Pastoral visit to New Zealand
On Tuesday, September 2, Fr. Andriy Mykytyuk, Syncellus for the Laity of the Melbourne Eparchy, concluded his pastoral visit to New Zealand. For two weeks, the priest visited the largest cities in the North and South Islands to perform divine services and spiritually support the faithful.
The visit began on August 14 in Auckland, the city with the largest Ukrainian community in New Zealand. On Sunday, August 17, Fr. Andriy celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Later, the faithful in Wellington and Christchurch also had the opportunity to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
During his visit, Fr. Andriy also met with Ukrainians in Napier, Tauranga, Nelson, Dunedin, Rotorua, New Plymouth, and Greymouth.
On August 23, Fr. Andriy took part in Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations in Wellington. The event was attended by numerous representatives of embassies from countries that support Ukraine. The priest offered a greeting, conveyed best wishes from Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, and emphasised the importance of prayer for peace — a just peace, which is only possible when the aggressor is held accountable for their crimes.
It is worth noting that this year, for the first time, a Ukrainian prayer service was held in Napier. “In all my years of ministry, we have never gathered here before. But since there is a small Ukrainian community, this was the first step — and we hope not the last. Next time, we plan to gather as a larger community to pray for Ukraine and for all Ukrainians living in New Zealand,” Fr. Andriy shared.
In the city of Dunedin, the priest, together with the local community, attended a screening of the documentary film “2,000 Metres to Andriivka”, which deeply reflects the realities of the war in Ukraine.
During the visit, two children received the Holy Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist — in Auckland and Tauranga.
After each service, the faithful had the opportunity to gather in parish halls to converse with the priest, share their thoughts and suggestions regarding the development of the church community and plans for future pastoral visits.
Background
The first Ukrainians arrived in New Zealand after World War II. Over the years, Bishop Ivan Prasko and Bishop Peter Stasiuk made dedicated efforts to provide pastoral care to Ukrainian faithful in the country. In 2014, the parish of Blessed Martyr Mykola Charnetskyi was officially established, encompassing the entire territory of New Zealand. Today, around 2,000 Ukrainians live in New Zealand. Since the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church does not have permanent structures in the country, a priest from Australia visits twice a year, travelling across New Zealand to reach cities where Ukrainian faithful reside. Each such visit becomes a unique opportunity for joint prayer, receiving the Holy Sacraments, and spiritual support.
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