In late February, the Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops (AWCB) gathered in Saanich, Greater Victoria, bringing together bishops from Western Canada, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. This annual event fostered discussions on pastoral concerns, prayer, and strengthening the Church’s mission. Established in 1974, the AWCB supports Canada’s Catholic hierarchy alongside the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and includes 22 dioceses and eparchies.
A Unique Gathering at Our Lady of Fatima Parish
This year’s meeting took place at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, where parishioners joined in the daily Eucharistic Liturgies, enhancing the conference’s spiritual atmosphere. A highlight was the Ukrainian Catholic Byzantine Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski (Eparchy of New Westminster) and assisted by Bishop David Motiuk (Eparchy of Edmonton), Bishop Michael Smolinski (Eparchy of Saskatoon), and Bishop Andriy Rabiy (Eparchy of Winnipeg).
Fathers Yuriy Vyshnevskyy (St. Nicholas, Victoria) and Stepan Vytvytskyi (St. Michael the Archangel, Nanaimo) organized the attendance of some of their parishioners to join and help with the responses. The Victoria choir uplifted the congregation, and Bishop Michael’s homily focused on the Jubilee Year, the bishops’ work, and prayers for peace in Ukraine and personal renewal.
Addressing Key Pastoral Issues
Over the three-day conference, bishops—joined by Fr. Jean Vézina, the General Secretary of the CCCB—explored key issues facing the Church today, including catechism, clergy formation, evangelization, Catholic education, vocations, ecumenical outreach, and social communications. The event also hosted a lineup of speakers, including Lisa Raven, Executive Director of Return to Spirit; Carey Pallister and James Borokowski, who presented on Omeka, a centralized digital archival platform; and Luke Stocking, Interim Executive Director of Development and Peace – Caritas Canada.
A Call for Prayer and Gratitude
The gathering showcased the bishops' dedication to the faith and pastoral leadership. In the wake of this session, Bishop Gary Gordon expressed “how meaningful it is for bishops to come together in faith and fellowship.”
On behalf of the Chancery of Victoria, we want to express deep gratitude to the visiting bishops, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, and all who contributed to this successful event. May we continue to pray for our bishops as they shepherd God’s people with wisdom and love.
Photography courtesy of Fr. Stepan Vytvytskyi
