London 30 January 2020. The Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George is pleased to note the appointment of delegation chaplain, The Most Reverend Kenneth Nowakowski as bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Eparchy of the Holy Family in London. Bishop Kenneth succeeds delegation chaplain, The Right Reverend Hlib Lonchyna, who was transferred to Paris in the summer of 2019.
Bishop Kenneth was invested as a Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George in a ceremony held in London in September 2015.
The appointment by His Holiness Pope Francis was announced from Vatican City on 15 January 2020 and his enthronement is expected in April 2020. In a letter to the faithful, Bishop Nowakowski offered his thanks for their support over his 12 years as bishop of the Eparchy of New Westminster, in British Columbia, Canada.
“In this time, I have come to know most of the faithful of the Eparchy and have had the wonderful opportunity of journeying in faith together with you — our clergy, religious and the lay-faithful. The years have truly gone by very quickly for me,” said Bishop Nowakowski, who was born in North Battleford and served as chancellor of the Eparchy of Saskatoon.
“Although I am a prairie boy, I have come to love the ocean, the mountains and the cities and towns where our parishes are located. The direction that we have taken over the last decade has been to ensure that we are an ever-vibrant Eparchy, with vibrant parishes, dedicated clergy and active lay-faithful.”
He also expressed thanks for “the support and kindness that our Eparchy and I personally received from my neighbours and brothers in faith, the Roman Catholic Bishops of British Columbia and Yukon.”
Bishop Nowakowski, 61, was ordained to the priesthood in the Eparchy of Saskatoon on 19 August 1989. He obtained degrees from St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto and a degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Bishop Nowakowski is a former rector of Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Seminary. At a national level, he is also chairman of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Standing Committee for Development and Peace/Caritas Canada.
In his letter Bishop Nowakowski asked for prayers as he makes the move to London.“Over the next few weeks I will need to address many challenges related to my move from New Westminster to Westminster proper in the city of London. On my part, I assure you of my continued prayers for you”.