Father Len Ratushniak, CSsR

The Private Priestly Parastas will be Livestreamed at 4:30pm, September 30th
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Fr. Leonard Ratushniak, C.Ss.R., fell asleep in the Lord on September 27 at Holy Family Home in Winnipeg, after a valiant battle with cancer.  He is predeceased by his parents Stephen and Amelia  Ratushniak  and survived by his sister Sandra Herbison (Robert), and his brother Andrew and nieces and nephews : Jeremy (Krista), Kathleen, Marshall, Carmen (Scott), and Alanna and grandnephews Louis, Sean and Beau.

Fr. Len was born in Canora, SK on February 8, 1942.   After graduating from St. Vladimir's College in Roblin, MB, he entered the Redemptorist Novitiate in Meadowvale, ON and professed his first vows as a Redemptorist on August 28, 1961.   He pursued seminary studies and completed an ecclesiastical and civil degree in theology at St. Paul’s University, Ottawa, ON in 1968. On June 24, 1967, Bishop Andrew Roborecki ordained him to the priesthood in St. Mary’s Church, Yorkton, SK.

Fr Len served in various Ukrainian Catholic Churches in Canada and the United States. His first assignment was as assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Yorkton, SK (1968-72) where he would return as assistant again in 1981-84 and then as pastor 1990-96.  He served as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Hillside, N.J. (1972-75), of Sacred Heart Parish, Wynyard, SK (1975-77; 1987-90).  In 1978-81, he was assistant pastor of St. Joseph’s, Winnipeg.  He was assigned as pastor of Sacred Heart in Ituna, SK (1984-87).   In 1996-99, he was assistant at The Welcome Home mission in Winnipeg and then assistant pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul parish in Saskatoon from 1999-2002.  He served briefly in St. John the Baptist, Newark, N.J. and then returned to Wynyard (2002-05).   His last assignment before his retirement was as pastor of St. Andrew’s Church, Winnipeg, MB (2005-2019) while he lived at The Welcome Home (2005-2011) and then at St. Joseph’s (2011-20). 

Fr. Len will be remembered for what brought joy to him and those around him:  His heart warming pastoral visits or friendly chats over a cup of coffee;  his amazing ability with crossword puzzles (perhaps being Editor of Redeemer’s Voice magazine (English Edition – 1979-84, gave him an edge); he enjoyed youth ministry and was a “founding director” of Ukrainian Catholic Youth for Christ in Saskatchewan (1976) and the Saskatoon Eparchial Spiritual Director of the Ukrainian Catholic Youth (UCY) from1984-1994); his love for The Welcome Home where his humble, gentle way and sense of humor was a comforting presence to many. 

Guided by the most recent Covid-19 restrictions,  a viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 30 from 1-4 PM at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 160 Euclid Ave., Winnipeg.  Please note that no more than 10 people will be permitted in the church for a brief time. Masks must be worn. Later on Wednesday, a private Priestly Parastas  will be celebrated by Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, OSBM and Fr. Len’s Redemptorist confreres.

Funeral Services will continue at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Yorkton, SK on Thursday October 1 at 7:00 pm and a Funeral Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Friday October 2 at 10:00 am. Interment will take place in the Redemptorist Section of the Yorkton City Cemetery.   

Вічна Йому Пам`ять    God Grant Him Eternal Memory

 Vichnaya Pamyat