RT. REV. MSGR. VLADIMIR BOZYK

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RT. REV. MSGR. VLADIMIR BOZYK Msgr. Bozyk fell peacefully asleep in the Lord on December 16, 2006 at the Riverview Health Centre at the age of 91. Vladimir was born to Rev. Pantelemon and Raifta Bozyk on October 13, 1915. After graduating from St. Paul's High School in Winnipeg, Vladimir attended St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton. He was ordained to Holy Priesthood in Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church, where his father was pastor, in July 24, 1938. Father Bozyk's early pastoral assignments included Welland, Kitchener and Brantford, Ontario. In 1942 he was transferred to serve Holy Ghost and Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Parishes in Winnipeg. During this time he served as chaplain for Ukrainian Catholic Students at the University of Manitoba where he organized the Gamma Rho Kappa Society, which later became the Obnova Club. In 1950, Father Bozyk was assigned to serve parishes in the Dauphin area and then in 1951 again returned to Winnipeg to the Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral and a year later became pastor at Gonor, MB where he remained for 20 years. It was during this time that he created the Catholic Catechism Correspondence Program from which more than 4300 students across the prairies benefited. In 1972 Father was assigned to Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Parish in East Kildonan where he served for 22 years. Here he was instrumental in building the priest's residence, the parish center, and the Kildonan Senior Citizens Complex. Under his leadership a Marriage Preparation Program was developed which he conducted for over 20 years. In 1993 Father Vladimir was honored with the title Mitrat followed by the title Monsignor. In 1994, he was appointed pastor of St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Parish where he served for six years until his retirement in 2000. Msgr. Bozyk was very generous in supporting missionary activity both in Ukraine and in Canada. He edited several booklets such as Prayers for Holy Communion and Questions Catholics Ask, as well as Catechism and Prayer Books for distribution in Ukraine. Just within the last few months he saw the completed translation into English of his father's book, Church of the Ukrainians in Canada 1890 - 1927. Msgr. Bozyk was predeceased by his parents, his brother Paul and sisters, Luba and Olga. He leaves to cherish his memory, his nieces and nephews, Olga Schaefer and Michael Pavloff (Alice) of Coral Gables, Florida; Robert Wall (Patricia) of San Antonio, Texas; Donald Wall of Newark, New Jersey; Patricia Bozyk; Christopher Bozyk (Sandra) of Vancouver, BC; Barbara Bozyk and Gregory Bozyk (Angel) as well as many friends and hundreds of faithful whose lives have been touched by his ministry. Special thanks to the staff of the Riverview Health Centre and to Olga Hnatiuk, Elaine Bowman, Lillian Deptuch and Father Michael and Marilyn Krochak for providing Msgr. Bozyk with care and comfort. Prayers will be sung on Wednesday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Sts. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, 115 McGregor Street. Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, December 21 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 400 Day Street. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery. Well done, good and faithful servant. VICHNAYA PAM'YAT CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 19, 2006