Archbishop praises international aid at one-year mark of war with Russia.

As war rages in Ukraine, Canadian settlement assistance groups have rallied their forces to help 132,000 Ukrainian nationals fleeing the violence. 

The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church has warned against moves by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government to outlaw Orthodox communities linked to Moscow, and urged his countrymen to "give Russians a chance to repent."

It’s Jan. 5 — Christmas eve for Armenians — most of whom are members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, an Orthodox Christian denomination that celebrates Christmas on Jan. 6.

Worshippers braved the bitter wind to celebrate the Great Blessing of the Water on the eve of Theophany. But they were equally there to pray for peace in their war-torn spiritual homeland across the sea.

Most Canadians marked Christmas on Dec. 25, as did some Ukrainians. Others, like me, whether over there or here, still celebrate traditionally according to the Julian calendar, on Jan. 7. This year I will do so by candlelight, in solidarity with the many Ukrainians whose loved ones were murdered, whose cities are shattered, who do not have the taken-for-granted comforts of electricity, water and heating in the dead of winter, their very lives threatened daily by the recurring plague of Russian missile salvoes. 

As the Russian reign of terror continued unabated, with missiles shattering the normally peaceful holiday season, Canadian non-profits and Catholic eparchies have stepped up their support to beleaguered Ukrainians.

Bishop Bryan Bayda of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada convened with other world leaders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) earlier this month at the Vatican to share their vision on their Church’s future. 

Tucked behind St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church on 45th Street in Calgary is the residence of Fr. Michael Bombak, his wife Kimberly and children Tobias, Miriam, Georgia, Philomena and Ignatius.

The Vatican has had diplomatic contact with Russia regarding comments Pope Francis made about Russian minorities being responsible for the worst acts of cruelty in the country's war on Ukraine.

After growth stagnation during the COVID-19 pandemic years, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools enrolment has bounced back and surpassed 20,000 students for the first time this school year.

Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby spent three days in Ukraine to show solidarity with the people there. It was the first visit of an archbishop of Canterbury to an independent Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government said it would sanction members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate.

Nine months after Russia launched its war on Ukraine, Pope Francis wrote to the Ukrainian people expressing his admiration for their courage and commitment to their country in the face of so much death and destruction.

Russia’s ambassador to the Vatican confirmed Pope Francis helped facilitate recent prisoner exchanges with Ukraine and said the Vatican is ready to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia.