Corpus Christi 2026 in Kailua

Today was one of the most meaningful observances of the Feast of Corpus Christi at my parish in a long, long while.  Our Parochial Vicar, Fr. Arrion, organized a Eucharistic Procession and Benediction for after the 11AM Mass ... which is usually the least attended of our three Sunday Masses.  But this morning was somewhat of a pleasant surprise as a good crowd of people turned up to participate in the special observances

Over 250 people - young and mature - walked and sang behind the Blessed Sacrament, as Fr. Arrion led us around the grounds of our church and school.  At mid-point, we paused in the school courtyard for prayers and a blessing, while many people knelt on the asphalt.

Scenes from my parish's Eucharistic Procession

We then made our way back to the church for more Eucharistic Adoration and prayers, before concluding with solemn Benediction.  The event was clearly a success ... and to be among so many of my fellow parishioners in public worship of our Eucharistic Lord was simply AWESOME.  I was moved and elated, to say the least.

And what made for a perfect ending to the Feast Day observances was the unexpected discovery of a potential holy image in one of the many photos I took during the procession - see below.

So did the Holy Face of Christ manifest in the sky over our church?  My friends and I believe so.  Compare the faint image under the sun (circled) with the photo of the face from the Shroud of Turin inserted at the bottom-left.  Not saying it's a miracle but there's an uncanny resemblance!  Regardless what, it was an awesome and immensely blessed day in Kailua!

O Sacrament most holy,

O Sacrament divine,

All praise and all thanksgiving,

Be every moment Thine!

Champion is on my Bucket List!

There are at least a dozen locations in the United States that claim heavenly visitations from the Blessed Virgin Mary.  However, only one series of apparitions has the distinction of being formally declared "worthy of belief" by the Catholic Church.  For those who haven't yet heard of them, they occurred at Champion, Wisconsin.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion

Only three apparitions were claimed in Champion by the seer - Adele Brise - in October 1959.  Our Lady's message was relatively brief yet her few words spoke volumes and have stood the test of time; resonating in the hearts of many, including this author's.  In fact, the Blessed Virgin's requests at Champion (along with Adele's faith example) touched me so deeply, I was inspired to create a short video to help spread the message - click/tap the image below to view it.

Our Lady of Champion, as described by the visionary,

Adele Brise.  Click/Tap on the image to learn more

about the seer and the apparitions.

The quaint town of Champion has since become a popular destination for people seeking Peace, deeper Faith, and Healing ... and many, many graces have been reported by visitors over the decades.  Officially approved by the local Bishop on December 8, 2010, today the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion welcomes over 200,000 pilgrims annually!  It's definitely on my Bucket List.

Saint of the Month - June 2026: Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky

Bl. Vasyl Velychkovsky

Bishop and Martyr

Memorial: June 27th

EARLY YEARS

Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky was born on June 1, 1903, in Stanislaviv, then part of Austria-Hungary and today known as Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine.  He was born into a devout Ukrainian Greek Catholic family deeply rooted in faith and service to the Church. From an early age, he displayed a love for God and a strong religious character.  As a young man, he witnessed political turmoil and conflict in Eastern Europe, experiences that helped shape his understanding of sacrifice and commitment.  During his youth he briefly served with Ukrainian national forces, but he soon discerned a vocation to dedicate his life entirely to Christ and His Church.  In 1920 he entered the seminary in Lviv and later joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists. He professed religious vows and was ordained a priest in 1925.

A WORTHY PRIEST OF GOD

As a Redemptorist priest, Fr. Vasyl devoted himself to preaching missions and evangelization.  He served particularly in the Volyn region, where he became known as a gifted preacher and an adept spiritual guide.  His missionary work reflected the Redemptorist charism of bringing the Gospel especially to those in need of spiritual renewal.  He possessed a remarkable ability to communicate the truths of the faith with simplicity and conviction.  He worked tirelessly among the people, preaching retreats, hearing confessions, and strengthening Catholic life among communities facing social and religious challenges.  His ministry was marked not merely by administrative efficiency but by pastoral charity and genuine concern for souls.  People recognized in him a man of prayer whose outward activity flowed from a deep interior life with God.

A VOCATION OF FRUITFUL SUFFERING

The greatest trials of Bl. Vasyl's life began with the rise of Soviet persecution of the Church.  Communist authorities viewed the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church as a threat because of its loyalty to Rome and its influence among the people.  In 1945 Soviet authorities arrested him and charged him with anti-Soviet activities.  He was pressured to renounce his union with the Catholic Church and join the Russian Orthodox Church under state control, but he refused with unwavering determination.  His fidelity to the Church and to Christ became one of the defining marks of his sanctity.  Initially sentenced to death by firing squad, his punishment was later reduced to ten years of hard labor in prison camps.

Even within prison walls, Fr. Vasyl continued his ministry.  Rather than allowing suffering to break him, he transformed imprisonment into a field of apostolic work.  Witnesses remembered his remarkable courage and spiritual strength.  He secretly preached to fellow prisoners, encouraged those who had lost hope, and heard confessions whenever possible.  Accounts describe him fashioning makeshift Rosary beads and offering spiritual missions to inmates despite the severe risks involved.  His faith remained unshaken in the face of interrogations, harsh labor, and torture.  Rather than surrendering to despair, he viewed suffering as participation in Christ's own passion.  His example revealed a profound sanctity rooted in trust in Divine Providence.

Bl. Vasyl's arrest mugshots

A BISHOP OF THE "UNDERGROUND" CHURCH

After his release from imprisonment in 1955, Fr. Vasyl returned to ministry despite continued surveillance and danger.  The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church had been forced underground, yet the Church survived through courageous priests and bishops who secretly ministered to the faithful.  In 1959 the Holy See selected him for leadership within the persecuted Church.  Then in 1963 he was secretly consecrated a bishop by Metropolitan Josyf Slipyj in extraordinary circumstances.  The consecration took place discreetly because public episcopal activity would have led immediately to arrest.  Bishop Velychkovsky was appointed to guide and strengthen the underground Church in Ukraine during one of its darkest periods.

As bishop, Blessed Vasyl showed exceptional courage and leadership.  He organized a clandestine sacramental ministry and supported priests and faithful who risked imprisonment simply by practicing their religion.  He became known as a father and protector of the underground Church.  His work ensured continuity of Catholic life during years of systematic persecution.  Yet his activities once again attracted Soviet authorities.  In 1969 he was arrested for a second time and imprisoned.  Following his release in 1972 he was exiled from the Soviet Union and eventually arrived in Canada.  His health had been severely damaged by years of imprisonment, harsh treatment, and even torture.  He died in Winnipeg on June 30, 1973, only a year after his exile. Many believe that his sufferings and prison mistreatment directly contributed to his death.

GLORIFICATION AND LEGACY

The Church later recognized Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky as a Martyr for the faith.  On June 27, 2001, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II during the Pope's visit to Ukraine.  His witness stood alongside numerous martyrs who suffered under Communist oppression during the twentieth century.  Thirty years after his death, the exhumation of his remains - discovered incorrupt - attracted considerable attention, and his relics were later enshrined in a chapel dedicated to him inside St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church in Winnipeg, where pilgrims continue to seek his intercession.

Bl. Vasyl's tomb located in Winnipeg, Canada

The spiritual legacy of Bl. Vasyl extends far beyond the historical circumstances of Soviet persecution.  He remains a powerful witness to religious freedom, fidelity to conscience, and perseverance in suffering.  His sanctity was not based on dramatic accomplishments alone but on unwavering faithfulness to Christ in every circumstance.  He demonstrated that true greatness in the Christian life is measured not by worldly success but by courage, love, and trust in God.  His life continues to encourage believers to remain steadfast in their faith even during hardship and opposition; that sanctity is possible even amid the darkest trials of human history.

Bl. Vasyl Velychkovsky, pray for us!