Yuriy Pylypchak Ordained Priest of Our Archeparchy

“Father Yuriy is a man who has seen a lot. For almost eight years, he's been a chaplain. He held the hands of about a thousand people as they crossed the threshold from this life to the next,” said Metropolitan Borys during his homily. He specially welcomed Fr. Yuriy’s hospital colleagues and expressed great respect for their service to the sick and dying, with love, patience, and healing kindness.

After the liturgy, Metropolitan Borys thanked the Church in Ukraine for the priests who were formed there. Father Yuriy was born and raised in Ternopil and graduated from the Patriarch Joseph Slipyj Seminary, led by Metropolitan Vasyl Semeniuk. He greeted Fr. Yuriy’s wife Iryna and daughters Diana and Sophia.

In his brief address after the liturgy, Fr. Yuriy Pylypchak thanked his family for their support, noting that family is half or even 90% of a priest’s pastoral success. He expressed his gratitude to his “second family” – hospital chaplains who were present at the ceremony. “They accepted me, challenged me, and helped me to grow,” noted Fr. Yuriy. He also thanked Fr. Teodozij Hren, OSBM, from Rome, who was his mentor during his studies there, and Fr. Yuriy Leshchynskyy, who serves in France. Both came from Europe to share this sacramental moment with a friend.

Fr. Yuriy also thanked the Archeparchy priests who gathered numerously for the solemn liturgy. “It is important for me to be part of the community, and I thank the priests for accepting me today. I hope for your support because you have experience and wisdom.”

During the liturgy, the Archbishop expressed his gratitude to two priests who are retiring – Fr. Yaroslav Kurpel, who served at the Christ the King Parish in Philadelphia, and Fr. Vasyl Sivinskyi, who was pastor at Saint Michael’s Church where the newly ordained Fr. Yuriy will serve. “Your long-term service in Ukraine and here has borne fruit, has a continuation, and you have successors, spiritual sons,” concluded Metropolitan Borys.