Parcourez la nécrologie de Bishop Stephen Victor
Chmilar 2024 résidant dans la province Alberta pour le détail des funérailles
Obituary for
Bishop Stephen Victor Chmilar
Bishop Stephen Victor Chmilar, the 3rd Bishop Eparch of Toronto and Eastern Canada, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2024, in Stoney Creek, Ontario, following a lengthy illness. He was 79 years old. At the time of his passing, he was Bishop Emeritus, a role he held with grace and devotion until his final days.
Most Reverend Chmilar was born May 24, 1945, in Lamont, Alberta, Canada. He is the son of Steven Chmilar and Alexandra Osinchuk. As the fourth child of a sibling of six, young Victor grew up in the Ukrainian community of Mundare, Alberta where he entered the Basilian Order. During his novitiate, he chose the name Stephen.
His journey into the priesthood was marked by years of dedicated study first at the University of Ottawa (1966 – 1968), where he obtained his Baccalaureate in Philosophy. This was followed by a Baccalaureate in Theology at St. Paul University in Ottawa (1968-1972). As a member of the Order of Saint Basil the Great, he was ordained a priest by Most Rev. Neil Savaryn O.S.B.M. on June 11, 1972.
Three decades of pastoral work included: Pastor of Ukrainian Catholic parishes in Chipman and Borschiw of the Mundare Pastoral District (1972-73); Associate Pastor of St. Basil the Great, Edmonton, AB (1973-75); Pastor of St. John the Baptist, Ottawa, ON (1975-78); Associate Pastor of St. Basil the Great, Edmonton, AB (1978-82); Pastor of St. Mary’s, Vancouver, B.C.(1982-84); Pastor of Transfiguration of our Lord, Denver, CO (USA) (1984-88); Associate Pastor of St. Nicholas, Buffalo, N.Y. (USA) (1988-90); Pastor of St. Nicholas, Hamilton, ON (1990-2000); and Pastor of Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mississauga, ON (2000-2003).
In 1991, Fr. Stephen was incardinated in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada. He assisted in the Marriage Tribunal in both Ottawa and Edmonton. He served for five years as the Spiritual Director at the Novitiate of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Mundare, and also worked as a missionary/ retreat master across Canada. He directed summer camps in Ottawa, Edmonton and British Columbia.
At the time of his nomination Bishop-elect, Stephen was Chancellor, member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors of the Eparchy of Toronto. On May 3, 2003, His Holiness Pope John Paul II named Reverend Stephen as the new Bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada. He was ordained a bishop by His Beatitude Lubomyr Cardinal Husar in Mississauga on July 23, 2003.
With an unwavering Motto: “Feed my sheep,” Bishop Chmilar tirelessly focused on ensuring his flock had the needed support to do their pastoral work. His dedication of faith, leadership and tireless service to the Ukrainian Catholic community also contributed to the ordination of eleven priests and fifteen deacons. Even while attending to his own complex medical and rehabilitative needs, he carried his Ministerial work into various hospital settings as a patient.
Bishop Stephen is survived by his sisters, Luba Romach and Stephanie Courchesne, along with his nieces and nephew Edwardine, Steven and Tammy. He is predeceased by his parents and siblings: Adeline and Dmytro.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Veteran Soldiers (which was Bishop’s plan during retirement) and the canonization fund of The Blessed Sr. Josaphata Hordashevska (Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate).
Visitation at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 3625 Cawthra Road, Mississauga, Ontario, on Friday, December 27, 2024 throughout the day from 12 p.m., with Prayers ongoing from 8 p.m. – 8 a.m. Parastas from 12 – 2 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at 9 a.m.
Panakhyda at St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Parish, 7007 109 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at 7 p.m. Divine Liturgy at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Parish, 5417 Sawchuk Street, Mundare, Alberta on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. Interment Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Township Road 532, Mundare, Alberta. Online condolences at newediukfuneralhome.com
To view a livestream of the Panakhyda, please visit youtube.com/live/1Ckq15P2ERw?feature=share
To view a livestream of the Divine Liturgy, please visit www.parkmemorial.com and select “Webcasting” from Bishop Stephen’s Book of Memories.
Panakhyda Livestream
2024
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Bishop Stephen Victor
Chmilar 2024..
Décès pour la Ville: Lamont, Province: Alberta
avis deces Bishop Stephen Victor
Chmilar 2024
necrologie Bishop Stephen Victor
Chmilar 2024
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Bishop Stephen Victor
Chmilar 2024 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.