Retreats for clergy held in the Diocese of St. Josaphat in Parma
From October 30 to November 2, the annual retreat for the clergy of the Diocese of St. Petersburg of the Roman Catholic Church in Lutz, Florida (USA), was held at the Vitania Retreat Center of the Diocese of St. Josaphat in Parma, the press service of the Diocese of St. Josaphat of Parma reports.
This year’s retreat was led by Fr Andriy Onuferko, Protosyncellus of the Diocese of Toronto and Eastern Canada of the UGCC, and was centered on the theme of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is mentioned in the Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians 5:22–23: “the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
At the beginning, Fr. Andriy emphasized that there are “two main participants in the retreat: The Holy Spirit and you.” The Holy Spirit is the Leader of the retreat, and the participant is only a facilitator. Discussing the fruits of the Spirit according to St. Paul, Fr. Andriy emphasized love, which comes from God himself, who is love. He noted that we, Christians, are called to be “icons of God’s love in the world,” and also spoke about the “healing power of love,” “love as medicine,” as well as the importance of being “a sign of God’s love for others.”
“God acts even today,” Fr. Andriy emphasized, “and where there is love, the Holy Spirit is indeed present.”
The retreat participants also shared the experience of love in their own lives. The clergy participated in the services held in English and Ukrainian.
Among the diocesan priests who took part in the retreat were Bishop Bohdan Danylo of St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma, Bishop Pavlo Khomnytsky of the Stamford Eparchy of the UGCC, and newly ordained deacon Bohdan Nasypanyi of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the UGCC in Parma, Ohio.
The UGCC Department for Information
