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 Thursday and Friday, June 25–26, 2026 at the picturesque YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer in Fombell, Pennsylvania for the Eparchial Youth Days.
This year’s event, themed “Barefoot Saints: Emptying Ourselves So Christ May Fill Us” with the supporting Scripture verse from the Gospel of St. John: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30 (NRSVCE)), was led by Deacon Andrew Kurzawski from Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, PA. The Eparchial Youth Days (EYD) was organized by the Eparchial Youth Committee (EYC) under the leadership of Fr. Lubomir Zhybak, the committee’s director 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 Victoria Freed, parishioner of Saints Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ambridge, PA, Olena Korendii, parishioner of the Pokrova Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH, and Michael Spak, parishioner of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Some other people also helped with the event, including Very Reverend Mitred Archpriest Michael Polosky, St. Josaphat Eparchy’s Protosyncellus and pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ambridge, PA and Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Aliquippa, PA, Fr. Kevin Bezner, Administrator of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Tryon, NC, Fr. Yaroslav Koval, pastor of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Arnold, PA, and the Nativity of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in New Alexandria, PA, Deacon Biagio Oriti and his wife Anna from St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH, Kathy Grasso from St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH, Frances Lipian-Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA, Theresa Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA as well as Volodymyr Protsyuk and his wife Nataliia from St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH. 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 warmly welcomed by the staff of the YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer, especially by Sally Wright, the camp’s Outdoor Education & Partner Camp Director. The camp is located in the scenic area north of Pittsburgh, PA near the Connoquenessing Creek and offers rustic cabins, a pool, hiking trails, and other amenities.
The two-day event began on Thursday evening with the dinner, followed by the Ninth Hour prayer service, led by Fr. Lubomir Zhybak. Afterwards, the first presentation was provided by the main speaker, Deacon Andrew Kurzawski. The evening concluded with a fellowship in the Cochrane Lodge.
On Friday morning after breakfast and the Third Hour prayer service, led by Fr. Lubomir, the youth and adults had an opportunity to swim in the pool near the Cochrane Lodge as well as make candles and friendship bracelets in the nearby Pond Building. All activities were met with a lot of joy and excitement.
In the afternoon, after lunch, Deacon Andrew delivered his second presentation, after which the youth and adults had a chance to fish in the camp’s pond as well as play various outdoor sports. Next, Deacon Andrew led the attendees in the examination of conscience, after which everyone had a chance to go to confession that was provided by the present clergy — Fr. Michael Polosky, Fr. Kevin, Bezner, Fr. Yaroslav Koval, and Fr. Lubomir Zhybak. The youth event concluded with a dinner.
In his presentations, Deacon Andrew invited everyone present to encounter Jesus Christ through the lives of some saints and the witness of the Holy Apostle Peter. The speaker particularly explored the examples of St. John the Baptist and St. Francis of Assisi, challenging participants to identify the attachments and distractions that keep Christ from being at the center of their lives. Through the Sacred Scripture, reflection, and practical application, the attendees were encouraged to embrace the call to holiness by allowing Christ to “increase” and for them to learn to “decrease.” Deacon Andrew also invited the youth event’s participants to look at the life’s journey of the Holy Apostle Peter, tracing his call from the shores of the Sea of Galilee to his restoration after Christ’s Resurrection as well as to discover that discipleship was rooted not in perfection but in trust, perseverance, and Christ’s mercy. The speaker concluded his talks by challenging participants to become missionary disciples who carry the Gospel into their homes, schools, parishes, and communities. Moreover, having encountered Christ and having responded to His invitation to “Follow Me,” Deacon Andrew reminded everyone that Christ’s followers are commissioned to live as authentic witnesses who build His Kingdom with courage, humility, and joy.
This year’s Eparchial Youth Days was a wonderful and prayerful event whereby everyone present was able to experience the Lord’s love and share this love with one another.
Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma
