The First Nationwide Meeting of Representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Youth Pastoral Ministry Held in Canada
The first pan-Canadian meeting of representatives of the youth pastoral ministry of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church took place with the participation of Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg and the bishops of the Winnipeg Metropolia. The event brought together clergy, religious, and youth leaders involved in ministry to young people across Canada.
This was reported by the Patriarchal Commission on Youth Affairs of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
The meeting, organized at the initiative of the Patriarchal Commission on Youth Affairs of the UGCC, was dedicated to analyzing the current state of youth ministry, exchanging experiences among eparchies, and exploring avenues for pastoral development in contemporary Canada, particularly in the context of the new wave of Ukrainian migration caused by the war.
The meeting was opened by Bishop Bryan Bayda, chairman of the Patriarchal Commission on Youth Affairs. He emphasized the need to be mindful of the diversity of the youth community in Canada and to seek appropriate approaches to ministering to young people from different generations of Ukrainian descent.
During the meeting, Bishop Bryan Bayda and the commission’s vice-chairman, Fr. Roman Demush, presented the commission’s main areas of activity, its international initiatives, formation programs, and the challenges currently facing youth ministry in Ukraine and the diaspora.
Representatives of the eparchies shared their experiences in implementing youth projects, including summer camps, prayer meetings, sports events, volunteer initiatives, catechesis, and cooperation with schools and chaplaincy structures. Participants emphasized the importance of personal mentoring and of creating communities where young people can feel that they are part of the Church.
Special attention was given to the development of youth spaces within parishes and the creation of environments that foster communication, formation, and the spiritual growth of young people.
Participants conducted a collective analysis of youth ministry in Canada, outlining its strengths, challenges, opportunities, and threats. Among the strengths, they noted the experience of youth leaders, the availability of formation materials, and the support of Church and community organizations. At the same time, they identified insufficient coordination among eparchies, a lack of resources and volunteers, as well as the impact of secularization and the gradual loss of young people’s connection to Church tradition as the main challenges.
The participants emphasized that youth ministry should not be limited to organizing events, but should help young people encounter Christ through personal spiritual experience, prayer, and life within the Church community.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Patriarchal Commission on Youth Affairs presented new formation resources, training programs for youth leaders, and materials for spiritual preparation for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul. Participants also discussed the possibility of holding a pan-Canadian UGCC youth gathering.
The UGCC Department for Information
