New Bishop Named for Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton

January 25, 2007

His Holiness Benedict XVI today named Most Rev, David MOTIUK, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg, as Bishop of the Eparchy of Edmonton.

“I am grateful to the Holy Father and the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church for the confidence instilled in me in appointing me as the fifth Bishop of the Eparchy of Edmonton,” said His Excellency Bishop David, “and I look forward to serving the Ukrainian Catholic faithful in Alberta.”

The installation of Bishop David is tentatively scheduled to take place at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Church, Edmonton, Alberta, by His Grace Lawrence Huculak, osbm, Metropolitan-Archbishop of Winnipeg, in the presence of His Grace, Archbishop Luigi Ventura, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada.

“For the past five years, I have been privileged to journey spiritually with the faithful of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg as an auxiliary bishop. During this time, I have been impressed by the laity’s strong faith in God and dedication to the mission of the Church. I have delighted in the close collaboration and friendship of the clergy and religious. I am particularly grateful to His Grace, Metropolitan Michael Bzdel, cssr, and His Grace, Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, osbm, for their mentorship and support. I love them all!”

Bishop David was born on January 13, 1962 in Vegreville, Alberta and was ordained to the priesthood on August 21, 1988 for the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton. He served in several parishes in Alberta following his ordination and was associate rector of the Cathedral of St. Josaphat in Edmonton. Bishop David completed a licentiate in canon law at Saint Paul University in Ottawa and obtained a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. He was Rector of Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Ottawa from 1996 to 2001. On June 11, 2002 in Edmonton, Bishop David was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg and Titular Bishop of Mathara in Numidia.

“As I begin a new chapter in my life, I look forward to the challenge of shepherding the Church. Yet, I do so with some trepidation. You see, as an auxiliary bishop in Winnipeg, the final decision concerning a given matter did not rest with me, but rather with the Metropolitan Michael, and more recently with Metropolitan Lawrence. Things will be different in Edmonton. Yet, I am confident that the advice of the gifted clergy, religious and laity will guide me in my new role.

“Naturally, as a native Albertan, I look forward to returning ‘home’ to reconnecting with family and friends and to revisit some of my childhood memories. At the same time, I recognize that many things have changed over the years; I plan to take the necessary time, especially where they concern my episcopal ministry, to take stock, to listen, and to re-familiarize myself with life in the Church in Edmonton and throughout the province.

>“I look forward with great joy to the spiritual re-awakening that is taking place all around us. It’s an exciting time to be alive!”

Bishop David has published several journal articles and authored the book, Eastern Christians in the New World: An Historical and Canonical Study of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, published by the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies and the Faculty of Canon Law at Saint Paul University, Ottawa in 2005. He has also been a member of the senate of Newman Theological College in Edmonton, and a consultor with the Episcopal Commission for Canon Law/Inter-Rite of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Currently, he is a consultor with the Episcopal Commission for Theology.

The Eparchy of Edmonton has a Ukrainian Catholic population of 28,750, 87 parishes and missions, 39 diocesan and religious priests, 4 deacons, and 30 women religious.

Newly Appointed Archbishop-Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in Canada

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, accepted the resignation of Most Rev. Michael BZDEL of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg. At the same time, the Holy Father appointed Most Rev. Lawrence HUCULAK as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in Canada.

"I am grateful to Our Lord for having had the privilege to serve the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada as its metropolitan for the last twelve years," said His Grace Metropolitan Michael, "I would like to assure Archbishop Lawrence of my prayerful and fraternal support:'

The enthronement of Archbishop Huculak will take place 10:00 am, Saturday, February 11,2006, at Saints Volodymyr and Olga Cathedral, Winnipeg, by His Beatitude Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, who will be traveling from Kyiv, Ukraine for this occasion.

"This is an exciting time for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, we are entering our 50th Jubilee Year since the establishment of the Metropolitan See of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and establishment of the Eparchies of Toronto, Saskatoon and Edmonton," said Most Rev. Lawrence. "Last May in Winnipeg, at the Encounter of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, when all of our bishops, and many members of the clergy gathered with Cardinal Husar to reflect on our mission in Canada we were all filled with a sense of renewed enthusiasm for our pastoral ministry. It is in this spirit that I look forward to serving our Canadian Ukrainian Catholic Church as it's metropolitan."

Archbishop Lawrence was born on January 25, 1951, in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Following perpetual religious vows in the Order of Saint Basil the Great, he was ordained a priest on August 28, 1977. He holds a doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. On April 3, 1997, he was ordained a bishop for the Eparchy of Edmonton.

The Archeparchy of Winnipeg has a Ukrainian Catholic population of29,740, 144 parishes and missions, 46 diocesan and religious priests, 13 deacons, and 27 women religious.

The Ukrainian Catholic Synod of Bishops have elected Bishop Lubomyr Husar as our new spiritual leader.

He was elevated as a cardinal by Pope John Paul II on February 21, 2001 in Rome.

Bishop Husar was born on February 26th, 1933 in Lviv, Ukraine.

In 1944 his parents left war torn Ukraine and came to Austria.

In 1949 they came to the U.S.A. where he continued his education and seminary studies for the priesthood.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1958,  joined the Studite order of monks in 1972, became a Bishop in 1977.

In 1993 he returned to Ukraine and assisted the late Patriarch Myroslav Lubachivsky.

He was appointed Apostolic administrator on December 14 with the passing away of Myroslav Ivan.

On January 28, 2001 he was installed as the head of our church in Lviv, Ukraine.

May God grant him health and wisdom to lead our faithful throughout the world.

Na Mnohi i Blahi Lita, Vladyko!