United with Ukraine: The Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma 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 23-24, 2023 at the Breakneck Campground of Cheeseman Farm in Portersville, Pennsylvania for the Eparchial Youth Days.

The theme of this year’s event was “You Are the Light of the World,” based on the verse taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14 (NRSVCE)). The Eparchial Youth Days – led by Bishop Bohdan J. Danylo, Eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma – 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: Joseph Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA 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, his son Michael Spak, parishioner of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA, Victoria Freed, parishioner of Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ambridge, PA and Olena Korendii, parishioner of Pokrova Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH. Some other lay adults also helped with the event including among others Frances Lipian-Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA, Anna Oriti from St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH, Theresa Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA, and Barbara Spak from Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, PA. The event provided an opportunity for the youth to pray, reflect, and meet others in the spirit of the Ukrainian Catholic faith and fellowship, keeping in a special way in thoughts and prayers the people of Ukraine who are suffering during the ongoing war in the country.

The group was welcomed with warm hospitality by members of the Cheeseman family, proprietors of Cheeseman Farm.  The Cheeseman Farm camp site 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, which was led by Bishop Bohdan, who also welcomed everyone to the event that was followed by a tasty dinner.  Afterwards, the first presentation was provided by Fr. Michael Polosky, St. Josaphat Eparchy’s Protosyncellus and Pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ambridge, PA and Administrator of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Aliquippa, PA and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Latrobe, PA. In his presentation, Fr. Michael challenged the youth to engage more fully in their faith and spiritual understanding. He provided testimonies of his journey to the priesthood and connected his teenage struggles with those present. The evening concluded with a bon-fire. The youth and adults present engaged in fellowship and even had some delicious campfire marshmallows.

Saturday morning began with a breakfast and the Third Hour prayer service led by Bishop Bohdan. Following the prayer, Fr. Michael presented the second installment of his talks.  highlighting the life and story of Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006), an Italian teenager on the way to being officially declared a saint. Fr. Michael showed that the simple life of a young person seeking the Kingdom of God can really change the world. Fr. Michael concluded his presentations with an examination of conscience and an engaging catechetical trivia session in which participants were able to ask questions and better understand their faith. Afterwards, there was an opportunity for individual confessions that were provided by the present clergy – Bishop Bohdan, Fr. Douglas Lorance, pastor of St. Michael The Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in Lyndora, PA, Fr. Michael, and Fr. Lubomir.

The youth and adults enjoyed the beautiful weather and had an opportunity to play various outdoor games, including volleyball, soccer, badminton, and especially the outdoor bowling slide, in which even Bishop Bohdan participated, that was accompanied by uplifting music.

The event concluded with a Vespers “prayer-hike” led by Bishop Bohdan and cantored by the participants under the leadership of Michael Spak as they walked through the tree-lined paths of Cheeseman Farm and McConnell’s Mill State Park, which was followed a delicious pizza dinner, words of thanks to and a warm farewell by the Cheeseman family.

This year’s Eparchial Youth Days event was a wonderful and prayerful experience for the youth of the eparchy, and we are looking forward to next year’s EYD in June 2024!

Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma