Cleric.
Born at Wishart, Saskatchewan on 21 July 1930 to Ukrainian immigrants Evdokia “Dora” Vasilykiv (1898-1987) and Theodore J. “Fred” Bzdel (1886-1963), he was the eleventh of 14 children. After receiving his primary schooling at Wishart, he attended St. Vladimir's College in Roblin for his secondary education (1944-1947). It was at St. Vladimir's, served by the Redemptorist Fathers, that he decided to enter religious life.
On 8 September 1947 he joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) and on 19 August 1952 professed his perpetual vows. He continued philosophical and theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Waterford-Meadowvale, Ontario (1948-1955), and at St. Paul University at Ottawa, completing a graduate program in Pastoral Counseling. He was ordained to the diaconate on 13 February 1954 by Bishop Isidore Borecky, and to the priesthood on 7 July 1954 at St. Mary's Church at Yorkton, Saskatchewan by Bishop Andrew Roborecky.
He served in pastoral ministry at Yorkton (1955, 1981-1984), Ituna, Saskatchwan (1955), Holy Redeemer Ukrainian Catholic Church at Roblin (1955-1967), St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church at Winnipeg (1967-1971), Ottawa, Ontario (1971-1972), Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (1972-1981), and Yorkton, Saskatchewan (1981-1984). He also served as spiritual director and chaplain to various church organizations, taught at St. Vladimir's College, and was Vicar-Provincial of the Yorkton Ukrainian Redemptorist Province of Canada and the United States (1967-1969).
On 16 December 1992, he was appointed Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholics in Canada by Pope John Paul II. The episcopal consecration took place at Sts. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Winnipeg on 9 March 1993. He was consecrated a bishop together with Father Peter Stasiuk, CSsR, Ukrainian Eparch of Australia and Oceania, by Archbishop-emeritus Maxim Hermaniuk, Metropolitan Stefan Sulyk of Philadelphia, and Bishop Myron Daciuk, Eparch of Edmonton.
As Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan he was a member of the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, served on various CCCB committees, and participated in the IXth Ordinary Papal Synod of Bishops in Rome. He was also a member of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church during its period of restructuring in Ukraine, the homeland of his parents. In recognition of his service, he received a Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002). He retired on 9 January 2006 and was succeeded by Lawrence Daniel Huculak.
He enjoyed classical music and regular vacations at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In retirement, his continuing pastoral ministry to whomever he found needing spiritual support was greatly appreciated, especially by the residents of Holy Family Home, where he lived in his last years.
He died at Winnipeg on 3 April 2012 and was buried in the Holy Family Cemetery.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 10 April 2012.
“Michael Bzdel, Archbishop,” GregK2012 Family Tree, Ancestry.
We thank June Dutka for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 18 March 2026
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