LEADERSHIP AT HEUCC
Here to Serve You
The best church leader is a team. At HEUCC, we’re blessed with an outstanding group of dedicated believers and religious leaders who celebrate services, run events and keep our community on a clear spiritual path.
Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski
On Thursday, August 24, 2023 the Vatican announced that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed Very Rev. Michael Kwiatkowski, Eparchial Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster. Father Michael Kwiatkowski, until now the Chancellor of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, becomes the 4th Bishop for Ukrainian Catholics in the Province of British Columbia and the Yukon since the Eparchy was created in 1974.
Fr. Michael was born 21 November 1961 in Hamiota MB. The son of Edward Kwiatkowski and Phyllis Zemliak, he is the 3rd of 7 children. He attended elementary and secondary schools in Brandon MB, completing his high school at St. Vladimir’s College and Minor Seminary in Roblin MB. After initial University studies and some work experience, Michael began his seminary formation on 7 September 1980. He resided at St. Josaphat Seminary in Rome, attending courses at the Angelicum, where he earned a BA in Philosophy (1980-1982) and a BA in Theology (1982-1985).
He made his Profession of Faith on 13 September 1985, and was ordained to the Diaconate on 14 September 1985 in Roblin MB by Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk CSsR. He was ordained a priest on 28 July 1986 in Brandon MB, also by Metropolitan Hermaniuk. After serving as assistant pastor at Protection of the BVM Church (Boyd) in Winnipeg, he returned to Rome to undertake studies in Canon Law. He completed these studies, earning a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome (JCD).
Fr. Michael lived in Ukraine from 1996-2006, while the Church was reestablishing itself after years of underground existence. There he became chancellor of the Archeparchy of Lviv, and served as Judge and head of the Major Archbishopric Tribunal. He served as Vice-Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, taught courses in Canon Law and directed the University’s department of pastoral life for six years.
He returned to Canada to serve as Spiritual Director at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Ottawa from 2006 – 2010. From 1 August 2010 – 2021, he undertook parish ministry at Holy Eucharist Parish in Winnipeg, and from 2021 until the present has been parish priest at Protection of the BVM Parish in Winnipeg. He serves on the Winnipeg Tri-Diocesan Pro-Life Committee as well as the Tri-Diocesan Prison Ministry Committee. He was State Chaplain for the Manitoba Knights of Columbus from 2016-2019.
Fr. Michael has served as the Chancellor of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg from 1 August 2014, also representing the Archeparchy on the Patriarchal Ukrainian Greek Pastoral Council since its establishment in 2019 in Ukraine.
On November 7, 2023, the Great Vespers with the Rite of Episcopal Nomination was celebrated at Saints Volodymyr and Olga Cathedral in Winnipeg. The rite of naming was performed by Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg along with Bishop David Motiuk, Bishop of Edmonton, the former Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of New Westminster, and Bishop Bryan Bayda, Bishop of Toronto and Eastern Canada.
The episcopal ordination of Fr. Michael Kwiatkowski was held on November 8, 2023, on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel and other bodiless powers at Saints Volodymyr and Olga Cathedral in Winnipeg. The Divine Liturgy was presided by Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak. Bishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan of Philadelphia, and Bishop David Motiuk, Bishop of the Edmonton Diocese were co-consecrators.
The enthronement of Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski took place at the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vancouver. on November 18, 2023.
Pastor of Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
Fr Mykhailo was born and raised in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. He began his seminary formation and theological studies in his home town.
After the third year, he moved to Canada and finished his formation at Holy Spirit Seminary and Sheptytskyy Institute at Saint Paul University in Ottawa.
Fr Mykhailo was ordained to priesthood by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski on April 8, 2017 and since then he serves at our Cathedral parish.
Fr Mykhailo is married to Olesia Bachevska and they have four children.
Fr. Mykhailo
OZOROVYCH
Fr. Dr. Yuriy SAKVUK
Assistant Priest of Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral.
Fr. Yuriy was born in 1975 in Lviv, Ukraine. He is married to Mariya Sakvuk and they have five children.
Fr. Yuriy holds M.A. Degree in Journalism (Lviv National University), as well as B.Th. degree (Ukrainian Catholic Seminary) and M.A.(Th), L.Th. and Ph.D. degrees in Theology (Saint Paul University, Ottawa).
On April, 7, 2002 Fr. Yuriy was ordained to the priesthood by Patriarch Liubomyr Cardinal Husar and worked as His Beatitude's press-secretary and spoksman at the same time serving at St. George's Cathedral in Lviv. He also worked as a spiritual director at the Lviv Holy Spirit Seminary, dogmatic theology professor and the Head of the Spiritual-Pastoral Department at the Ukrainian Catholic University and a spiritual director at the "Rafail" Piligrimage center in Lviv, Ukraine.
He also served as a parish priest at a number of parishes in Ukraine, United States of America and Canada.