Most Reverend Michael Wiwchar, CSsR

Bishop Michael Wiwchar  was born to Wasyl and Anna Chajkowska Wiwchar on May 9, 1932 in Komarno, Manitoba, Canada. He grew up with two brothers, Nicholas and John, and his late sister, Sister Anita Olya Marie, SSMI.  His early schooling and aspirations took him to a Redemptorist minor seminary in Roblin, Manitoba where after his novitiate in Yorkton,Saskatchewan, he took his temporary vows as a Redemptorist in 1953 and his perpetual vows in 1956. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1959 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

During his early missionary and priestly years, 1961 – 1981, he served at St. Vladimir’s College as a teacher, Socius, Prefect and Director, Vocation Director and Campaign Director.  In addition he was the Sports Director, Coach Concert Director and Tours Manager. Bishop Wiwchar played all sports, but focused his athletic interests on hockey where he excelled.  He also trained many young men to be future hockey coaches.

In his pastoral and missionary role, Bishop Michael served as assistant pastor and pastor for parishes in the Roblin, Swan River and Ethelbert areas, as well as St. Joseph Parish in Winnipeg, Mb, Ss. Peter and Paul in Saskatoon, Sk, St. John the Baptist in Newark, NJ.  As a vocation director and Missionary, he preached and/or substituted for pastors in over 100 parishes in the Archeparchy of Winnipeg, Manitoba and in numerous parishes in the Saskatoon Eparchy, Saskatchewan.  His enthusiasm for serving in the parishes reflects his unending and unrelenting missionary and priestly zeal for serving and working directly with people – a zeal which remains undiminished to this day.  “Yes,” he says, “I have written some articles and special papers, but my primary interest has always been serving people in the Lord’s name.”

Bishop Michael also served as Extraordinary Confessor for the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Dauphin and Winnipeg, Manitoba and the Sisters of St. Joseph in Saskatoon and he preached retreats for diocesan clergy and religious sisters, in addition to full week missions and tridiums in many parishes.

He was consecrated the third Bishop Ordinary of Chicago’s St. Nicholas Eparchy in September, 1993.  There, he has focused pastoral, parish and parishioner attention on revitalizing the growth of our Ukrainian Catholic Church.  Under his leadership, annual Eparchial Conferences of clergy, religious and laity of parishes from Detroit to Honolulu have systematically addressed modern problems and needs of our Church and solutions.  They have also provided leadership training to ensure that lay people in each parish are prepared to carry out their share of responsibility for assuring the growth of the Church and seeing that it takes its rightful place in the life of our country in the new Millennium.

On November 29, 2000 Bishop Michael was appointed Eparch of Saskatoon Eparchy and was installed on February 12, 2001 at St. George’s Cathedral in Saskatoon. On December 9, 2000 Bishop Michael was appointed Apostolic Administrator of St. Nicholas Eparchy, Chicago. In order to look after the needs of both eparchies, Bishop Michael spent time in both Saskatoon and Chicago on a regular basis. As of June 4, 2003 with the installation of Most Rev. Richard Seminack as Eparch of St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago, Bishop Michael was able to dedicate his time to the Eparchy of Saskatoon on a full time basis until his retirement on June 27, 2008.

His Excellency is a member of the Ukrainian Catholic Synod of Bishops and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He was a member of the American  Catholic Bishops Conference committee for Aid to the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe and the a committee member of the Christian Education  (Catechesis) Canadian Catholic Bishops Conference. He is a charter member in two Councils of the Knights of Columbus and a Charter member of a 4th Degree Assembly. When asked about his hobbies and “other activities”, he responded, “Presently, there is no time for them.”

Curriculum Vitae of Bishop Wiwchar from 1993 – Present

July 1993 – Appointed bishop St. Nicholas Eparchy Chicago, Illinois

September 1993 – Ordained and Installed Bishop of St. Nicholas Eparachy

In August, 1994, Bishop Michael Wiwchar assumed the active role of the Pastor of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois. Bishop Michael continued in this position until November, 1998

Initiated Annual Eparchial Conferences to be held annually for representatives of all the parishes in the Eparchy in 1995 and the Annual Chrism Conference for the clergy.

Opened a Catechetical Office and an Office for Stewardship, Development and Communion. Established the Presbyteral Council and Personnel Board.

Worked to establish missions in areas, where Ukrainians live, but no Ukrainian Byzantine Churches exist, as well as to relocate existing parishes to more suitable locations.

1997 – present served as a member of the Aid to Eastern Europe Committee of the National Council of Catholic Bishops. Home missions member 1997 – 2000

November 29, 2000 Appointed Eparch of the Saskatoon Eparchy

December 9, 2000 Apostolic Administrator of the St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago until a Bishop was appointed.

June 4, 2003 Apostolic Administrator duties are terminated with the installation of Bishop Richard Seminack, Eparch of St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago.

May 9, 2007 – Handed in official resignation to Apostolic Nunciature and the Holy Father

May 2, 2008 – June 27, 2008 – Appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of Saskatoon until the ordination and enthronement of Bishop Bryan J. Bayda, C.Ss.R

June 27, 2008 – present – Eparch Emeritus of Saskatoon in residence at the Redemptorist Monastery in Ituna, SK