Both Lungs

by Brent Kostyniuk I think what I love most about summer vacations is the way they manage to surprise, even when it seems a situation could not possibly hold any surprises. Yet, that is exactly what happened again this summer. Before I tell you about the serendipitous event, let me remind you what Both Lungs is all about. The expression was coined by St. John Paul II who said the Church must breathe through Both Lungs. In fact, he said it numerous times, and in slightly different contexts. One instance where he used the phrase was in the encyclical Ut…

by Brent Kostyniuk This past February, Star Trek fans the world over were saddened by the death of Leonard Nimoy, most famously remembered for creating the role of the Vulcan Mr. Spock on the original television series and later playing it in a number of movies. While not a full-fledged trekkie, I admired Nimoy’s acting skills and, in particular, the emotionless, logical perspective of the alien he portrayed. I must confess that at one point in my life, I found that outlook quite attractive. On learning of Mr. Nimoy’s death, it occurred to me that I really didn’t  know a…

by Brent Kostyniuk Do you believe in miracles? Well of course you do. Miracles are at the heart of our Christian religion, foremost of which is the miracle of Jesus Christ rising from the dead on Easter morning. But what I mean is do you really, really believe in your heart that miracles occur every day? Do you really believe your prayers will be answered and that Jesus, often through the intercession of a saint, will grant a true miracle which cannot be explained on the basis of human understanding? Blessed Martyr Vasyl Velychkovsky endured 24 years imprisonment in the…

by Brent Kostyniuk When I was in Grade Three, our teacher asked the class what we would do if someone came into the room and threatened to shoot anyone who was Christian. It was an incredibly scary prospect back then and it still is today. Yet, there are brave and faithful people who resist any temptation to deny their faith and face martyrdom instead. Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky did exactly that. Vasyl Velychkovsky was born in 1903 into a priestly family in Western Ukraine. His father was a priest, as were both his grandfathers. After serving as a rifleman in World…

by Brent Kostyniuk For six years now, this column has worked at spreading the message of St. John Paul II who proclaimed that the Church – that is you and I – should breathe through both lungs, East and West. One who breathes through both lungs is Fr. Mark Woodruff a priest with bi-ritual faculties serving both the Latin and Ukrainian Catholic Churches in London, England. Having previously explained how he came to his deep appreciation for the East, Fr. Mark now offers his views and experience of East and West. Moreover, based on that experience, he challenges us to…

by Brent Kostyniuk Back in September, Both Lungs recalled a particularly uplifting Divine Liturgy I attended while on holidays in London. The celebrant was Father Mark Woodruff who had been ordained in the Latin Church, but who had bi-ritual faculties. This month, Both Lungs visits with Father Mark to get a different perspective on the Eastern Church and its relationship with the West. Father Mark’s interest in the East began through ecumenical work. “For many years, I have been involved with Catholic ecumenical engagement. In England in the past we concentrated on unity among Western Christians, but in the last…