Over his 46 years of diaconal and priestly ministry, Father Stephen served as pastor/assistant pastor in numerous parishes in the Eparchies of Toronto, New Westminster, and Edmonton, including Saint Demetrius Parish, Etobicoke, ON; Saint Nicholas Parish, Victoria, BC; and Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God Parish, Saint Josaphat Cathedral, and Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, all in Edmonton.

In addition, he served as Director of the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, Spiritual Director of Holy Spirit Seminary; and Chancellor and Protosyncellus (Vicar General) of the Eparchy of Edmonton.

However, Father Stephen’s passion was and remains his love for religious education and catechesis, having served as Ukrainian Catholic Religious Education Consultant and Co-ordinator of Religious Services and Director of Religious Education at Edmonton Catholic Schools for many years.

For his dedicated service to God and the Church, he was awarded the ecclesial distinction of Mitrophoric Archpriest, with the right to wear a mitre, by His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav.

While Father Stephen is retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, he will serve as a project consultant for the Eparchy of Edmonton’s “Image to Likeness,” an online catechetical resource for students from sadochok to Grade 12, which will support their faith journey at home, school, and parish.

Father Stephen will be available for clergy substitution post-COVID-19.

With gratitude and love in our hearts, we wish Father Stephen a blessed retirement, as he looks forward to spending time with beloved spouse Maria, children and grandchildren!