The Saints: Beacons of Hope — The Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma (USA) Held the Fall Youth Retreat
The youth, young adult leaders, laity, and some clergy of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, and the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh gathered from Friday till Sunday, September 12–14, 2025 at Camp Guyasuta — a Scouting America camp — in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania for the annual Fall Youth Retreat.
The theme of this year’s event was “The Saints: Beacons of Hope” with the supporting Scripture verse taken from the Book of Revelations: “And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel” (Revelations 8:4 (NRSVCE)). The Fall Youth Retreat 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, the director of the eparchy’s office of child, youth & vulnerable adults protection, and a Chaplain (Captain) of the United States Air Force (Reserve) as well as the following EYC members who attended the retreat: Michael Spak who coordinated the event and who was aided therein by his wife, Belinda — both parishioners of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA, Deacon Andriy Harmatiy and Subdeacon Joseph Zappernick from St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH, Deacon Myron Spak from Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, PA, Michael Levy and Joseph Levy from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA, and Victoria Fedora from St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Also, some laypeople from St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma, OH as well as Andrew Kurzawski (a deacon candidate) and Barbara Spak (Deacon Myron Spak’s wife) from Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, PA supported the retreat. Last, but not least, special thanks go to Kim Deniher from Camp Guyasuta and her wonderful staff for the warm hospitality provided to the retreat’s participants.
The main presenter at this year’s retreat was Subdeacon Alex Bricki from the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. The event began on Friday evening with a dinner, which was followed by an engaging presentation by Subdeacon Alex, during which he particularly accentuated on the recently canonized in Rome Italian teenager, Saint Carlo Acutis, and concluded with a Compline service, led by Fr. Lubomir Zhybak, and a campfire outside.
On Saturday morning, after breakfast, the group headed to the High Challenge Course, which was one of the highlights of the youth event, and where the participants had a chance to face their fears and show their bravery. After the zip line and the ropes course, the participants had lunch, which was followed by another presentation by Subdeacon Alex, who also led the Examination of Conscience before the Holy Mystery of Confession made available by Fr. Yaroslav Koval, pastor of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA and a couple of other Pennsylvania parishes as well as Fr. Michael Kunitz from the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. Afterwards, the retreatants tried their skills at the camp’s Archery Range, which was followed by the dinner. After the meal, Subdeacon Alex led the Saturday evening reader’s Great Vespers for the feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross (September 14). The day was concluded with a campfire and delicious s’mores outside.
On Sunday, the group was warmly welcomed by Fr. Ihor Hohosha, pastor of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA and his parishioners for the Divine Liturgy that was followed by a pizza luncheon, which concluded the retreat.
This year’s Fall Youth Retreat was a wonderful and prayerful event whereby everyone present was able to experience the Lord’s love and, firmly anchored in hope, especially during the current Jubilee Year of Hope, share this love with one another. The next Fall Youth Retreat is planned for the fall of 2026.
Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma
