How spouses combine families and ministry

Rev. Michael Myschuk is known as "Father Mike" among the 200 families who belong to St. Nicholas' Ukrainian Catholic Church in Watervliet.

One family calls him by a different name: Dad.

Juggling parenthood and priesthood has proven a challenge for Father Mike, who lives with his wife, Olga, and their two young sons, Yaroslaw and Volodymyr, in the parish rectory adjacent to the church.

Still, the 29-year-old priest considers himself blessed to be able to share his life with a parish family and his own family, and he finds that being a father to his children provides him with a great deal of experience and insight in his ministry as Father Mike.

Twin calls

Born in Ukraine, Father Mike originally wanted to become a music teacher and attended college with that career plan in mind. After graduating, he served in the army for two years, and then spent three years teaching elementary school.

During his teaching years, he and Olga began their courtship. They grew up in the same village and had known each other for several years, but it wasn't until they attended a wedding party together and danced the night away that their relationship became more serious.

In 1991, Father Mike responded to a calling he first experienced during his military service and joined the seminary. Olga initially opposed his decision because she worried that he wouldn't be allowed to marry or raise a family; she became more supportive when she learned that Father Mike could indeed have a wife and children. In the Eastern Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, priests can be married. In Ukraine, seminarians are allowed to marry before becoming deacons.

Marriage and ordination

The two married on June 6, 1992, while he was still a seminarian. During his three-year stint in the seminary, Father Mike at first saw Olga only during holidays. He even had to spend time alone in Germany and France. The absence was long, but they feel it made their visits more special.

"When you don't have something, you appreciate it," Father Mike said. "Each time we were together, it was a big reunion."

Their reunions included a new face in 1993 with the birth of their first son, Yaroslaw. Visits became more frequent during Father Mike's third year in the seminary, when he was able to see his wife and son every other weekend.

Sent to U.S.

On June 26, 1994, Father Mike was ordained and learned that he would be serving as a prefect at St. Basil College, a seminary in the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford, Conn. Olga and Yaroslaw remained in Ukraine, however, and Father Mike was separated from his family once again. They corresponded by mail, but phone calls were limited to just 15 minutes or so each month due to the expense.

After spending two semesters as prefect, Father Mike was assigned to St. Nicholas' Church on a substitute basis from May to September 1995, during which time Olga and Yaroslaw reunited with him in Watervliet. He then became the full-time administrator. The couple had their second son, Volodymyr, in 1996.

Balancing act

Balancing the duties of priest, husband and father isn't always easy for Father Mike. Phone calls and visits from parishioners don't necessarily cease when he wants to spend time with his family, and there's hardly ever a respite from the numerous parish-related tasks waiting to be done.

It's the constant love and support of Olga and the smiling faces of his children that make his job seem less burdensome, he told The Evangelist.

"Family needs attention, and it's a good thing that I have a good wife," he said. "I'm glad that I was able to get married and have children."

Wife in rectory

At times, Olga is curious about her husband's work and asks him questions about the parish. On other occasions, she listens quietly as he discusses how his day went or explains issues that have arisen in church.

Through it all, Olga remains a pious woman, as well as a great mother and cook. Father Mike believes a priest's ministry is enhanced when "you have someone at home who understands you, loves you, cares about you very much."

In addition, the roles of a parent and a priest are somewhat similar, according to Father Mike. The skills he develops as a dad help him in his dealings with the parish family, and he's also reminded of God's mercy when his own children behave the way kids sometimes do.

"God can forgive you as easily as you can forgive them," he said.

Parish role

As parish administrator, Father Mike performs a variety of pastoral and managerial tasks, from celebrating Mass and blessing parishioners' homes to paying bills and compiling information for the bulletin. He tries to delegate authority whenever possible and to involve parishioners in the daily activity of the church.

Olga lends a hand when she can, but she doesn't have much spare time; besides raising two children, she's working toward her nursing degree as a part-time student at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.

While Father Mike's ministry keeps him busy, it's also rewarding because it provides him with personal background in dealing with issues regarding marriage and family life.

"I love to teach people about God and to tell them what I know from my experience," he said. "The life of the Church is close to the life of the family."

(03-05-98) [[In-content Ad]]