The 6th All-American Youth Pilgrimage took place the weekend following June 12 in Parma, Ohio. The tradition of such pilgrimages for young people is not new to our Church in America. On this occasion, we would like to recall the Ukrainian Youth of Christ Convention, which was held in Parma, Ohio, in 1986.
More than 500 young people from all over the USA and Canada participated in this convention, with 50 of them coming from Philadelphia, PA, and the surrounding areas. These participants were from the parishes of Annunciation of the BVM, Christ the King, St. Josaphat, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, St. Ann in Warrington, PA, and Sts. Peter and Paul in Bridgeport, PA.
The convention of the Ukrainian Youth of Christ was held from June 27 to 29 and was filled with prayer. There was an opportunity to renew Baptismal vows and receive the sacrament of reconciliation. The event included various talks, workshops, dances, and a banquet. The three sessions featured presentations and speeches on the Holy Scriptures, Eastern Christian spirituality, the history of our Church, marriage, family life and sexuality, the role of laity and women in the Church, and the role of the Church in the world.
Clergy (35 priests) and religious (50 nuns) actively participated in organizing this convention. All the bishops of our Church in America, namely Metropolitan Stephen Sulyk, Bishops Robert Moskal, Vasyl Losten, Innocent Lototskyj, and Yefrem Kryvyj from Brazil, participated in these meetings and had sessions where they spoke with the youth.
The convention culminated in the priestly ordination of Peter Waslo by Bishop Robert Moskal at the Church of St. Andrew in Parma, OH. The church was full of parishioners and convention participants.