Cardinal Mykola Bychok’s first sojourn to Canadian soil came with a message of support for families devastated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and a call for continued prayers for peace. Source: The Catholic Register.
Cardinal Bychok, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic prelate who shepherds the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul of Melbourne, was special guest speaker at the inaugural Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada Bishop’s Dinner on September 11.
At age 45, Bychok was the youngest elector in the 2025 papal conclave in May, having been elevated in December, at age 44, to the College of Cardinals by the late Pope Francis.
The Redemptorist arrived in Canada one week ahead of the dinner and embarked upon pastoral visits to Ukrainian schools and parishes throughout the Greater Toronto Area, where he stressed maintaining ties to their ancestral homeland in this uncertain time.
On September 6, Cardinal Bychok visited Josyf Cardinal Slipyj, a Ukrainian Catholic Saturday school. He also presided over the Moleben prayer service to commence the school year and relayed key messages.
“It was a very important moment for me because if you are an immigrant outside of the united country you’re looking for a special island that will connect you to your native land,” Cardinal Bychok said.
“Especially right now during this Russian aggression it is very important to preserve your faith, language, culture and tradition.
“It is (also) important to be witnesses of Christ, to remember that we should proclaim the word of God as Christians not only during a prayer service in church, but day by day, night by night. Ukrainian families, students and teachers must pass to the generations our knowledge, faith and our huge legacy which we inherited from our ancestors.”
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Bychok comforts wounded brethren (By Quinton Amundson, The Catholic Register)
