Metropolitan Wasyly was born Wasyl’ Fedak on November 1, 1909 in [[Kadobivtsy, Ukraine|Kadobivtsy]], [[Ukraine]]. Together with his parents and five siblings, he immigrated to [[Canada]] and settled in [[Sheho, Saskatchewan|Sheho]], [[Saskatchewan]]. In young adulthood, he became a teacher: a career that lasted 14 years. He then studied at a seminary of the UOCC from 1941 to 1944. He was ordained into the [[deacon|diaconate]] on September 27, 1944 and shortly thereafter into the [[priest|priesthood]] on October 1. As a priest, he served parishes in [[Manitoba]] and [[Ontario]]. In 1951, he arrived in [[Hamilton, Ontario]] to serve the parish of [[Vladimir I of Kiev|St. Vladimir]]. He served this parish for 29 years, seeing the parish grow from 47 to 500 families.