UGCC Head met Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister of Canada

On March 3, 2013 UGCC Head, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) met with representatives of the Canadian delegation: Jason Kenney, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister; Troy Lulashnyk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from Canada to Ukraine; Christopher Mahoney,

Administrative Assistant to the Minister; Dominic Roszak, Director of Department of Multiculturalism.  The meeting took place in the administrative building near the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.

As mentioned previously, the representatives of the Canadian delegation attended the Sunday Liturgy at the UGCC Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.

During the meeting UGCC Major Archbishop greeted the foreign dignitaries with   the appointment of Andrew Bennett to head the new Office of Religious Freedom in Canada.  UGCC Primate noted that Canada is known around the world for its fight for human rights and that in the last few years Canadian government stood up quite a few times to protect those who suffered persecution or experienced discrimination because of their faith or religious affiliation.  Turning to Andrew Bennet, UGCC Head said, “Be assured of my prayers and blessings in such an important endeavor emerging with your assignment in this new position.”

Also UGCC Primate described the program of the All-Ukrainian All-Church Pilgrimage to the UGCC Patriarchal Cathedral in Kyiv, which will take place on August 18, 2013 and the blessing of that cathedral during the Pilgrimage.  His Beatitude Sviatoslav shared that UGCC laity and bishops from Canada will be attending, and that the Archbishop of Edmonton Richard Smith, Head of the Canadian Bishops Conference is expected.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of memento gifts.

UGCC Department of Information