Episcopal Announcements

The Holy Father has accepted the retirement of the Most Reverend Harry Flynn as Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He is succeeded by his Coadjutor, the Most Reverend John C. Neinstedt.


The Pope has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Michael Wiwchar, C.SS.R as Bishop of the Eparchy of Saskatoon of the Ukrainians (Saskatchewan, Canada). The Holy Father has named as the new Bishop Father Bryan Bayda, C.SS.R., currently Pastor of Saint Mary’s Church and Superior of the Redemptorist community in Yorkton.

Bishop-elect Bayda was born in Saskatoon in 1961. He attended grade school in Aberdeen, Saskatchewan, and then attended Saint Vladimir’s College in Roblin, Manitoba, which was serving as the Minor Seminary of the Canadian Ukrainian Redemptorist Fathers. He entered the Congregation of Redemptorist Fathers and did his Novitiate in Oconomovoc, Wisconsin (USA). He took temporary vows in 1983 and perpetual vows in 1986.

He earned a Bachelors in Philosophy at St. Michael’s College in Toronto in 1982 and a Masters in Theology at the same institution in 1986. (In 1998 he would complete a Bachelors degree in Oriental Studies at the Sheptysky Institute in Ottawa.)

He was ordained a priest on May 30, 1987.

He served in various Redemptorist parishes in Canada. From 1987 to 1990 he was spiritual father and professor at Saint Vladimir’s College while continuing his University studies. In 1993 he named Director of the College. From 1994 to 1997 he was Superior and Director of Toronto’s Redeemer House. From 1997 to 1999 he served at the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Saskatoon. In 1999 he was Superior at “Welcome Home” in Winnipeg. From 2000 to 2002 he worked at Saint Mary’s in Yorkton where he is currently Pastor and Superior of the monastery of Redemptorist Fathers.