Getting to Know the Lord Through His Works: The Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma (USA) Held the Fall Youth Retreat
The youth, young adult leaders, and some clergy of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma and the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma gathered on Saturday and Sunday, October 12–13, 2024 at All Saints Camp in Emlenton, Pennsylvania for the annual Fall Youth Retreat.
The theme of this year’s event was “Getting to Know the Lord Through His Works,” based on the verse taken from the Book of Psalms: “O Lord, how manifold are your works!” (Psalm 104:24 (NRSVCE)). The Fall Youth Retreat was organized by the Eparchial Youth Committee (EYC) under the leadership of Fr. Lubomir Zhybak, the committee’s head and pastor of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Youngstown, OH and St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church in Austintown, OH as well as the eparchy’s Safe Environment Coordinator and the following EYC members who all attended the retreat: Michael Spak who coordinated the event and who was aided therein by his wife, Belinda, both parishioners of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA, Deacon Myron Spak from Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, PA, Deacon Andriy Harmatiy from St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH, and Michael Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Also, some other people helped with the retreat, namely Anna Oriti and Roman Rozhnov from St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma as well as Deacon Myron Spak’s wife Barbara from Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, PA. Special thanks go to All Saints Camp’s manager, Mr. Joshua Oryhon and his wonderful staff for the warm hospitality (All Saints Camp is a camp of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA).
The main presenter at this year’s retreat was a priest of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Very Rev. Fr. Bryan Eyman. The participants were able to pray the Hours during the retreat as well as partake on Saturday in the Holy Mystery of Confession preceded by the Examination of Conscience led by Fr. Ihor Hohosha, pastor of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in McKees Rocks, PA, the Great Vespers celebrated by Fr. Bryan who was assisted by Deacon Andriy Harmatiy as well as the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom on Sunday morning also celebrated by Fr. Bryan who was likewise assisted by Deacon Andriy. The retreat also included fireside chat with Fr. Bryan on Saturday night, followed by the Compline, as well as some game time on Saturday.
This year’s Fall Youth Retreat was a wonderful prayerful experience for the youth. It provided an opportunity for the young people to pray, reflect, and meet others in the spirit of the Eastern Catholic tradition. The next Fall Youth Retreat is planned for the fall of 2025.
Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma
