Be Perfect": Prayer, Vocation, and the Call to Holiness at the Heart of the 7th All-American Youth Pilgrimage in Parma

June 14, 2025

On Saturday, June 14, the city of Parma, Ohio, hosted the 7th All-American Youth Pilgrimage of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The event brought together young people from across the United States and Canada, who arrived accompanied by pastors, religious sisters, and volunteers.

The Divine Liturgy was presided over by Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of Philadelphia, concelebrated with:

Bishop Bohdan Danylo (Eparchy of Parma)
Bishop Paul Chomnycky (Eparchy of Stamford)
Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk (Eparchy of Chicago)
Bishop Bryan Bayda (Eparchy of Toronto)

Numerous priests, deacons, seminarians, and consecrated religious also took part in the Liturgy, offering a living witness to the diversity of vocations within the Church.

In his homily, Metropolitan Borys addressed the young pilgrims with a special emphasis on the powerful words of Jesus Christ:
"Love your enemies" (Mt. 5:44), highlighting this as one of the greatest challenges today, particularly for Ukrainians suffering the pain of war.
He linked this evangelical call to love with another radical invitation from the Gospel:
"Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt. 5:48), calling all to a deeper life with God and personal growth in holiness.

The homily concluded with a call to discern God’s voice in one’s life. The Metropolitan underscored the importance of openness to service in the Church—whether through priesthood or religious life, marriage, or committed lay witness.