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God’s Call is Ageless
On December 24, 2020 Shelley Mackie formally made her commitment to join the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. The ceremony of acceptance was held at the Bethany Home Chapel in Winnipeg. Shelley’s path to this moment in her life was an unexpected journey. Shelley making her commitment Shelley grew up in rural Manitoba and feels blessed to have been surrounded by her family with deep roots of faith and love. Her mother was Ukrainian Catholic however as a family they wer
Greetings from Mundare Alberta
Христос Рождається! Greetings and warm wishes for a healthy, safe and hopeful new year.From the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate – Mundare, Alberta.Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Bishop David Motiuk, Bishop for the Eparchy of Edmonton, Sr. Laura Prokop, Sr. Stephanie Olynyk, Sr. Doloretta Shalagan, Sr. Yvonne Stadnyk
Христос Рождається! Let us Praise Him!
Once again, we come together to celebrate Christ’s Birth, to rejoice, to thank God for the marvellous gift, His Son. In all our SSMI Homes throughout the Province we are united in singing ‘God Eternal is Born’, in tasting bread and honey. This year’s celebrations differ from other years, where, through the pandemic, all around, we encounter some loneliness, uncertainty, fear. But Christmas brings a consolation: we are not alone as we travel. In this year of the pandemic, God invites us to keep a
60 years of Religious Life – A Double Celebration!
Sister Doloretta Shalagan, managed to mark her 60th anniversary in religious life twice during 2020. The first celebration was on August 8, 2020 at the Sisters’ home in Mundare, Alberta. For the festivities, the sisters were joined by one special guest from outside their community, Bishop David Motiuk from the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton. The second celebration for Sister Doloretta was on November 6th when Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk MLA for the Vegreville/Fort Saskatchewan
Sister Eugenia Mary Stefaniuk, SSMI 1935-2020
Sister Eugenia Mary Stefaniuk, after a brief struggle with her health, died peacefully on 26 November 2020, at Bethany Home in Winnipeg, MB, living with purpose till her last breath. Born - 11 August 1935Entered - 30 June 1957Clothing Day - 12 January 1958First Vows - 13 January 1960Final Vows - 15 August 1965Death - 26 November 2020 Mary (Sister Eugenia) was born to Nicholas and Tatianna (nee Ben) on August 11, 1935, in Melville, SK, and grew up in Kelliher, SK. Her father was
Sisters in British Columbia Commemorate Blessed Josaphata Feastday
Sr. Angelica Hodowansky presenting on the life of Blessed Josaphta Our Annunciation Home celebration in New Westminster began with Divine Liturgy at Holy Eucharist Cathedral on November 20. The two priest celebrants were Mykhailo Ozorovich and Andrii Malysh, with Sr. Patricia Lacey cantor and Sr. Angelica Hodowansky. It was the first day of the Covid-19 lockdown in our province of British Columbia. However, our two dear friends (unofficial Associates) joined us for the Liturgy and then for
Blessed Josaphata Feastday
The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate throughout the world gathered on November 20 on the Feastday of Blessed Josaphata. In Canada communities gathered in prayer in their Chapels. 1. Provincial House Toronto 2. Bethany Home Winnipeg 3. Mount Mary Immaculate Ancaster 4. SSMI Community in Saskatoon Provincial House TorontoBethany Home WinnipegAncaster Chapel https://youtu.be/ZQRy6Q_B62Y
Sister Mary Holowaty, SSMI 1930-2020
On October 11, 2020, Sister Mary Holowaty, of Ancaster, ON, died at the age of 90, having served 73 years in religious life. Her Life Mary was born in Kitchener, ON, on February 22, 1930, daughter of William (Vasyl) Holowaty and Anne Zuk (Жук), who had both immigrated from the Ternopil region of Ukraine. She was the second of five children, with an older brother, Joseph, two younger brothers, Michael and Walter, and a younger sister, Barbara. Her father and brother Joseph had been ca
Bethany Home Annual Retreat
The Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate at Bethany Home in Winnipeg gathered in August for their annual retreat, where they were invited to pray and reflect on Pope Frances' encyclical, "Laudate Si" (LS), ("Praised Be"). LS is a quotation from St. Frances' own prayer of giving praise to God for Creation. The Encyclical draws on Scripture, church teachings and contemporary scientific explorations. LS is a testament to God who willed all of Creation into being out of God's immense love, as well as
SSMI Celebrate 190 Years of Collective Lives of Service for God’s People.
The heart is truly grateful when it finds it’s Life Path of self-giving Service to Others. SSMI in Winnipeg celebrated their Jubilarian Sisters with great joy on Sunday, August 23 with a Liturgy of Thanksgiving celebrated by Metropolitan Lawrence. Some close friends joined later for a relaxing afternoon in an outdoor space that provided a celebration spirit of appreciation. Sr. Andrea Kruk (60 Year Jubilee), Sr. Marianne Telenko (75 Year Jubilee), and Sr. Ruth Aney (55 Year Jubilee) Sister Maria
Sisters Share the Joy of Consecrated Life from Afar
Sister Lawrencia Semjaniv, SSMI – 60th Anniversary of Consecrated Life The parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Montreal, celebrated a Divine Liturgy for the intention of Sister Lawrencia Semjaniv, SSMI, who is celebrating her 60th Anniversary of Consecrated Life this year. The celebration took place on the evening of August 19, 2020, the Feast of the Transfiguration, on the Julian Calendar, with pastor, Rev. Ihor Oshchipko presiding. Sister Lawrencia entered the SSMI Congrega
Marian Pilgrimage 2020
This year the Marian Pilgrimage was cancelled to the public due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. In line with the Government and Eparchial restrictions, the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate honoured the day by having a private mini-pilgrimage. Reverend Yuriy Tykhyy and his Dobrodijka Marijka came from Toronto to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Sisters home Chapel. After the Divine Liturgy, we processed to the “Ancaster Mother of God Shrine” while reciting the Rosary. We completed the Rosary at t