The religious society of Ukrainian Catholics in Philadelphia, St. Sophia, held a five-day summer camp called "Fun Holidays with God." Saints. Blessed. Righteous." The camp served as a spiritual center for Ukrainian children, particularly those forced to flee their homeland due to the war, uniting them around shared spiritual and cultural values.
This was reported by the Holy Sophia Ukrainian Catholic Religious Society.
Thirty children, aged six to thirteen, participated in the camp. Each day of the camp featured separate thematic programs. This year, they were particularly meaningful and symbolic because they were dedicated to the saints, blessed, and righteous of the Catholic and Ukrainian Greek Catholic churches. The occasion was the 80th anniversary of the arrest of UGCC bishops by Soviet authorities. Iryna Ivankovych, head of the St. Sophia Society, developed and implemented the camp program.
The children participated in communal prayers, handicrafts, embroidery, sports, games, workshops, and meetings with interesting guests.
On the first day, the children attended the Divine Liturgy, learned embroidery, and studied the lives of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and Blessed Carlo Acutis. They also learned weaving with master Oksana Holupyak, sang Christian songs, and prayed for peace in Ukraine. The second day included learning about the lives of St. Francis, St. Patrick, and Joan of Arc; making decorative water bottles; embroidering; and holding a talent show.
The third day was dedicated to the rosary. In addition to studying the lives of the saints, the students played "rosary bingo," made pocket rosaries, and watched Christian films.
The fourth day was memorable for the prayer at the Grotto of the Pochaiv Mother of God, the cotton candy, and the stories about Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov, and their mother, Sofia. That day, there was also an online meeting with Marcia J. Skrypuk, a Canadian children's author of Ukrainian origin. She recounted how she created her book Silver Threads, and the children asked her questions about her work.
Throughout the camp, qualified animators assisted the children by leading activities, organizing games, and fostering a friendly atmosphere. This was the eighth initiative of the Holy Sophia Society, which has organized similar events for Ukrainian children since 2016. The Ukrainian Federal Credit Union “Samopomich” in Philadelphia provided financial support for the event.
Photo: Iryna Ivankovich
Author: Inna Mikhno