100th Anniversary of Catholic Missions in Canada (1908-2008)

To the Faithful of the Eparchy of Edmonton:

Glory be to Jesus Christ!

In 2008, Catholic Missions in Canada is celebrating its 100th Anniversary of service to missions and missionaries throughout Canada, which includes assisting Ukrainian Catholics in need.

Sunday, June 29 has been set aside as Awareness Sunday throughout the Eparchy of Edmonton to make the work of Catholic Missions in Canada better known. This Sunday was specially chosen as it coincides with the Feast of the Saints Peter and Paul, the Apostles, who as great missionaries spread the Gospel message to the far ends of the world.

Catholic Missions in Canada, formerly known as the Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada, works to support 600 missionaries – priests, deacons, sisters, brothers and lay ministers – as they proclaim the Gospel in the isolated and farthest reaches of our nation.

Ukrainian Catholics were among the first to benefit from the missionary support of Catholic Missions. Soon after his appointment in 1908 as Archbishop of Toronto, Most. Rev. Fergus Patrick McEvay, founding Prelate of Catholic Missions in Canada, convinced his fellow bishops to extend the efforts of Catholic Missions to the Ukrainian faithful through spiritual and financial support. In 1910, Archbishop McEvay met with Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, who was visiting his Ukrainian faithful in Canada for the first time, while attending the International Eucharistic Congress held in Montreal. Archbishop McEvay supported Metropolitan Andrey in the establishment of a Ukrainian Catholic eparchy in Canada.

When Most Rev. Nykyta Budka was appointed as our first bishop for Ukrainian Catholics in Canada in 1912, he benefited greatly from the efforts of Catholic Missions, which provided financial aid and support in the building of Ukrainian Catholic churches, schools, hospitals and orphanages, as well as the training of Ukrainian Catholic priests.

In 1918, Bishop Budka expressed his gratitude to Rev. Thomas O’Donnell, the second president of Catholic Missions, in these words:

What does your help mean for Ukrainian Catholics in Canada? I want you to know that without your aid, the only Catholic paper among Ukrainians would have to discontinue its salvific mission for the Catholic cause among them. You have supported the main factor in my exceptionally hard mission work with money, by encouraging and creating interest and sympathy in the Catholic world through the columns of The Catholic Register. For this especially, and for all your help to the priests by way of Divine Liturgy intentions, to poor colonies by chapel funds and church vestments, ..., may the Giver of All Goods bless you.

The aid offered by Catholic Missions to the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada continued throughout the decades, and continues today. Indeed, more than one Ukrainian Catholic eparchy in Canada receives substantial financial assistance on an annual basis, without which various ministries and programs, especially religious education, would greatly be reduced or discontinued altogether.

In the past, the Eparchy of Edmonton was in a similar position where we received annual grants in support of our Religious Education Centre. Today, through your generosity, we are in a better position. Now, it is our turn to lend a helping hand to others.

And it is not just about helping Ukrainian Catholics. God has entrusted the mission of the Church – in the words of Christ, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you (Mt 28:19-20) – to the entire People of God.

In other words, our mission as a Ukrainian Catholic Church goes beyond preaching the Word of God to Ukrainian Catholics. We are called to use our spiritual “treasure” as an Eastern Catholic Church to evangelize all nations, all peoples.

We can do so concretely on Sunday, June 29, by raising our awareness of the good works carried out by Catholic Missions in Canada, whose ministry reaches out to the hundreds of poor and needy missions served by the Church right here in Canada – among Firsts Nations communities, missionary support, religious education programs, building and repairs, lay pastoral leadership programs, and education of seminarians.

As a member of the Board of Governors, and as recently appointed Apostolic Vice-Chancellor, I am deeply indebted to Catholic Missions of Canada for its outpouring of love in service of the Gospel message.

On behalf of the 600 missionaries throughout Canada, I humbly ask that you support the efforts of Catholic Missions by learning more about its good works so that God may be praised and glorified. You can do so by signing up for a free subscription to their quarterly magazine by visiting www.cmic.info or calling toll free 1-866-937-2642.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. David Motiuk
Eparchial Bishop

June 1, 2008