Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski Establishes Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in London
On March 26, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Holy Family Eparchy in London announced the establishment of announced the establishment of a Ukrainian Catholic seminary in London named after Patriarch Lubomyr Husar (United Kingdom).
The eparch’s decree notes that the presence of the faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Great Britain began in the first half of the 20th century due to waves of labor migration, as well as war and persecution that led to the resettlement of many Ukrainians. Initially, spiritual care was provided through apostolic missions and temporary church structures, which later evolved into parish communities.
Given the stable presence of the faithful and the need for organized church governance, the Apostolic See established a distinct church structure, which later became the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family in London with full pastoral responsibility.
“The historical development of the eparchy is marked by a constant striving to preserve and transmit the liturgical, spiritual, and canonical heritage of the Byzantine-Ukrainian tradition in the context of the diaspora, in close communion with the Mother Church led by the Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych,” the decree states.
Until now, the formation of candidates for the priesthood in London took place primarily at seminaries of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church or other Catholic educational institutions.
“Although this ensured an adequate theological standard, it hindered comprehensive preparation for ministry within the specific cultural and pastoral context of Great Britain,” the eparchy explains.
Therefore, the current stage of the eparchy’s development—characterized by a growing number of faithful, the expansion of pastoral structures, and the stability of church life—requires its own institutional center for the formation of clergy. Such a center can combine fidelity to the traditions of its own rite with proper preparation for ministry in a multicultural environment.
Fr. David Ivan Senyk has been appointed rector of the newly established seminary for a term of five years.
The decree enters into force on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026.
