Bishop Cornelius Pasichny – Obituary
March 27, 1927 – January 30, 2014
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress sadly announces the passing of Bishop Cornelius Pasichny on January 30, 2014. A priest for over 60 years and a bishop for over 18, Bishop Cornelius was born John Pasichny on March 27, 1927 in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he first began his dedication to the church as an altar boy at his local church.
In September 1942, Bishop Cornelius entered the novitiate of the Basilian Fathers in Mundare, Alberta where he received monastic tonsure and the name Cornelius. Studying philosophy in Alberta, Ontario and New York, and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rom, Bishop Cornelius made his perpetual vow on October 31, 1948 and was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on July 5, 1943 by Archbishop Ivan Bucko at StsSergius and Bacchus Church.
Bishop Cornelius continued to further his education both in Canada and abroad between 1956 and 1963, teaching topics such as philosophy, Latin, Church Slavonic and the history of Ukraine in various cities throughout Alberta and in Ottawa, Ontario.
Father Cornelius was known for his love of the Ukrainian language and culture and music. He served various pastoral and administrative charges in the Canadian Basilian Province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, such as provincial consultor and bursar, and editor of the English-language periodical “Beacon.”
Throughout his dedicated service to the church, Bishop Cornelius had many different administrative responsibilities, including service as spiritual director of the newly –formed Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa, Ontario in the 1980s.After 43 years away from his native Winnipeg, in 1985 he was assigned to serve as parish priest of his home parish of St. Nicholas.
In November 1995 the Blessed Pope John Paul II appointed Fr. Cornelius Eparchial bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon. He was ordained a bishop on the 17th of January 1996 by His Grace Metropolitan Michael Bzdel along with their Excellencies Bishop Basil Filevitch and Bishop SevarianYakymyshyn. After serving as bishop of Saskatoon for three years, Blessed John Paul II appointed him Eparchial bishop of the Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada for the Ukrainians.
After reaching the age of 75, he offered his resignation to the Holy Father, which was accepted in May 2003. Bishop Cornelius was then succeeded as bishop by Bishop Stephen Chmilar, whom he co-consecrated along with His Beatitude LubomyrHusar.
Having completed his dedicated service as bishop of Toronto, Bishop Cornelius returned to the Basilian community, residing at the Monastery of St Gregory of Nyssa in Weston, Ontario, where he continued to engage in pastoral work while assistant editor of the monthly religious periodical Svitlo(The Light).
Funeral Services were held in Toronto Tuesday, February 4, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Nicholas Church, with Parastas. Services will then continue on Wednesday, February 5, at 10:00 a.m. at the same church with the Divine Liturgy. Lastly, on February 7, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Nicholas Church, Winnipeg, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated, followed by burial at Holy Family Cemetery.
The UCC would like to extend its deepest sympathies to the Ukrainian community for its recentand heartfelt loss. May the memory and good works of Bishop Cornelius forever be eternal!
VichnaYomupam’yat’!
