On November 8, 2026, Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski was solemnly enthroned as the fourth Archbishop and Metropolitan of Winnipeg of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada. Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia participated in the celebration and concelebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
The enthronement took place at the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Volodymyr and Olha in Winnipeg. The Divine Liturgy and Rite of Enthronement were presided over by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). Among the hierarchs participating in the celebration were Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia, Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Nicholas in Chicago, Bishop Bohdan Danylo of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Metropolitan Emeritus Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg and other bishops of the UGCC.
The celebration also brought together the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, representatives of other Churches, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and Ukrainian community organizations. More than 1,000 faithful gathered for the occasion.
During the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, read the papal bull by which Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski Archbishop and Metropolitan of Winnipeg. Bishop Andriy Khimyak, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, then proclaimed the patriarchal decree. During the Little Entrance of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav presided over the Rite of Enthronement, leading the new Metropolitan to his episcopal throne.
In his homily, the Head of the UGCC reflected on the responsibilities of episcopal ministry, emphasizing the bishop's calling to serve as a spiritual shepherd, teacher of faith and builder of ecclesial unity.
Addressing the new Metropolitan, His Beatitude Sviatoslav recalled the discernment of the Synod of Bishops in selecting a new leader for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada.
"He pointed to you!" His Beatitude declared, emphasizing the divine calling entrusted to Metropolitan Michael.
His Beatitude also expressed gratitude to Metropolitan Emeritus Lawrence Huculak for his many years of dedicated pastoral service and invited the faithful to support the new Metropolitan through prayer.
The enthronement took place exactly three years after Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski's episcopal ordination. On November 8, 2023, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak served as one of the co-consecrators at his episcopal ordination in the same Cathedral of Sts. Volodymyr and Olha. Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak was the principal consecrator, with Bishop David Motiuk of Edmonton serving as the other co-consecrator.
On July 9, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski Archbishop and Metropolitan of Winnipeg, accepting the resignation of Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, OSBM. Before his appointment, Bishop Michael served as the Eparch of New Westminster in Canada.
The new Metropolitan brings many years of pastoral and administrative experience to his ministry. From 1996 to 2006, he served in Ukraine, including at the Lviv Theological Academy and the Ukrainian Catholic University, where he held the position of Vice-Rector and taught canon law. He also served as Chancellor of the Patriarchal Curia of the UGCC.
Established in 1956, the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolia of Winnipeg comprises five Ukrainian Catholic eparchies across Canada.
Photos by Severyn Shved
Sources:
ugcc.ua
synod.ugcc.ua
Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Volodymyr and Olha
