Nomination of Father Michael Smolinski to the Episcopate in Saskatoon
On January 19, 2024, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Saskatoon (Canada) hosted the Great Vespers with the Rite of Episcopal Consecration of Father Michael Smolinski, who was elected ruling bishop of the Saskatoon Eparchy of the UGCC. The rite of consecration was performed by the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, jointly with Metropolitan Lavrentiy Hutsulyak of Winnipeg and Bishop Brian Baida of Toronto, the previous ruling bishop of this eparchy.
At the beginning of the Rite, a papal bull was read aloud, in which the Holy Father conveyed his embrace to the Ukrainian Church in Saskatoon, expressing his desire to appoint Father Michael Smolinski as its bishop.
Afterward, Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski, Eparch of New Westminster, and Bishop David Motiuk, Eparch of Edmonton, read in Ukrainian and English the Decree of the Head of the UGCC on the proclamation of Fr. Michael Smolinski as Bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Decree naming him Eparchial Bishop of the Saskatoon Eparchy for Ukrainians (Canada).
“Today, as you join the cluster of bishops in the Saskatoon Eparchy, remember those who, in their ministry, have fulfilled God’s will, that all may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (Timothy 2:4). May you preserve and multiply their work!” reads the Naming Decree.
In addition, the Naming Decree states that Fr. Michael Smolinski receives the episcopal ministry in the diocese at a time when a brutal, invasive war is ranging in the lands of the Mother Church in Ukraine, the impact of which has reached the Saskatoon Diocese: “Your Excellency, pray that the Lord will grant us a just peace. Take care of the many refugees who, fleeing death, have found themselves in the territory of your diocese.”
After the newly installed Bishop Michael Smolinski proclaimed the profession of faith and took oaths of allegiance to Pope Francis and His Beatitude Sviatoslav and their successors, laying his hand on the Gospel. Then he served the Great Vespers.
In the end, the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, emphasized that having such a vibrant church community in Canada is a great grace: “It is a moment of incredible grace that we can pray together. I can attest that being alive is another profound grace. Thank you to each of you for this moment of joint prayer, thank you for being good children of God,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav and added: “Another special gift today is to have a new bishop here in the Saskatoon Eparchy.”
The UGCC Department for Information
