In Stamford, Connecticut, the Youth Leaders Forum of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the US was held. Representatives of four eparchies presented their initiatives, discussed difficulties in youth ministry, and took part in practical sessions on creating and developing youth communities.
This was reported by UGCC.
The meeting took place at St. Basil the Great Seminary. It was organized by the Metropolitan Youth Committee of the UGCC in the US, with the support of Bishop Bohdan Danylo, Eparch of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma.
During the forum, participants shared their experiences with youth ministry in their eparchies, spoke about implemented projects, and addressed the issues they face. Working in mixed teams, they completed practical assignments: developing plans for creating new youth communities, organizing retreats and inter-parish events, as well as reviving communities that are gradually losing activity.
One of the key topics of discussion was the needs of modern youth and ways to engage young people in church life. In his presentation, Deacon Andriy Kuzhavskyy emphasized the importance of dialogue with youth, understanding their requests, and providing spiritual guidance.
Father Ihor Darmohray dedicated his speech to developing youth ministry so that it is not limited to individual events, but instead fosters the formation of sustainable communities. Father Ostap Mykytchyn spoke about the spiritual life of youth leaders, the risk of emotional burnout, and the importance of prayer and a personal relationship with God.
The program also included meetings with high school students and a joint Rosary prayer as part of the "One Million Children Praying the Rosary" initiative. Participants visited the cathedral church of the Stamford Eparchy, where they met with the local parish community.
According to Olena Korendiy, Head of the Metropolitan Youth Committee of the UGCC in the US, the forum was intended to be the beginning of cooperation among those working with youth across different eparchies.
"In preparing this forum, we had high hopes for it. We wanted it to be not just a meeting, but the beginning of genuine cooperation among people who serve youth in different eparchies. And today we are sincerely overjoyed that these expectations were met. The greatest joy for us was the feedback from participants, their inspiration, and their readiness to keep working," said Olena Korendiy.
Based on the outcomes of the meeting, participants developed the "Map of UGCC Youth Ministry in the US", outlining priorities and work directions for the coming year.
Photo: UGCC.
Author: Danylo Pievchev