New Westminster Eparchy Creates Two New Deaneries, Appoints Two New Deans
In the interest of providing for more closer oversight of the spiritual life, pastoral activity and practical needs of all our parishes and mission communities throughout the Eparch if New Westminster. Two “protopresbyterates” — I.e. Deaneries — were created to encompass all the parishes of the eparchy. God willing, more deaneries will be created to suit the needs of new parishes and missions, especially in the more northern areas.
The two new pastoral territories have been named the “Coastal Deanery” to cover the parishes on Vancouver Island and the parishes of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, with the exception of Abbottsford and Chilliwack. The other sub-territory has been designated as the “Deanery of the Interior” to form a network of the communities from Abbottsford and eastward through the Okanagan Valley and up to Prince George. A few years back, the Eparchy reached out to Whitehorse in the Yukon and just recently the new Dean, Fr. Andrii Chornenkyi, visited Prince Rupert. With an influx of newcomers from Ukraine settling wherever jobs and reasonable housing are available, there is considerable hope that mission efforts will soon develop in the more northern regions of our vast eparchial territory.
Our former Chancellor, Very Rev. Yuriy Vyshnevskyy and present pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in the Provincial Capital of Victoria, was appointed the first Dean of the Coastal Deanery. The Deanery of the Interior was entrusted to the care of Very Rev. Andrii Chornenkyi who serves St. George Parish in Prince George, BC. Some of their communication with the clergy serving within their deaneries may involve travel and visitations, but also with today’s technology, they will be able to accomplish a lot via online meetings and consultation.
