RT. REV. ARCHPRIEST EUGENE RUDACHEK

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RT. REV. ARCHPRIEST EUGENE RUDACHEK It is with both a sense of loss and gratitude that the Church in Manitoba bids farewell to a dedicated priest of over 65 years. Fr. Eugene Rudachek was born in Winnipeg March 17, 1925 to John and Anastasia (Sikorski) Rudachek. He attended Champlain, Machray and St. Paul's High School and College. He graduated with a B.A. from University of Manitoba in 1946. Before this however, he joined the Air Force in 1942 and served as a radio operator for the duration of the Second World War. [Later, after his ordination, Queen Elizabeth appointed him in 1955 as Chaplain to the Canadian Army with the rank of Captain.] After the war, he entered St. Augustine Seminary in Toronto and was ordained to the Priesthood together with his older brother, Monsignor Yaroslav (Gerry) Rudachek at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Cathedral by Bishop Andrew Roborecki on July 8, 1951. After serving a number of parishes in Manitoba, he was stationed in Saskatoon to serve as the Chancery Secretary while doing pastoral work in outlying parishes. Pastoral ministry as a priest was Fr. Eugene's love. He returned to Manitoba in 1956 and for the next seven years he served as Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk's Secretary while also serving in parishes in Winnipeg. It is during this period that he organized and founded St. Anne Parish in North Kildonan. His tireless missionary spirit saw Father organize two other parishes which, however, did not last to this time. Over his six and a half decades of priestly ministry he served in many parishes all across Manitoba. Later in life his indomitable desire to serve as a priest also took him to a parish in Richmond, BC until his retirement. He continued to serve to the end as a Confessor at Holy Family Parish. He is remembered and loved by the many people whose lives he blessed by his tireless efforts to teach catechism, support youth initiatives and to motivate his faithful to a more engaged Christian witness. Father Eugene, was a father of the Pro-life effort in Manitoba and was passionate about this throughout his life. He took part in the March for Life right up to the end and was planning to participate this year as well. He seldom had a conversation where he did not attempt to raise awareness of the tragedy of abortion in this country. Father was even arrested in 1989 for participating in a 'rescue mission' at Winnipeg's Morgentaler clinic. He is remembered for being one of the first to promote the sponsoring of Vietnamese refugees to Manitoba. He encouraged many to get involved with the cause and sponsored families himself. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus as long as he was a priest. He supported Ukrainian and many other causes. He recently sponsored over 40 Syrian orphans and was sending aid to alleviate the suffering of the 1.5 million internal refugees in Ukraine and the families of soldiers killed in the ongoing war. Father Eugene was dedicated to his priestly vocation with his entire being throughout his life up to the day of his passing on January 6, 2017. He will be sadly missed, but always greatly loved and admired. Priestly Parastas will be prayed at Holy Family Church (1001 Grant Avenue) in Winnipeg on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Divine Liturgy will take place at St. Anne Church (35 Marcie Street) in Winnipeg on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Holy Family Cemetery. Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak and the clergy of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy will lead both services. In blessed sleep grant him eternal rest, O Lord. Vichna yomu pamyat'!CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL  204-586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 11, 2017