Over two days of liturgical commemoration at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne, clergy, religious, and faithful honored the life and legacy of a beloved shepherd, missionary, and spiritual father.

The funeral services began on the evening of September 30 with a Hierarchical Parastas. The coffin was received at the cathedral by Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, C.Ss.R, the Ukrainian Catholic Eparch of Melbourne, together with Bishop Bryan Bayda, C.Ss.R., Ukrainian Catholic Eparch of Toronto and Eastern Canada, and clergy from across Australia and Canada. The bishops and clergy processed reverently into the cathedral as the faithful gathered in prayer.

Before the service began, the Gospel was read continuously beside the coffin—a tradition symbolizing the unceasing proclamation of God’s Word even in death. The Parastas was concelebrated by the bishops and priests, including Archbishop Charles Balvo, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia.

During his homily, Bishop Bayda offered a heartfelt reflection on Bishop Peter’s influence on his own life and vocation. He recalled how, as a young seminarian, Bishop Peter had encouraged him to take on a leadership role at a summer camp—an experience through which he discovered his gifts and calling through the Holy Spirit. Bishop Bayda described Bishop Peter as a man of faith, mentorship, and creativity—someone who inspired others as a pastor, teacher, musician, hockey coach, and friend across Canada, Australia, and beyond.

He concluded by inviting all present to continue Bishop Peter’s legacy through lives of love and service: “Allow the Holy Spirit to continue to speak through Bishop Peter and to speak through you to someone else. May the Holy Spirit use you to express to one another the immeasurable love of God.”

On October 1, the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, the cathedral once again filled with prayer for the Hierarchical Funeral Divine Liturgy. The Liturgy was celebrated by Cardinal Bychok, along with seven bishops, including Bishop Paul Bird, C.Ss.R. Clergy from across the Melbourne Eparchy joined them, as well as representatives of other Churches, including the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

In addition to Bishop Bayda, confreres who also traveled from Canada to Melbourne to pray for Bishop Peter and represent the Redemptorists of Canada were Fr. Bohdan Lukie, C.Ss.R., and Fr. Dmytro Dnistrian, C.Ss.R. Also in attendance were Fr. John Hodgson, C.Ss.R., Provincial Superior of the Redemptorist Province of Oceania, and Fr. Samsonsius Kono, C.Ss.R., Provincial Vicar.

In his homily, Cardinal Bychok described Bishop Peter as “a man of the Church” who deeply loved her liturgy, theology, and people. He praised Bishop Peter’s missionary zeal and tireless efforts to ensure that Ukrainian Catholics throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania could live their faith with confidence and joy. Reflecting on his passing, Bishop Mykola reminded the faithful that our true homeland is in heaven, saying: “Bishop Peter now hears the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

Following the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Peter’s remains were laid to rest in the crypt beneath the Cathedral. A memorial reception was then held, during which a letter from Bishop Peter’s family in Canada was read aloud. In it, his relatives expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Australian clergy and the faithful for their love, prayers, and care, noting that while Bishop Peter was Canadian by birth, Australia had truly become his home.

Bishop Peter will be remembered as a devoted pastor, teacher, and missionary whose deep faith, pastoral care, and leadership shaped generations of Ukrainian Catholics. Through his service, creativity, and love for the Church, he left an enduring mark on individuals and communities across Australia, Canada, and beyond.