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      Deacon Bohdan Vasyliv before his priestly ordination: God has called me to serve Him, and He will guide me.

      On December 1, at 10 a.m., Deacon Bohdan Vasyliv will be ordained hto the holy priesthood by His Grace, Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak. The ordination will take place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, located at 830 N Franklin Street in Philadelphia, bringing together clergy, family, and faithful to celebrate this momentous occasion. Before the ordination the Communication team asked Deacon Bohdan about his vocation and witness of service in the Archeparchy.

      What lessons or experiences from your diaconal ministry in the Archeparchy have been most impactful, and how have they prepared you for your priestly vocation?

      Although I have been assigned to one parish in Trenton, NJ, my pastor has been very caring and has blessed me with the opportunity to visit several other parishes. While serving with different priests, I received many valuable advices, particularly drawn from their own experiences. Perhaps the most important lesson I learned is a basic one: despite the many unplanned events that occur, it's easy to rush and worry. However, we must strive to remain as prayerful as possible, always remembering that we are here to serve God and His people.

      What aspect of priestly ministry excites you the most, and what do you hope to bring to your future parishioners through this ministry?

      I am the most excited about the prayerful aspect of being a priest. Serving Divine Liturgies and Vespers, bringing the thanksgiving prayers to the Lord. I know a priest has an incredible amount of work that he has to do, such as being an administrator, and counselor, visiting the sick, and overseeing many projects that are happening both in Church and around, but the most important aspect should always be prayer.

      How do you envision your role as a priest in supporting and guiding individuals and families on their spiritual journeys, especially within the diverse community of the Archeparchy?

      No two individuals are exactly alike. It is important to be open-minded and to listen to others, giving them the time they need. One of our main goals in guiding individuals and families is to provide compassionate pastoral care, fostering unity through our shared faith in the Risen Lord. A significant aspect of this work involves teaching through homilies and offering hope to those we serve.

      Is there a saint, scripture passage, or prayer that has been a source of inspiration or strength for you during your preparation for ordination? How has it shaped your perspective or spirituality?

      Recently, I heard a homily from one of the priests who shared a story from the book of Exodus. This homily has inspired me as I prepare for my ordination. I still have many questions, yet I recall how all my theology professors have emphasized that no one is ever completely prepared for this kind of calling. However, our Lord, in His mercy, will guide us, for it is He who calls. My goal is to let Him lead me.

      In that homily, the focus was on Exodus 10, where the great prophet Moses pleads with Pharaoh to allow the Israelite people to go into the wilderness to worship their God. Pharaoh, with his hardened heart, imposes restrictions on Moses about who can go.

      Moses insists that everyone, including the cattle, must leave, as they do not know how the Lord will ask them to worship Him. They need to be prepared to go, trusting that once they arrive, the Lord will provide them with instruction. It is essential for them to step out in faith and trust in Him. This has been my inspiration, for even though I feel that I still have so many questions, the Lord will not abandon me, but will guide me.