Philadelphia Archeparchy Participates in 7th Annual All-American Youth Pilgrimage
From June 12 to 15, the city of Parma, Ohio, hosted the 7th Annual All-American Youth Pilgrimage, titled "Hope in You, O Lord: Youth Who Change the World." Over 50 participants from the Archeparchy of Philadelphia actively contributed to both the organization and the activities of the pilgrimage. This year’s event brought together young people not only from across the United States but also from Canada.
Throughout the three-day pilgrimage, participants had the opportunity—according to their age group—to hear presentations from speakers, reflect on the talks in small groups, participate in sports competitions, pray together, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and build relationships with peers, bishops, clergy, and monastics. Priests facilitated small group discussions, led prayerful Scripture readings, and offered Confession.
Fr. Ruslan Borovyi from St. Nicholas Parish in Philadelphia led two sessions for attendees aged 40 and over. The first, titled “Christians: Yesterday and Today,” began with a personal story about his recent pilgrimage to Greece and a visit to ancient Corinth. Reflecting on the community to whom St. Paul wrote, participants discussed challenges faced by the Church today: ideological divisions, secular culture, and the loss of institutional religiosity. Statistics about religious life in the US and the Ukrainian Catholic Church, especially among young people, were also presented.
The second session centered on a profound text by Joseph Ratzinger, originally broadcast on the radio at Christmas 1969: “What Will the Church Be Like in the Year 2000?” Together, the group reflected on his vision of a future Church—smaller, poorer, purified, but more deeply faithful.
Prepared by: Fr. Ostap Mykytchyn and Fr. Ruslan Borovyi.
