During Great Lent, many of our parishes offered the faithful a opportunity for spiritual enrichment and to prepare their hearts for the great feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord through the Sacrament of Confession and inner purification. While we have already shared some of these spiritual events with you, we now wish to highlight other parishes where Lenten retreats also took place.
Rev. Vasyl Harandzha led the Lenten retreat from April 4 to 6 at Philadelphia's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He emphasized the importance of conversion and reconciliation with God in his homilies. The faithful had the opportunity to participate in the Holy Mysteries, prayer, and spiritual talks.
On April 10–11, 2025, the parishioners of St. Nicholas Church in Philadelphia warmly welcomed Rev. Ivan Sichkaryk. Many of the faithful took the opportunity to listen to profound spiritual reflections and to receive the Sacrament of Confession and spiritual guidance.
At the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Rev. Ihor Kolisnyk, CSsR, conducted the Lenten retreat from April 4 to 6, 2025. His reflections on the Gospel and heartfelt words of encouragement left a lasting impression on the people's hearts.
Rev. Ihor Kolisnyk, CSsR, also served as the retreat leader at St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, New Jersey, where the retreat continues from April 11 to 13, 2025. Through participation in Divine Liturgy, Confession, and spiritual reflections, parishioners entered the silence of prayer.
At the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Reading, Pennsylvania, Rev. John Seniw led the retreat from April 4 to 6. His inspiring message and service in the Sacrament of Confession supported the faithful during these days. At the center of his message was the reminder that the essence of Lent is a conversion of heart and mind toward God, achieved through prayer, self-denial, and almsgiving.
On April 10–11, St. Nicholas Parish in Wilmington, Delaware, held its Lenten retreat with Rev. Ivan Sichkaryk. His deep spiritual reflections helped the faithful rediscover the power of God's Word.
On April 11–12, the faithful of St. Nicholas Parish in Minersville, Pennsylvania, participated in a Lenten retreat led by Rev. Oleh Kuts. The retreat's theme was: “Create in Yourself a New Heart.”
Rev. Yuriy Kozlovsky will conduct a retreat at the National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington, DC, from April 9 to 13. During the retreat, the faithful can receive the Holy Mystery of Confession.
The Lenten retreat will take place at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday, April 13. The retreat leader is Rev. Ivan Sichkaryk and the theme is “God’s Word Gives Us Life.” From April 17 to 19, a retreat will be held at Parish of Christ the King in Philadelphia, led by Rev. Yuriy Shchurko, a biblical scholar.
We thank all the Fathers, whose preaching of God’s Word brought days of spiritual renewal to the parishes of our Archeparchy. We also thank the faithful who opened their hearts to hear these spiritual messages and received the Holy Mystery of Confession. May the Word of God, sown in hearts during these retreats, bear good fruit in our lives.
