REV. VITAL BASIL PIDSKALNY, O.S.B.M

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REV. VITAL BASIL PIDSKALNY, O.S.B.M On December 10, 2001, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, Reverend Father Vital Basil Pidskalny O.S.B.M. fell asleep in the Lord at St. Josephs Nursing Home in Saskatoon at the age of 80 years. He is survived by one brother John (Mary) of Portage la Prairie, MB; numerous nephews and nieces, three of whom followed him in the religious life - Fr. Peter C.Ss.R. of Wynyard, SK, Fr. Joseph O.S.B.M. of Vancouver, and Sr. Anne S.S.M.I. of Winnipeg; also members of the Basilian Order. He was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Melania (nee Sawchak) brothers, Michael, Frank, Fr. Soter O.S.B.M., Nicholas, and Dmetro; sisters, Anne, Sr. Donna S.S.M.I., and Mary. He was born on January 28, 1921, in Ethelbert, MB, to parents who were part of the first immigration of Ukrainians to Canada in the 1890s. For over 65 years, 54 of them as a priest, Fr. Vital was a faithful member of the Order of St. Basil the Great of St. Josaphat. He entered the Basilian Orders novitiate in Mundare, AB, in 1936, professed solemn vows in 1942, and was ordained to the priesthood on August 2, 1947 in Grimsby, ON, by Bishop Basil Ladyka O.S.B.M. In the ensuing years, Fr. Vital served the Basilian Order and the Ukrainian Catholic Church and faithful in many capacities. He was superior of Basilian homes in Mundare and Edmonton. He was parish priest in Vegreville, AB, Mundare, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg. In addition he served in Winnipeg from 1970 to 1982 as Provincial Superior of the Basilian Order in Canada, and in Rome, Italy from 1982 to 1992 as Vice General of the Basilian Order. He also travelled extensively, giving many missions and retreats. Fr. Vital was blessed with many talents but will perhaps be best remembered for the humble and quiet dignity that characterized his many years of priestly life. Special thanks to Sr. Theodosia of the Ukrainian Sisters of St. Joseph and to the sisters and staff of St. Josephs Nursing Home in Saskatoon for their loving care of Fr. Vital during his final months of life. Thanks also to Dr. Don Korzenowski of Edmonton and Dr. E. Nykiforuk of Saskatoon for their caring service. Many thanks as well to Paul and Fran Machibroda of Saskatoon for the special care they gave their beloved uncle. Prayer service on Friday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Basils Ukrainian Catholic Church, 7007 - 109 Street, Edmonton, where a memorial divine liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m. Most Reverend Bishop Lawrence Huculak O.S.B.M. and the Basilian Fathers will be the celebrants. Prayer service on Sunday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Winnipeg where a funeral divine liturgy will be celebrated on Monday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m. Most Reverend Metropolitan Michael Bzdel C.Ss.R. and the Basilian Fathers will be the celebrants with interment in the Basilian Fathers section of Holy Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Basilian Fathers Students Education Fund would be gratefully accepted. Park Memorial Ltd. Funeral Administrators and Directors (The Chapel on the Boulevard) (780) 426-0050.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 15, 2001