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Youth Sojourn 2006
A historic first in the diocese took place the weekend of August 25-27, 2006 at Camp Nazareth. Organized and hosted by the Diocesan Apostolate for Youth, the Youth Sojourn Retreat has attracted more than 50 of our diocesan youth from across the diocese. The Diocesan Apostolate for Youth was established by Metropolitan Nicholas to meet the spiritual needs of our diocesan youth, providing guidance to their pastors, parish workers and parents who are entrusted with their care. The mission of the Diocesan Apostolate for youth is to evangelize our youth, and encourage their active participation in the life of the Church. The photos posted below show scenes from the weekend's events.
Fr. Tobias offers a presentation entitled "Think of Your Life as a Pilgrimage" on Saturday Morning
Diocesan Youth rehearse in the Camp Church the responses to Vespers for the Pre-Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
Frs. Mark Leasure and Miles Zdinak conduct breakout group discussions with participants.
Seven men were tonsured to the Order of Reader and three were ordained to the Subdeaconate at Sunday Morning's Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
The Clergy of DAY celebrated Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning for the intention of the diocesan youth and for more vocations to the Holy Priesthood and the monastic vocation.
Fr. Jonathan Tobias, DAY Director, distributes the Holy Eucharist to participants at the Divine Liturgy.
Protodeacon Emil Gulick composed, presented and taught the youth members three original songs he wrote professing Orthodoxy and the need to stay firm in The Faith.
Following the movie, the participants went on a mini pilgrimage to the Theotokos Shrine where Fr. Matthew Moriak gave a meditation on sensing the presence of God in the beauty of creation. The candlelight processioneventually concluded at Sts Cyril and Methodios Church where Compline was served.
His Eminence welcomed the participants to the Sojourn and complimenting them on singing the Vespers so beautifully
The women's choir of the Dormition of the Mother of God Orthodox Church in Jarabina, Slovakia sang a portion of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. The remainder of the responses were rendered by the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Choir of Homestead, PA under the direction of Reader Andrew Talarovich.
Saturday evening, the young men and women attended separate campfire discussions on vocations. Mother Galina and Sister Martha from Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City speak to the young ladies on monastic vocations and the vital role of women in the Church.
Diocesan Youth Sojourners sang the responses to the Friday Evening Vespers Service.
Fr. Andrew Fetchina introduces a spiritual video from the Georgian Orthodox Church about a youth pilgrimage they took to an ancient mountainside chapel.
Reader William George of Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Rockaway, NJ chanted the Epistle during the Hierarchical Liturgy.
His Eminence is pictured with the participants of the First Diocesan Youth Sojourn.
His Eminence blesses participants of the first Youth Sojourn on their arrival Friday Afternoon.