Yes, Bo is short for Bohdan, but please call me Fr. Bo.
I was born and raised in the Holy Land. Yes, Saskatchewan. Mom and dad both raised us well in the faith (in the Cathedral in Saskatoon), knee deep in perogies, cabbage rolls and ice cream (our family had a Ukrainian restaurant called the O&O Drive-In), and we were active in the local Ukrainian community. My great-grandparents came to Canada as children in 1903, so, I’m 4th generation here… but I still can speak Ukrainian fairly well. Although I have Ukrainian roots, I consider myself fully and completely a Canadian.
I have 5 older brothers, and out of all 6 of us I am the best looking and humblest. My oldest brother Thomas is the Deacon, Architect and Engineer who designed this church building (as well as St. Sophia’s), and my fourth oldest brother is also a fairly well known Priest back in the “Holy Land”. The other 3 brothers are good too… a retired professor, retired fire chief and a painter/decorator.
As a young adult I lived with the Ukrainian Redemptorists in Winnipeg helping with the less fortunate at the “Welcome Home”, then I lived for a while in the Studite Monastery of the Holy Transfigureation (Mt. Tabor) in California. After that I studied for the priesthood in Ottawa at Holy Spirit Seminary. After graduating I worked for (then) Bishop Lawrence as Eparchial Youth Coordinator for several years, then he ordained me to the priesthood. I have served many parish communities including Lloydminster & Vermillion Districts, St. Stephen’s in Calgary and most recently at Dormition here on the West side of Edmonton.
I married a wonderful Ukrainian Catholic Sherwood Park-ian (before ordination) named Jess who has lots of patience with me (most days). Together we have 3 bright university-aged kids who live with us at home: Theodore (Theo), Raina and Seraphine (Sera).
Besides parish work I am a consecrated iconographer who loves to paint/write icons and teach, I’m often a camp director at Camp Oselia, a somewhat okay tech user (websites, Youtube, and other such, but not Social Media), a very lousy ventriloquist, and a fan of many things nerdy.
I know my missions in life is to love and serve God and his people, and to tell awful dad jokes. In this parish I will try to keep things real, practical, and profound for all of you as best as I can.
Please note: I am seldom formal. Let me repeat that again. I am seldom formal. You will often see me playing with little kids, or hanging spoons from my nose at banquets, as do others who have ADHD. You might see me walking around with my big black dress (pid-ryasa) and pectoral cross, or a clergy collar on Sundays and for the first few weeks around the parish, but soon enough you will see me in an old t-shirt and blue jeans. Also, I cheer for the Roughriders, and have awfl spelng, and likely I will make many typis when doing the weekly church hulletin.
Now that you know some stuff about me, it’s your turn.
I have set up a “Help me get to know you” form online. This is a wonderful way that you can introduce yourself to me, let me know what you do both at home and around the parish, and for you to tell me what you would like to see in our parish community. I even have a place for you to send me a photo of yourself so that I can learn your name.
This will likely take you about 10 minutes.
All you have to do it go to our parish website (ehcucp.ca) and click on the “Tell me about yourself” button, then… tell me about yourself and your family.
(Or if you are reading this bulletin online, then you can click on this hyperlink: http://ehcucp.ca/help-me-get-to-know-you/ Or, you can type that hyperlink into your computer’s browser. Or you can use this QR code. Or you can ask your children to help you find and fill in the form.)
Then as I get my feet under me in this new community, perhaps we can go out for tea or ice cream and get to know each other even better.
I look forward to getting to know you all.
