of His earthly life.

He was effective, because He spoke the message of God, proclaiming the Kingdom of God by word and by the example of the way He lived His life.

Evangelization: is not for some people or “nice” if you can do it. It is the Essential Mission of the Church. Part of the reason why the world or our society slips into darkness and chaos is because the people don’t know the Gospel Message. Who is to teach them? You and me. 

“Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ’s sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of His death and glorious resurrection” (14).

Every member of the Church has a divine mandate to evangelize. This mission begins with personal transformation and an interior conversion to the Gospel:

“The purpose of evangelization is therefore precisely this interior change, and if it had to be expressed in one sentence the best way of stating it would be to say that the Church evangelizes when she seeks to convert, solely through the divine power of the message she proclaims, both the personal and collective consciences of people, the activities in which they engage, and the lives and concrete milieu which are theirs” (18).

3. The Need for Authentic Witnesses

Credible witnesses are essential for effective evangelization.

“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (41).

Evangelical zeal must be rooted in personal holiness:

“Evangelical zeal must spring from true holiness of life” (76).

Holiness, however, should not be a barrier to action. The processes of being evangelized and evangelizing others are complementary and mutually reinforcing.

4. The Holy Spirit: Principal Agent and Goal of Evangelization

The Holy Spirit is indispensable to evangelization.

“Evangelization will never be possible without the action of the Holy Spirit… Techniques of evangelization are good, but even the most advanced ones could not replace the gentle action of the Spirit. The most perfect preparation of the evangelizer has no effect without the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit the most convincing dialectic has no power over the heart of man. Without Him the most highly developed schemas resting on a sociological or psychological basis are quickly seen to be quite valueless” (75).

The Holy Spirit not only empowers evangelizers but is also the ultimate goal of evangelization:

“It must be said that the Holy Spirit is the principal agent of evangelization: it is He who impels each individual to proclaim the Gospel, and it is He who in the depths of consciences causes the word of salvation to be accepted and understood. But it can equally be said that He is the goal of evangelization: He alone stirs up the new creation, the new humanity of which evangelization is to be the result, with that unity in variety which evangelization wishes to achieve within the Christian community” (75).

Most Rev. Michael Kwiatkowski,

Bishop, Eparchy of New Westminster

Saturday, May 23

“The Church that unites the living and the dead” Reflection by Fr. Pavlo Myts

📺 Please find today’s video reflection below:
https://youtu.be/CApwwnxGOBk
“The Church that unites the living and the dead”
(John 21:15–25 [regular] and John 5:24–30 [for the departed])
Before the feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, our liturgical tradition observes what is called a “All Souls Saturday.” This is not a random custom, but a deeply meaningful spiritual logic of the Church. Standing on the threshold of the great feast of Pentecost, the Church prays not only with the living, but also with those who have already passed into eternity. In doing so, we express our faith that the Church is universal — that it unites both the living and the dead. Death, as we know, does not break unity in Christ.
Thus, as we prepare for the feast that reveals the Church as the Body of Christ, we remember all its members. In fact, before Pentecost, the Church gathers all her children in one prayer: those still on earth and those already in eternity. There is also another deep meaning here. The Holy Spirit is the “Giver of Life,” as we pray in the prayer “Heavenly King.” That is why, before the feast of life, the Church prays for the departed — entrusting them to God’s mercy and asking that the Holy Spirit lead them to the fullness of resurrection and eternal life.
At the same time, this Saturday is a very personal reminder for each of us. It places before us a simple but important truth: our life is not limited to earthly reality. Each of us has an appointed time, and none of us will remain here forever — we are all called to eternity.
That is why it is so important to learn to value each day — both our own life and the lives of our loved ones.

• How wise it is in marriage to value one another, not wasting precious time on conflicts, resentments, and proving who is right.
• How important it is not to miss the chance to visit our parents, to speak with them — because they will not always be with us.
• What a great gift it is to spend time with children — to be with them, listen to them, share their world — because they grow so quickly.
• And it is equally important to remember our departed loved ones — not only keeping them in memory, but praying for them, entrusting them to God’s love, which is stronger than death.
  Life does not wait until we “finish everything” before we begin to truly love. It happens here and now — in simple encounters, daily conversations, and small moments we often underestimate.
  The real tragedy is not that life is short, but that we sometimes live it superficially, without truly loving. So perhaps the most important question today is:
  Do I live in such a way that my loved ones feel that I love them — today, not someday?
  Because love postponed is often never expressed. But love lived today becomes a treasure that does not disappear even in eternity.
  Mission tasks

1. Personal level: Take time for personal prayer for deceased relatives and ask God for the grace to truly value life and the people around you.
2. Parish level: Find out the schedule of memorial services in your parish and participate in them,
   helping preserve the memory of the departed. Also help others easily access this information.
3. Mission level: Be a bearer of hope for those experiencing loss — especially due to war —
   supporting them with words, presence, and prayer

Thursday, May 21
“The prayer that brings complete joy into the family”
John 16:23–33
Reflection by Fr. Andriy Chornenkyi

📺 Please find today’s video reflection below:
https://youtu.be/nw2Py9jFbwE

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Missionary Tasks for Today:

1. Personal level:
   During prayer today, try to speak less and listen more to God, trusting Him not only with your requests but also with guiding your life.

2. Parish level:
   Reflect on how your parish can become a place where families learn to discover God’s will together.

3. Mission level:
   Give witness of living faith through peace in your family, forgiveness, mutual support, and trust in God even during difficulties.

May Christ teach our families how to pray with faith and trust.
May our homes be filled with peace, unity, and lasting joy.
And may the Holy Spirit guide every family to seek God’s will above all else.

Friday, May 22
“The glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one as We are one”
John 17:18–26
Reflection by Fr. Andriy Werbowy

📺 Please find today’s video reflection below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKAxlvynS5Q

Missionary Tasks for Today:

1. Personal level:
   Seek unity, forgiveness, and truth in your relationships rather than personal victory or pride. 

2. Parish level:
   Help build a parish community where families can grow in love, faithfulness, reconciliation, and mutual support.

3. Mission level:
   Witness to the world that true unity is born from Christ’s sacrificial love and that the Christian family is a living icon of God’s love.

May Christ preserve our families in unity and peace.
May His sacrificial love strengthen every marriage and heal every wounded heart.
And may the Holy Spirit help us remain one in faith, hope, and love.

As we continue our Decade of Mission 2026 on our journey toward Pentecost, today we reflect on Christ’s promise that sorrow and suffering, when lived with God, can be transformed into joy and new life. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks honestly to His disciples about pain and sorrow:
“You will weep and lament… but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20).

Today’s reflection is offered by Fr. Yuriy Vyshnevskyi,
who reminds us that Christian life does not free us from suffering, but teaches us how God can transform even our deepest struggles into sources of grace, wisdom, and hope.

Very often people expect that faith should protect them from every hardship or difficulty. Yet Christ never promised His followers an easy path. Instead, He promised that He would remain with us through every trial and lead us toward resurrection and joy.

To explain this mystery, Jesus uses the image of a mother giving birth. The pain is real, but it is not meaningless — it leads to new life.

This truth speaks powerfully to family life today. Every family experiences struggles, disappointments, fears, sacrifices, and moments of suffering. Yet families rooted in God often discover that trials can deepen love, strengthen unity, and bring hearts closer together.

When lived with faith:
• sorrow can become compassion,
• sacrifice can become love,
• weakness can become trust,
• and hardship can become a path toward deeper joy. 

The true strength of a Christian family is not found in a life without problems, but in remaining faithful to God and to one another through every season of life.

Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski continues to encourage all faithful of our Eparchy to remain steadfast in prayer and hope during these Mission Days, trusting that God continues to work even through life’s difficulties.

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Wednesday, May 20
“Sorrow That Turns into Joy: God’s Path for the Family”
John 16:15–23
Reflection by Fr. Yuriy Vyshnevskyi

📺 Please find today’s video reflection below:
https://youtu.be/XWyEF41cgsQ

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Missionary Tasks for Today: 

Personal level:
Accept your difficulties today not as defeat, but as a place of encounter with God and growth.
Parish level:
Pray for families undergoing trials and support them with kindness and attention.
Mission level:
Be witnesses of hope—show through your life that even in hardship, life with God leads to deeper love and joy.

May Christ strengthen every family carrying sorrow or hardship.
May He transform fear into trust and suffering into hope.
And may the Holy Spirit lead our families toward the lasting joy that comes from God.

Monday, May 18
“The Vine and the Branches: The Secret of a Living and Fruitful Family”
John 14:27–15:7
Reflection by Fr. Yuriy Sakvuk

Monday, May 18
“The Vine and the Branches: The Secret of a Living and Fruitful Family” John 14:27–15:7
In today’s Word of God, we hear that Christ prepares His disciples for His departure, revealing an important truth: His leaving is not a defeat, but an essential stage in the fulfillment of the Father’s plan for the salvation of humanity. In this context, the image of the “vine and the branches” becomes the key to understanding Christian life: the disciples can bear fruit only when they remain in a living union with Christ.
Union with God is the fundamental condition for fruitfulness in human life. This means that fruit is not merely the result of human eHort or diligence, but above all the result of one’s unity with Christ. Without this connection, even the greatest human activity can become mere busyness, lacking true meaning.
This principle has a very practical dimension for marriage and family life, because no marriage or family is self-sufficient—they are not the vine, but only the branches. Their source of life is not in themselves, but in the One who created them—God. Unfortunately, in today’s world we often see attempts to build a happy family life relying solely on human resources: emotions, material stability, or shared plans. Yet over time it becomes clear that this is not enough: feelings change, strength is exhausted, and diHiculties weaken even the best intentions.
That is why the true strength and endurance of the family are born not from human resources, but from a living connection with God. Only by remaining in Him can spouses preserve love, endure trials, and bear fruit that lasts. Indeed, unity with God is the primary condition for the growth and fruitfulness of married life.
It is important to note that a family bears fruit not when everything is perfect, but when it abides in Christ. Therefore, a proper spiritual life in marriage and family is not just a nice addition, but the very foundation upon which everything is built. This means that spouses and families must consciously make time for prayer together, set the Word of God as a guide in decision-making, strive to live in a state of grace through active participation in the Holy Mysteries, and raise their children in a healthy Christian spirit, teaching them love for God and His Church.
Sometimes even families that sincerely strive to live in unity with Christ experience trials. Then the
temptation may arise to think that faith “does not work.” How is it possible that those close to God also face difficulties? Yet in today’s Gospel, Christ gives the key to understanding this: “Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). Trials in good families are not a sign of God’s absence or the failure of Christian life; rather, they are often a process of purification. When lived with God, they do not destroy but bring forth even greater fruit.
Therefore, the true secret of a strong family is not having ideal circumstances or perfect relationships, but not losing unity with Christ. For it is this unity that makes love enduring, gives meaning to sacrifice, and enables the family to bear the true fruit of love and life.
Missionary Tasks:

1. Personal level: Ask yourself: Am I truly living in unity with Christ? How is this expressed
   concretely in my life?
2. Parish level: As a family, commit to regular participation in parish services and the Holy
   Mysteries, building your life on a living relationship with God.
3. Mission level: Support a family going through diUiculties—through words, prayer, or concrete
   help—witnessing that even in trials, life with Christ bears fruit.

📺 Please find today’s video reflection below:
https://youtu.be/J_hBWd_J2Qw

Mission Days 2026 – Sunday, May 17 | Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster