“Nurturing the Sisterhood of Clergy Wives in Christ”: Retreat for Spouses of Archeparchial Clergy Held in Winnipeg
A retreat for the wives of clergy from the Archeparchy of Winnipeg took place at the St. Charles Retreat Centre in Winnipeg on March 29–30, 2025. This spiritual gathering, attended by 13 wives of priests and deacons, was led by Fr. Damian Dutka, OSBM, Provincial Superior in Canada; Fr. Volodymyr Bashutskyy, pastor of the Holy Family parish in Winnipeg; and Bishop Andriy Rabiy, auxiliary bishop of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg.
This was reported by the press office of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg.
The retreat commenced on Saturday with Divine Liturgy and Confessions, followed by insightful spiritual conferences. The talks explored themes of sin in human life, specifically the seven deadly sins, and delved into the parable of the prodigal son—examining his experience, repentance, and God’s boundless mercy. The day also included conferences, informal discussions over coffee, and a meeting with Bishop Andriy Rabiy.
On Sunday, participants continued their reflections on the nature of sin, the Church’s teachings on the subject, and the significance of the prayer of St. Ephrem. Bishop Andriy shared interesting insights on the first and second commandments of love. The retreat concluded with a Moleben to the Mother of God on Sunday afternoon.
Sophia Korban, wife of Father Jay Korban, pastor of the Rossburn pastoral district in Western Manitoba, shared her appreciation: “As a clergy wife from a rural area, I deeply appreciated this time ‘set apart’ to come together. I loved the easy closeness which bridged language groups and age gaps.”
She described the conferences as “substantial enough to be challenging.” At the same time, the retreat offered ample opportunities for genuine rest. “As a working mom with three young children,” she added, “my world is wondrously noisy. This time of listening — to words and the Word — was a reminder that our God forgives, realigns, and satisfies our heart’s deepest desires. As I return home, I know I will carry the treasures of this weekend with me. ‘We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, firm and steadfast’ (Hebrews 6:19).”
Bishop Andriy Rabiy emphasized the vital role of such retreats in fostering spiritual renewal and reinforcing faith. “This is a unique opportunity for a communal prayer and reflection, which unite and nurture a sense of sisterhood in Christ. It is also an opportunity to support the wives of clergy, helping them recognize the significance and uniqueness of their vocation and their invaluable contributions to parishes and the broader community,” he affirmed.
According to the press release of the Archeparchy, this retreat for the wives of Archeparchial priests and deacons was made possible through the generous support of benefactors, including the League of Ukrainian Catholic Women of Canada — Manitoba, parish councils of the Knights of Columbus, Ukrainian Catholic parishes in Winnipeg, the Canadian-Ukrainian Congress (Manitoba), and the Ukrainian National Federation.
