Priests’ Retreat 2026 Eparchy of New Westminster, Canada
The priests of the Eparchy of New Westminster, together with their bishop, hold an annual retreat in the early spring. This year, they moved it from the month of May to April. The retreat took place on the week following the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women and so the joy of Easter continued to pervade the liturgical schedule of the retreat. Christ is Risen!
The priests travelled from the greater Vancouver region of the “Lower mainland”, from up north and from Vancouver Island. They joined the priests who served in the Okanagan Valley. Once again, the location chosen was the Seton House of Prayer retreat centre in the Kelowna suburbs. Seton House, operated by the Diocese of Nelson is a truly blessed, peaceful site with all the amenities one might need as well as live deer freely wondering the property.
The opening of the retreat actually occurs in a public manner with the clergy gathering at the local parish of the Dormition of the Mother of God where a Moleben’ is prayed and the retreat master preaches his first talk of the week. Bishop Paul Chomnycky, OSBM of Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford Connecticut agreed to lead the retreat this year. He shared with the people a great deal of additional insights about the Myrrh-bearers and their encounter at the empty tomb of Christ. The moleben’ was to the Martyrs of Pratulyn. Following the moleben’, Bishop Paul also anointed the congregation while local Bishop, Michael Kwiatkowski presented the relics of the Pratulyn Martyrs for veneration. The parish then hosted the clergy and all the other guests to an amazing lasagna supper in the parish hall.
Throughout the next few days, Bishop Paul gave excellent talks based on highlights from Salvation history — the resurrection of Christ, the Annunciation and other well-known episodes. However, he always infused the theology of the events with his own rich experience of spiritual encounters during his pilgrimages to the Holy Land and in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, etc.
One of the much-enjoyed highlights during the retreat were the open discussions on various spiritual and ecclesial themes each evening after supper. The clergy were able to share thoughts, experiences and questions in a truly fraternal atmosphere and share responses with each other. Among the themes was how the eparchy could tap into the period before the upcoming 2033 Jubilee of Redemption for a comprehensive spiritual renewal of the eparchy. Also, the new approach needed for the Evangelization and catechization of our own young, so the faith truly becomes the thriving heart of our lives for ever.
The prayer life of the retreat included a daily Divine Liturgy as well as the hours and vespers, as well as other times of common or private prayer. The priests took turns leading each of the services. The Eucharistic liturgy on Thursday and panakhyda were prayed for the repose of the souls of all the deceased clergy and women religious that served the eparchy at one time or other.
The usual practice was that the last morning of the retreat is dedicated to a clergy conference where the Bishop and the Priests could dedicate a few hours to talking about pastoral and administrative questions important to the eparchy. However, as circumstances this year had the retreat end after breakfast on the last day, rather than after lunch, the conference segment occurred in the evening on the night before. On the last day, Bishop Paul preached at the closing Divine Liturgy and imparted a blessing to all the clergy before they enjoyed a last breakfast together and then departed back home in various directions to get back to their home parishes in time for the Sunday of the Paralytic.
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