Family circle remains unbroken

Bishop's twin sister joyfully recalls her brother's life

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Vancouver

They were all surprised when Bishop Paul Chomnycky decided to enter the seminary. And when he was elected bishop at the age of 48, surprise again sparked their emotions.

They bounced from joy to sadness though because they know the new bishop will be posted in London.

"I was surprised. He's only been a priest since 1988. He hasn't been there very long," Patricia Chomnycky told the WCR.

Patricia, the bishop's twin sister, thinks her brother is young to be made a bishop, although she realizes Bishop David Motiuk is even younger.

The Ukrainians must believe we need younger bishops, she said.

As long as she can remember, her brother Patrick (this is the bishop's given name: he only started using Paul when he became a priest) has always gone to church and was involved in the choir.

"In fact, he really enjoyed singing in the choir. But it came as a bit of a surprise to all of us when he told us he wanted to be a priest."

Patricia was away for a seven-week holiday one summer and was startled to find when she returned that her twin brother had decided to enter the seminary.

"It really did seem to the family as being a very quick decision. It was like an out-of-the-blue kind of decision."

Their parents were thrilled, extremely proud and supportive.

"It's a privilege and honour to have a young man decide that being a priest is what he wants to do."

Chomnycky entered the seminary during his late 20s. He had finished university and was working as an accountant.

"It's a privilege and honour to have a young man decide that being a priest is what he wants to do." - Patricia Chomnycky

"He was not fulfilled. So he quit accounting and did some odd jobs for awhile," said Patricia, a Grade 4 teacher in Vancouver.

Growing up, she said her brother was a good student. He was studious, always reading, a real bookworm.

As he got older, Patrick discovered sports, although he was not involved in organized sports. But he would go out and play basketball with his friends.

Later, her brother's interest shifted to listening to classical music.

"We have a really good relationship," said Patricia. When her brother went to Rome to study, they kept in touch through letters.

"We didn't often phone because of the expense, but we kept together with letters."

After his studies in Rome, Patricia and her family were quite involved in organizing and helping out with the ordination in Vancouver.

Following the sacrament of the Holy Orders, Paul served in Alberta and Vancouver.

The family circle is crucial to Paul. Whenever the bishop is home, his sister would prepare pasta for him. "When he was in Rome, I think he ate a lot of pasta. That's probably his favourite."

Their parents died five years ago. It saddens Patricia that they never saw their son become a bishop.

"If they were here today, they would have been extremely proud and really excited for him."

The other sad part of this change in the bishop's life is that he is going to England.

"I've been to London and it's a beautiful city. I'm excited to be able to go and visit him there. But there is a mix of sadness and joy because he will be far away, not just from me, but from the rest of the family and his friends."

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