Bishop Michael (UGCC) rests in the Lord

(UGCC) - With deep sadness we report that on August 26, 2008, in Saskatoon, Most Rev. Bishop Michael (Kuchmiak) went to rest in the Lord.

He was born on February 5, 1923, in Obertyn, which is in the Ivano Frankivs\'k Region. He received his primary and intermediate education in Obertyn and Kolomyja and was a teacher.

After the end of the war he went to study in Rome. In 1947 he entered the monastery of the Redemptorist Fathers and after the novitiate went to Canada to study. In October 1948 he took his perpetual vows in the Congregation of the Redemptorist Fathers.

On May 13, 1956, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Isidore Borecky.

On March 8, 1988, he was appointed an Auxiliary Bishop for Philadelphia.

On April 27, 1988, he received episcopal ordination from the hands of Metropolitan Archbishop Stephen Sulyk.

On October 10, 1989, he became the Apostolic Exarch for Great Britain.

In 2002 with the blessing of His Holiness John Paul II he took a deserved rest, passing the throne of the Exarch to Bishop Paul Chomnycky.