Pilgrims journeyed to the Bishop Velychkovsky National Martyr’s Shrine to gather in prayer for the annual Martyr’s Feastday on June 27th. Throughout the Feastday, the Redemptorists from the Winnipeg community took the faithful on a journey of Hope through the story of Blessed Vasyl and highlighted the Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrim of Hope themes as presented by the late Pope Francis.

On the eve of the Feastday, June 26th, Father John Sianchuk, C.Ss.R. began the evening with Great Vespers with Lytia. In his homily Father John incorporated the message of what does it mean to be “pilgrims of hope”. We are invited to walk towards hope, to walk with hope to others, to bring hope to others. It is a time of restoration and re-establishing our relationship with others and with God. The Church offers us this year an extraordinary time of mercy and grace of the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives. An action that can change us.

The evening concluded with a pilgrimage Rosary procession through the neighborhood, stopping at the Metropolitan’s Chancery for additional prayers. This is where Blessed Vasyl lived during his last year of life.

On the Feastday, June 27th, pilgrims gathered throughout the day and evening in prayer and reflection, especially on the themes of Pilgrims of Hope. The morning featured a Divine Liturgy with Father John Sianchuk, who delivered the homily on Our Call to Journey as Pilgrims of Hope. He shared that a pilgrim is one, who leaves behind wherever they were and is in search of something, seeking a greater knowledge of God and oneself. We are called to “keep our eyes fixed on Jesus”.

Father John shared how Blessed Vasyl journeyed with this hope. While in prison, he turned despair into hope, providing the opportunity for the prisoners to confess and receive the Holy Eucharist. Prisoners that were with Blessed Vasyl shared that they did not know how they would have survived those times because of Blessed Vasyl’s presence. He was their Chaplain, giving them the vision that the Lord was there with them.

The morning continued with a Moleben service in Honour of Blessed Vasyl led by Father Yevhen Zadorozhnyi, C.Ss.R. The homily delivered by Father Yevhen focused on the theme of Discovering Hope in the Signs of the Times. He shared that in the midst of the most painful tragedies, we can still find strength and comfort in the message of the Gospel and Jesus’s abiding presence, as we work through the issues that cause us great suffering.

Blessed Vasyl through his life example and martyrdom gives us strong courage, hope for light over darkness, truth over falsehood and good over evil. Blessed Vasyl made a choice – death for the sake of Christ. He was willing to not betray his loyalty to the Catholic Church. Through his great suffering and abuse, he was able to overcome all that he endured because of his strong Catholic faith rooted deeply in hope. Today he is an inspiration to all those suffering, especially during this time of war and Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The morning concluded with the Blessed Vasyl Chaplet. Together we prayed for the people of Ukraine and for peace.

The afternoon featured Father Larry Kondra, C.Ss.R. praying the Acathist in Honour of Blessed Vasyl and delivering the homily Called to be Visible Signs of Hope for Those in Need. He reminded us that creating hope is not about cheering people up, patting them on the back. It is about modestly reminding them that in the midst of joy and sorrow, there is reason for gratitude and hope.

Father Ivan Dzhur, C.Ss.R. was the main celebrant for the evening Divine Liturgy and shared with Word of God based on the theme Living our Baptismal Call. Through Blessed Vasyl’s own examples, he shows us that every small act of encounter with others means that we are living our baptismal call. We bring others closer together and closer into the discipleship of Jesus. In the world in which we live today, each one of us is called to rediscover our Baptismal call.

Fr. Ivan invited all those present to be drawn to renew in us that life to which we are called in baptism. Through our witness may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it. Let us hold fast to that anchor hope Jesus, in whom is our salvation and liberation.

The Feastday concluded with an uplifting spiritual experience of a community living Rosary where all the faithful participated in sharing the rosary prayers in their own language. Throughout the day all the participants received anointing with Holy Oil that was blessed by the relics of Blessed Vasyl.