Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, has paid tribute to the late Bishop Peter Stasiuk, Emeritus Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne.

Bishop Stasiuk died aged 82 in his birth country of Canada.

Entering the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) in 1962, he was ordained a priest in 1967.

His early years of ministry were spent in Canada, where he developed a deep love for the Ukrainian people and for the Eastern traditions of the Church.

In 1992, Bishop Peter was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Eparch for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania, a role he fulfilled faithfully for nearly three decades until his retirement in 2020.

“The death of Bishop Peter Stasiuk brings to an end a life of dedicated service to the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia and New Zealand,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

“Bishop Peter, a member of the Redemptorists (CSsR), was also a significant contributor to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, and a constant reminder to the bishops of both the presence and the importance of the Eastern Catholic Churches as a vital part of the Catholic community here in this land.

“As we thank God for the gift of Bishop Stasiuk to the clergy and people of the Ukrainian Eparchy in Australia, we pray for his eternal rest.

“May his death also serve as a reminder to us all to continue to pray for a just and lasting peace in the country whose faith and traditions he valued so highly.”

Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Statement from Cardinal Mykola Bychok

Glory to Jesus Christ!

It is with deep sorrow and Christian hope in the Resurrection that I share the news of the passing of Bishop Peter Stasiuk CSsR AM, the second bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania.

Bishop Peter served our Church and our people with unwavering dedication, pastoral love, and missionary zeal.

Born in Roblin, Manitoba, Canada, in 1943, he entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) and was ordained a priest in 1967. His early years of ministry were spent in Canada, where he developed a deep love for the Ukrainian people and for the Eastern traditions of the Church.

In 1992, Bishop Peter was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Eparch for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania, a role he fulfilled faithfully for nearly three decades until his retirement in 2020.

During his episcopacy, Bishop Peter made significant contributions to the growth and vitality of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in our region:

• He strengthened parish life, providing pastoral care to communities scattered across vast distances of the Eparchy.
• He placed great emphasis on youth ministry and religious education
• He worked tirelessly to train and support clergy and religious and welcomed priests and religious from Ukraine and other parts of the world to serve the growing pastoral needs of our Eparchy.
• Under his leadership, the Church responded to waves of new migration from Ukraine, ensuring that recent arrivals found a spiritual home and community in Australia.
• He was a passionate advocate for the Ukrainian identity and heritage, supporting Ukrainian language, culture, and traditions within the broader Australian society.
• His ministry extended beyond church walls, actively engaging in ecumenical dialogue and representing the Ukrainian Catholic Church at national and international gatherings.
• Beyond his local ministry, Bishop Peter played an important role in the life of the global Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

For many years, he was responsible for youth ministry within the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, guiding initiatives to inspire young people in their faith and connect them with the rich spiritual tradition of our Church.

He also chaired the Synod of Bishops’ Committee for the Catechism, overseeing the development of Christ Our Pascha: The Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, ensuring that the faith was presented clearly and accessibly for our faithful around the world.

Bishop Peter also contributed greatly to the work of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC). Within its structures, he was a strong and consistent voice for the Eastern Catholic Churches, advocating for their traditions, pastoral needs, and rightful place within the life of the Catholic Church in Australia.

He was instrumental in bringing together the leaders of the various Eastern Catholic Churches in Australia, fostering a united approach to common challenges and promoting mutual support among the Byzantine, Oriental, and other Eastern traditions.

As part of his ACBC service, he also held the position of Deputy Chair of Caritas Australia, supporting the Church’s mission of humanitarian outreach and social justice both in Australia and internationally.

In recognition of his outstanding service to the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the wider community, Bishop Peter was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) by the Australian Government in 2012.

Even in retirement, Bishop Peter continued to serve with quiet humility and prayerful presence, especially among the Redemptorist community.

We thank God for the gift of Bishop Peter’s life and service. He was a Redemptorist missionary to the core, a faithful shepherd, and a father to many.

On behalf of the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Redemptorist Fathers, Bishop Peter’s family in Canada, and all who mourn his passing.

May Our Lord, whom Bishop Peter served so lovingly, grant him eternal rest in the company of the saints.