Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Eparchial Pilgrimage in Canberra: “Family — our vocation, our daily mission”
June 8, 2026
On 6–7 June, the Australian Eparchial Pilgrimage of the clergy and faithful of the Melbourne Eparchy took place at St Volodymyr’s Church in Canberra. This year’s pilgrimage was held under the theme “Family — our vocation, our daily mission” and brought together participants from across Australia.
Among those who travelled to Canberra for the Eparchial Pilgrimage were His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne; Fr Andriy Mykytyuk, Chancellor for the Laity and Administrator of the Cathedral Parish in Melbourne; Fr Ihor Holovko, Chancellor for the Clergy and Administrator of the Parish in Perth; Fr Ruslan Babii, Administrator of the Parish in Ardeer; Fr Iurii Tychenok, Administrator of the Parish in Sydney; Fr Oleh Stefanyshyn, Assistant Priest of the Parish in Sydney; Fr Stefan Sapun, Administrator of the Parish in Brisbane; Fr Lawrence Foote from Sydney; Protodeacon Edward Kostraby from Melbourne; as well as representatives of the Roman Catholic clergy from Canberra and Sydney.
Special participants in this year’s pilgrimage were guests from the Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy: Metropolitan Volodymyr Viytyshyn, Fr Vitalii Tokar, and Fr Volodymyr Hanzha.
Also joining the Great Vespers on Saturday was Fr Michael Solomko, Head of the Consistory of the Australian and New Zealand Eparchy of the UAOC in the Diaspora. The Divine Liturgy on Sunday was attended by Mr Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Australia.
The pilgrims were warmly welcomed by the local parishioners led by the parish administrator, Fr Vasyl Motrichenko.
The pilgrimage commenced on Saturday, 6 June, with an Episcopal Divine Liturgy celebrated by Metropolitan Volodymyr Viytyshyn, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Ivano-Frankivsk.
“Today, as we begin this large pilgrimage for Ukrainians in Australia, we come together as one great family of God’s people. Each of us has arrived from different cities, parishes, and families, yet we are united by one faith, one Holy Church, and one love for our Ukrainian people,” Metropolitan Volodymyr emphasised at the beginning of his homily.
He highlighted the special importance of the family environment for the spiritual and religious formation of children: “It is precisely the family that has been, is, and remains the place where faith is born, where children learn their first prayers, and where a child first hears about God and His holy Law. Our Ukrainian people endured the most difficult times of oppression and persecution precisely because they had strong, God-loving families, where parents provided their children not only with earthly bread but also filled their hearts with love for God, Christian virtues, and their native land.”
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the administrator of St Volodymyr’s Church in Canberra, Fr Vasyl Motrichenko, greeted the hierarchs with his own poetic words: “We ask the Lord for His blessing, and may you also bless us so that our prayer may rise to heaven sincerely, joyfully, and peacefully. With respect and love, we shall pray for our homeland, that peace may come to our native land and that joy may dwell among our people.”
Fr Vasyl recalled that many years ago it was Metropolitan Volodymyr who blessed him, as a young man, to enter the seminary, and therefore it was a particular joy for him to welcome him to Canberra. He also told the faithful that in May 1989, when the faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, led by Bishops Phylemon Kurchaba, Sofron Dmyterko, and Pavlo Vasylyk, began a hunger strike in Moscow demanding the legalisation of the UGCC, one of the four priests present among them was Metropolitan Volodymyr Viytyshyn. Thus, he was one of those who directly contributed to ensuring that our Church would have a future.
On the first day of the pilgrimage, following the Divine Liturgy, pilgrims had the opportunity to participate in discussions in age groups, pray the Rosary together, attend Great Vespers and Taizé prayers, and conclude the day with the traditional campfire gathering.
On Sunday, 7 June, when the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints of the Ukrainian People, an Episcopal Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok. Once again, Metropolitan Volodymyr Viytyshyn delivered the homily, reflecting on the value of family and married life.
“The Holy Church of Christ, recognising that marriage and family constitute one of the greatest blessings of humanity, desires to make her voice heard and to offer her assistance both to those who already understand the value of marriage and family life and strive to remain faithful to it, and to those who are uncertain, troubled, and searching for the truth. By supporting some, enlightening others, and assisting still others, the Holy Church of Christ serves every person who reflects upon the destiny of marriage and family life. The Holy Family itself, in the plans of Divine Providence, became the perfect model for every Christian family, which today is so shaken and discouraged in the world. It is precisely this exemplary marriage of Saint Joseph the Betrothed and Mary that the Holy Church places before our eyes today in order to remind us of the holiness of the Christian family.”
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Cardinal Mykola thanked Metropolitan Volodymyr, Fr Vitalii, and Fr Volodymyr for travelling to Australia, for leading the clergy retreat for the Melbourne Eparchy, and for remaining in Australia to participate in the pilgrimage. He also thanked Metropolitan Volodymyr for the profound spiritual reflections he delivered throughout the two days of the pilgrimage.
Cardinal Mykola presented Metropolitan Volodymyr with a handcrafted Indigenous cross, saying: “May this cross be a constant reminder of our Church in Australia and of the fact that we are united with you in prayer and united with you in this spiritual battle.”
Cardinal Mykola also thanked Fr Andriy Mykytyuk, Chancellor for the Laity of the Melbourne Eparchy, and the members of the Eparchial Pastoral Council who organised the pilgrimage, Fr Vasyl Motrichenko and the parishioners of Canberra for their generous hospitality, as well as all the clergy and faithful in attendance.
In turn, Metropolitan Volodymyr congratulated Cardinal Mykola on the sixth anniversary of his episcopal ordination. “Today we also wish to thank your parents. May God bless your family, that domestic church where you were raised in such great love for God that the Lord first called you to religious service, then to priestly ministry, and later to episcopal ministry. And it did not end there, for He also called you to the ministry of a cardinal.”
Following the Liturgy, the hierarchs blessed the faithful with the relics of Blessed Volodymyr Pryima and the Martyrs of Pratulin, which are permanently housed in St Volodymyr’s Church. Metropolitan Volodymyr then sprinkled the faithful with holy water.
As St Volodymyr’s Parish in Canberra has been granted the privilege of a plenary indulgence, pilgrims were able to receive this grace. These two days in Canberra were a wonderful opportunity for spiritual growth and enrichment—a time when Ukrainians from across Australia united in prayer for peace in Ukraine and deepened their faith.
