Catholic Vancouver February 04, 2023
St. Bernadette’s first pastor, Fr. Rufin Mika, dies at 85
By The B.C. Catholic
Father Rufin Mika, who was the founding pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Surrey, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the age of 85.
Father Mika was born Nov. 25, 1937, and was ordained to the presbyterate on June 5, 1965, in Toronto. He was the first pastor of St. Bernadette’s in 1972 and is remembered also as the pastor of St. Joseph’s in Mission; Holy Trinity Parish in North Vancouver; Guardian Angels in Vancouver, Our Lady of the Assumption in Port Coquitlam; and Sts. Joachim & Ann in Aldergrove.
He also served as the assistant pastor at Corpus Christi in Vancouver, St. Francis de Sales in Burnaby, Holy Rosary Cathedral, and Sts. Peter & Paul in Vancouver.
Prayers will be offered on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. The Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Rosary Cathedral.