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MIKE DEAL \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada has informed Pope Leo of his intention to retire. He\u2019ll stay on until the pontiff appoints a replacement.<\/p>\n
Huculak, who was born in B.C., completed Grade 12 at St. Vladimir\u2019s College in Roblin before entering the Basilian Order in 1969.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt the stirrings to be a priest as a child,\u201d he said, noting his family was very religious.<\/p>\n
Ordained in 1977, Huculak went on to seminary studies in Ottawa and then Rome to finish his theological education. In 1986, he was sent back to Canada to be the parish priest in the small community of Mundare, Alta.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went from Rome, a city of almost 3 million, to Mundare which had about 500 people,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was quite a change.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 1997, Huculak became eparchial, or diocesan, bishop of Edmonton for the province of Alberta and, in 2006, was appointed to his role as Metropolitan \u2014 what Roman Catholics call an archbishop \u2014 of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, as well as leader of that church in Manitoba.<\/p>\n
As Metropolitan, Huculak co-ordinates the work of bishops in the five eparchies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C., and in Toronto and eastern Canada, and administers the Church in the province. This includes providing support to 36 priests who serve 4,000 Ukrainian Catholics in Manitoba \u2014 \u201ca shepherd to the shepherds,\u201d as he put it.<\/p>\n
Over his 20 years as Metropolitan, Huculak has seen many changes, including a decline in attendance at services. This is pronounced in rural areas, where some churches have closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs people dwindle away off the farms, who keeps up the buildings? It takes so much energy to come to a solution for church buildings in the rural areas that are falling apart, that there\u2019s nobody there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But the biggest impact on the archeparchy has been the war in Ukraine, which has found thousands of Ukrainians fleeing that country for safety in Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cathedral is full of new people,\u201d he said of the newcomers who are filling the pews and revitalizing congregations in the city.<\/p>\n
That has brought its own challenges as the newcomers need help adjusting to their new lives in Winnipeg and to deal with trauma from the war \u2014 plus being anxious about family and friends in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of them are suffering the effects of the war in Ukraine,\u201d Huculak said. \u201cThey certainly require moral support and spiritual support, as much as we can give them.\u201d<\/p>\n
To assist with their material needs, the archeparchy works closely with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which helps with practical needs such as applications for government support, English lessons, and finding jobs and housing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need to duplicate what they\u2019re doing, but just to work together with them,\u201d said Huculak.<\/p>\n
One unanticipated blessing from the influx of people from Ukraine is the arrival of several priests from that country who understand what the newcomers are going through.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\tSign up for Sunday Passages<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \u201cThey can speak a heart language that I can\u2019t,\u201d he said of these men, who are serving parishes in the province. \u201cThey have a better sense of what the newcomers are experiencing.\u201d<\/p>\n Of his work with Huculak, Father Mark Gnutel of St. Michael\u2019s Parish in Transcona said he \u201cis a very kind man, very pastoral and compassionate and attuned to what clergy and the people need.\u201d<\/p>\n Huculak is also a practical leader, able to make hard decisions about the challenges facing the Church. \u201cHe is pragmatic, able to face reality head on,\u201d he said, adding he always reminds people that, \u201cGod is in charge, so let\u2019s move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Huculak expects to retire in Winnipeg. \u201cI\u2019m going to stay here because all my doctors are here,\u201d he said, noting he had heart surgery a few years ago and a very serious bout of COVID-19 in 2024. \u201cI\u2019ve got a system set up here. I don\u2019t want to start over again.\u201d<\/p>\n faith@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \n \t\t\t\t\t\tThe Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks!<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t John Longhurst John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg’s faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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