Date of Birth
November 13, 1951 in the City of Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba, CANADA.
Family Background
FATHER - IWAN SOROKA, born in Zablotce, Radymno region, Western Ukraine on May 19, 1920, deceased on September 5, 1993. MOTHER - ANNA GALEK, born in Szczurowa, Poland on October 15, 1920, deceased on September 3, 1973. Parents married in the Catholic Church in Austria, August 1945 and immigrated to Canada in 1951. Parents strongly devout Catholics, regularly participating in Church life and receiving the Sacraments of the Church. Life-long members of Ss. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral, Winnipeg.
Stefan Soroka, along with his only sibling twin brother, Joseph, were baptized and raised within the Ukrainian Catholic faith. His brother Joseph, a (retired) police officer in Winnipeg, is married to Dawn (Fewchuk) and has two children, Ann and John.
Education
Ordination
Installed as the sixth Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy for Philadelphia, and Metropolitan for Ukrainians in the United States of America on February 27, 2001, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, PA.
Consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, Canada, on June 13, 1996, at Ss. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Winnipeg, by the Most Reverend Bzdel, CSsR (Metropolitan of Canada and Archbishop of the Winnipeg Archeparchy), Most Reverend Cornelius Pasichny (then Bishop of Saskatoon, Canada), and Most Reverend Walter Paska (then Auxiliary Bishop for the Philadelphia Archeparchy).
Ordained to the Holy Priesthood on June 13, 1982 at Ss. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral, Winnipeg, by the Most Reverend Maxim Hermaniuk, CSsR, Metropolitan for Ukrainians in Canada and Archbishop of Winnipeg.
Ecclesiastical Appointments
1. Member of Committee for Aid to Home Missions, USCCB, 2010-present.
2. Member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, 2001 - present.
3. Member of Committee on Relations between Eastern and Latin Catholic Churches, USCCB, November 2003-2010.
4. Member of Task Force on Content and Flow of General Meeting, USCCB, June, 2003.
5. Member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse, USCCB, 2002 - 2009.
6. Member of the Permanent Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, 2002 - 2006.
7. Appointed by the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II as a participant in the Tenth Ordinary General Synod of Bishops, September 30th - October 27th, 2001. Theme: "The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World."
8. Member of Task Force to Establish Guidelines, USCCB, November, 2003.
9. Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg from June 13, 1996 - 2000.
10. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Asset Protection Group Insurance Corporation for Western and Northern Canada Dioceses/Eparchies, 1998 - 2000.
11. Member of CCCB Commission for Relations with Clergy, Consecrated Life and Lay Associations, 1997 - 2000.
12. Editor, Progress Ukrainian Catholic Newspaper, 1996 - 2000.
13. Chaplain, Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada (Winnipeg Archeparchy), 1998 - 2000.
14. Econome, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, 1994 - 1998.
15. Chancellor, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, 1994 - 1996.
16. Vice-Chancellor, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, 1985 - 1994.
17. Judge, Archieparchial Marriage Tribunal, 1984 - 1993.
18. State Chaplain, Knights of Columbus, Manitoba State Council, 1989 - 1992.
19. Vocations Director, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, 1985 - 2000.
20. Chaplain, National Executive, Ukrainian Catholic Youth of Canada, 1989 - 1992.
21. Manitoba Bishops' Representative to the Catholic Health Association of Manitoba, 1988 - 1990.
22. Chaplain, St. Anne Council, Knights of Columbus, 1987 - 1995.
23. Chaplain, St. Josaphat Council, Knights of Columbus, 1986 - 1989, 1995 - 1997.
Parish Assignments
1. Parish Priest, St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, Winnipeg, 1987 - 1995.
2. Parish Priest, Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption, Portage La Prairie, 1986 - 1987.
3. Assistant Priest, Blessed Virgin Mary, Winnipeg, 1984 - 1986.
4. Assistant Priest during period of studies, Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine, Washington, D.C.
Work Experience
Personal Orientation
Respond to challenge for renewal and learning opportunities. Positive, hopeful and thankful in orientation. Love to travel, to meet and enjoy the company of people, to grow together in our love for God and to celebrate the gift of life and faith.
Awards of Distinction
1. Presented “The St. Dominic Medal” by Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C., May 11, 2001