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Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
New transitional unit takes pressure off hospitals: minister
Archbishop Lawrence Huculak held a Bible and prayed as he blessed all 26 rooms of a new transitional unit in a Ukrainian Catholic personal care home in Winnipeg's North End. The Sister Innocentia Baraniuk interim unit, in the refurbished northern wing of the Holy Family Home at 165 Aberdeen Ave., was expected to welcome its first patients Wednesday morning. The unit will provide temporary accommodation for seniors who are transitioning out of hospital, but continue to need enhanced care before they can get into a personal care home. TYLER SEARLE / FREE PRESS Archbishop Lawrence Huculak, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy in Manitoba, blesses a room before the opening of the Sister Innocentia Baraniuk interim unit in the refurbished northern wing of the Holy Family Home at 165 Arberdeen Ave. The unit came online as Manitoba grapples with prolonged wait times and a lack of beds in hospitals and care homes. 'One of the biggest drivers of emergency wait room times is the availability of beds, and so often, older adults — seniors — who are waiting for a spot in their personal care home of choice are left to languish in beds for far too long.' Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said. 'These new beds offer a safe and comfortable space for patients to receive care while they wait.' The province spent $1.9 million in capital funding to renovate the outdated ward at the 317-bed facility. The addition means the number of transitional beds introduced by the government has reached 82 — above the 68 rooms pledged by the New Democrats in August 2024. Asagwara expressed hope the new space might provide opportunity for some seniors to better recover from their hospital stay, and potentially return home. Others will be afforded enhanced dignity and care before moving on to permanent long-term care, the minister said. The rooms are furnished with a hospital bed, television, closet and a shared bathroom. Nearly all are designed for individual patients, with the exception of a handful of larger rooms that have two beds, said Dr. Mark Karpa, board chair man at Holy Family. He said the facility has staff and equipment to fill the rooms. 'We're looking forward to the 26 new residents that will be joining our family here,' Karpa said. The funding covered the cost of a new nursing station; a tub and shower room; enhanced security cameras, alert systems and sprinklers; and a slate of cosmetic and safety upgrades. The unit features a communal area for patients to socialize and share meals. Staff at Holy Family will regularly assess and prepare a care plan for each patient, said Laurel Rose, executive director of health services with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Continuing Care. The length of time in which a patient stays in the unit will be based on their needs, and the capacity of the health-care system at large, she said. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'We expect there to be a relatively robust amount of flow through the unit,' she said. Asagwara anticipated the rooms will immediately benefit the health system. The minister pointed to 15 new beds that opened last year at the Interlake-Eastern Health Services facility in Selkirk. 'We saw the impact pretty much right away, in terms of taking pressure off of the emergency room at Selkirk Regional Health Centre,' Asagwara said. 'This is one piece of a pretty big puzzle… It's going to take us years to really, meaningfully move this big ship in a different direction, but we're actually starting to see that ship turn.' Tyler SearleReporter Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press's city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic's creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler. Every piece of reporting Tyler produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Herald Malaysia
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Metropolitan Gudziak: Pope Leo XIV is a shepherd who speaks to us all
Welcoming Pope Leo XIV's election, fellow American and leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia recalls that the newly elected Pope once studied theology at Villanova University in Pennsylvania and expresses his view that he is a pastor and a theologian. May 10, 2025 Pope Leo XIV straight after his election (@Vatican Media) By Svitlana Dukhovych and Linda BordoniWelcoming the new Pope and reflecting on the significance of his election, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, told Vatican News: "I share the joy of many Americans that an American has been chosen Pope, but my joy is hardly a national one. It's an ecclesial joy. It's a spiritual joy." "He wants to reach out," the Metropolitan continued. "He's continuing the message of openness that marked Pope Francis' pontificate, but probably adding juridical order - he is, after all, a canon lawyer." A name rich in meaning Reflecting on the name Leo , chosen by the new Pope, Metropolitan Gudziak pointed to its historical and theological resonance. 'Pope Leo XIV has taken the name of his predecessor Leo XIII,' he noted, 'who really articulated Catholic social doctrine in a modern way — a doctrine based on the Gospel, and a response to the plight of the poor and labourers during the 19th century industrialisation. But it was also a response to the rise of Marxism and communism.' Yet the significance goes even deeper he explained, 'We shouldn't forget that Leo was not only a pope of the 19th century, Pope Leo the Great was a very important theologian, the Pope of the Council of Chalcedon - a Council that helped the Church understand who Christ is: truly God and truly man.' Metropolitan Gudziak sees in the name Leo a theological and pastoral vision that is both rooted and forward-looking. 'It represents a very broad theological tradition which includes clarity in doctrine and a very radical social outreach. Those characteristics are represented in the choice of the name, and I hope they are also something that Pope Leo XIV will be able to articulate in a fruitful, life-giving manner.' A gentle shepherd 'He has a very kind face,' the Archbishop continued, 'He speaks in a gentle, loving way, emphasising that we are all loved by God. He encourages the world and the Church to build bridges, to engage in dialogue, to be open to all.' 'I thank God,' Metropolitan Gudziak concluded, 'and I thank the cardinals for choosing a Holy Father, a bishop of Rome, who will speak to me, will speak to you, will speak to all of us about God's love.' Metropolitan Gudziak went on to describe the new Pope as 'a leader who prays, a leader who is tender.'--Vatican News
CBS News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
"Pope of the People": Remembering Pope Francis for his compassion, transformation, humanity
In the heart of Northern Liberties and within the serene walls of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, a portrait of Pope Francis quietly watches over a post-Easter congregation. The atmosphere is both somber and joyful, fitting for a moment of reflection on a man whose legacy shaped a generation of Catholics and people of all faiths. Francis , who has been known throughout the world for his progressive stance on inequality, economic injustice, and human dignity, is being remembered by many not just as a religious leader but as a symbol of love, humility and reform. "Francis had a sense of the mystery of every human being," said Archbishop Borys Gudziak, who was appointed by Francis in 2019 as Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy. "He saw every human being as somebody created in the image and likeness of God." That sense of humanity wasn't just theological; it was deeply personal. The Archbishop recalled an emotional moment captured in a photograph, where he shared with the Holy Father the painful story of a friend's suicide. Francis's response wasn't one of distant solemnity, but of intimate compassion. "You can tell from that picture that he's listening," Gudziak said. Francis' papacy was marked by bold moves that challenged tradition while embracing those long cast aside. From his advocacy for climate action and migrant rights to his calls for church reform and outreach to the LGBTQ+ community, his leadership redefined what many believed a Pope could be. "He's very for the people," Stacey Jimenez said. "I really admire that about the Pope — that he was part of a culture that welcomed others, that we're very close to." Austin Simmons, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, said Francis' inclusive spirit brought him hope for the first time. "When the Pope is inviting you into the house… I'm not saying he's going to give you everything you want and want to hear, but he's at least inviting you to the table," Simmons said. "That's the important part." His openness didn't mean compromise on doctrine, but a deepening of dialogue; an effort to listen, understand and walk with those often left outside the church doors. In his death, the question now becomes: what will the church do with the space Francis carved out? "We move forward," said Gudziak, expressing hope that Francis's commitment to love, dignity and the sacredness of every person remains a living part of the Catholic Church.
CBS News
06-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Ukrainian archbishop based in Philadelphia asks people to pray for Pope Francis amid sickness
Pope Francis was absent from Ash Wednesday services in Rome as he remains hospitalized with double pneumonia this week, but the Vatican says the pope is in stable condition and has not had any more episodes of respiratory failure. Many remember Pope Francis' historic visit to Philadelphia in 2015, a moment that left a lasting mark on the city and its Catholic community. That includes Archbishop Borys Gudziak, who has served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy since he was appointed by Pope Francis in 2019. "I've met him many times, know him personally," Gudziak said. "He has brought us clergy down to really see the people. Not that we didn't before, but he has put an emphasis on this." He described the pope's leadership as deeply prophetic, with his words and actions often encouraging the faithful to step outside the walls of the church and reach out to those in need. "He has touched people who suffer and encouraged us to follow the example of Jesus in doing so," Gudziak said. As Pope Francis continues to recover from health complications, many in the Catholic community are praying for his swift recovery. Gudziak shared his thoughts on what he believes is Francis' lasting legacy: "He pushed the Catholic flock and I think many in the world to rethink many things," Gudziak said. "That we are a field hospital. It's muddy, it's bloody, but … the healing hand of the Lord is there." The archbishop emphasized the pope's focus on being close to those in need, a central aspect of his legacy. "The example of Jesus of being close is something that is at the center of his legacy. The fact that he says the Church is for all —'tutti, tutti, tutti' — all are welcome to the Church," he said. As Lent begins, Gudziak encourages the faithful to keep Pope Francis in their thoughts and prayers, especially given the uncertainty of his health. "In these critical days for the Holy Father, I pray for him and ask other people to pray for the pope, who has asked the world twice a week for three years to pray for Ukraine," Gudziak said.
