The annual Eastern Eparchy Lenten Family Spiritual Retreat was held on Saturday, March 3rd, at St. Anne’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Scarborough, Ontario.

Approximately 45 children, youth, and adults attended. In addition to CYMKivtsi and parish youth from St. Demetrius Sobor in Etobicoke and St. John’s Church in Oshawa, families from St. Sophia Church in Waterloo and St. Anne’s participated as well.

The program consisted of three parts. Yuri Hladio offered a presentation entitled ““Snapchat, Instagram, and God” in which he addressed issues of identity by contrasting social media as a means of creating an identity and the true identity which is only discovered in Christ.

Fr. Bohdan Hladio, in “The Liturgy before the Liturgy,” demonstrated and explained the meaning of the Prokomedia, which is performed by the priest in the Altar prior to the public portion of the Liturgy, and in which the gifts of bread and wine are prepared for the Eucharist.

During these sessions the parents had a chance to gather by themselves and talk with Fr. Volodymyr Feskiv about spiritual issues and challenges specific to their important role in the family and Church.

During the final session, “Ask the Priest,” Frs. Volodymyr, Bohdan, and Myroslav Shmyhelskyy answered interesting and engaging questions from the participants about our faith, liturgy, and church practices.

The retreat culminated in Great Vespers, which was served by Fr. Volodymyr and sung beautifully by the choristers present, both young and old.

On behalf of all the participants we wish to extend special thanks to St. Anne’s parish for hosting the retreat and to the women who prepared and offered the snacks and treats (especially for the very delicious borscht which everyone enjoyed!).

All the participants, both young and old, derived great benefit from the spiritual teachings as well as the Christian fellowship they enjoyed.

—Fr. Bohdan Hladio