St. Josaphat Eparchy’s 9th On-going Diaconal Formation Weekend: A Spiritually Uplifting Gathering of Faith and Fellowship
The Eparchy of St. Josaphat held a meaningful Diaconal Formation Weekend Retreat from November 1-3, bringing together deacons, diaconate candidates, and their wives from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, and North Carolina for a time of worship, learning, and fellowship. Hosted at the serene Jesuit Retreat Center in Parma, Ohio, the weekend offered both spiritual enrichment and practical training, led by Father Michael Winn, who emphasized the importance of catechizing the faithful through the theme of The Light Shines in the Darkness (John 1:5): An exploration of catechesis in relation to evangelization and the mission of the Church in the 21st century. Fr. Michael is the pastor of Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada within the Archeparchy of Winnipeg. He served twelve years as Rector of Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa and Edmonton. Fr. Michael has a licentiate in Theology (Eastern Christian Studies) from Saint Paul University. The sessions included reflections on the goals, ideals, and behaviors of the catechist in the 21st century.
Fr. Deacon Anthony Dragani, PhD, also led a session to review the Typica service to update it to the needs of the deacons. The consensus is that there will be a working copy of the service distributed, and the topic will be revisited later for any changes.
The retreat was a unique opportunity for the deacons, deacon candidates, and their wives to spend time with their bishop, His Grace Bishop Bohdan Danylo, who joined the group in several spiritual and celebratory events throughout the weekend. This year marked the 10th anniversary of his Episcopal Consecration as a bishop and as the bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat. The participants took time to honor their bishop for his leadership, dedication, and pastoral care.
The 9th On-going Diaconal Formation Weekend Retreat stands out as a powerful event in the life of the Eparchy, enriching the spiritual lives of deacons, candidates, and their families. It provided a space for learning, reflection, and heartfelt celebration, leaving all who attended spiritually renewed and ready to continue their mission of service to the faithful. The bonds formed in this time underscored the shared mission of all present: to serve the Church and bring Christ’s love to their communities.
