The Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma (USA) Held the Eparchial Youth Days

The youth, young adult leaders, volunteers, and clergy of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma gathered together on Friday and Saturday, June 27–28, 2025 at the Breakneck Campground of Cheeseman Farm in Portersville, Pennsylvania (USA) for the Eparchial Youth Days.

The theme of this year’s event was “Launch Out: Choosing God’s Way Over the World’s Sway” based on the Gospel of St. Luke: “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets” (Luke 5:5 (NRSVCE)). The Eparchial Youth Days (EYD) 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, who is also the eparchy’s Safe Environment Coordinator, and the following EYC members: Joseph Levy and Michael Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA who coordinated the event and who were aided by Deacon Myron Spak from Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, PA, Victoria Freed, parishioner of Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ambridge, PA, Olena Korendii, parishioner of Pokrova Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH, and Michael & Belinda Spak, parishioners of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Some other people also helped with the event including, among others, Deacon Anthony Dragani from the Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in Revloc, PA, Frances Lipian-Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA as well as Anna Oriti, Volodymyr Protsyuk, and Oksana Isaeva from St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH and Theresa Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA. The event provided an opportunity for everyone to pray, reflect, and meet others in the spirit of the Ukrainian Catholic faith and fellowship.

The participants were welcomed with warm hospitality by members of the Cheeseman family, proprietors of Cheeseman Farm. Breakneck Campground is located near the McConnell’s Mill State Park. The camp site offers rustic cabins, hiking trails, and scenic vistas.

The two-day event began on Friday evening with the Ninth Hour prayer service, led by Fr. Lubomir Zhybak and followed by a tasty dinner. Afterwards, the first presentation was provided by Fr. Andriy Kelt, pastor of the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church in Altoona, PA, the Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Church in Northern Cambria, PA, and the Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in Revloc, PA. The evening concluded with a bon-fire, accompanied by uplifting music during which the present youth and adults engaged in fellowship and even had some delicious campfire marshmallows.

On Saturday morning after breakfast, Fr. Andriy presented the second installment of his talks. Afterwards, the youth and adults went on the pontoon boat ride on the nearby picturesque Lake Arthur that was met with a lot of joy and excitement.

The participants were also visited at the Breakneck Campground by Fr. Douglas Lorance, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in Lyndora, PA who came with some of his parishioners, having brought a lot of yummy food for everyone to enjoy.

In the afternoon, after lunch, Fr. Andriy delivered his last presentation and led the examination of conscience. Afterward, everyone had a chance to go to confession that was provided by the present clergy — Fr. Lubomir and Fr. Andriy. The event concluded with the Ninth Hour prayer service, led by Fr. Lubomir and cantored by the participants, and a delicious pizza dinner.

In his presentations, Fr. Andriy encouraged the youth to take a deeper look into the Sacred Scripture as well as into the lives and witness of the Holy Apostles as examples of how to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ in the modern world. He likewise engaged the youth to ask questions and discussed more examples of how the truths of Gospels guide us and provide a counter to the prevalent culture of secularism, encouraging the young people not to be afraid to follow Christ as one can never go astray by walking on the Lord’s path that leads to the fulfilling life on earth and to the God’s Kingdom in eternity.

This year’s Eparchial Youth Days was a wonderful and prayerful event whereby everyone present was able to experience the Lord’s love and, firmly anchored in hope, especially during the current jubilee year of hope, share this love with one another.