st. Stephen's remembrance day celebration

On Sunday November 3rd, a beautiful celebration was held to commemorate Remembrance Day.  The Knights of Columbus Assembly, together with the parish community, presented the Canadian flag and the memorial wreaths in respect of the many thousands of Canadians that gave their lives and continue to put their lives at risk for our freedom.  The wreaths are symbolic as they do show that we remember and will not forget.  The choir’s singing of Veechnaayaa Paamyaat, (Ukrainian for “remembrance forever), during the wreath presentation brings tears to your eyes.  Poems were read, our resident bugler, Brett played enhancing the mood, and Father Bo gave a beautiful blessing.  I thought that standing to sing “O Canada” was the finale, when the men of our choir stood together to sing “Last Night I had the Strangest Dream”.  Father Ephrem shared that he was in the confessional and stopped to hear the men singing.  He loved all the music and thanked the choir for their gift. I left the church feeling so uplifted and appreciative of all of God’s Blessings that we experience daily at St. Stephen’s.

​Special thanks to The Knights of Columbus Assembly, Father Bo, Father Ephrem, John Siroiska, Tim Popel, Brett Bernakevitch, Connor Chelack and our choirs for a heartfelt and powerful message.