Co-Directors of Religious Education Ministry of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia attend Evangelization Summit in Indianapolis

From October 13–15, 2026, Fr. Mykola Dziurakh and Uliana Dziurakh, Co-Directors of Religious Education Ministry of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, participated in the Evangelization Summit held at Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The event was organized by the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The theme of this year’s summit was “Witnessing to the Light of Christ: The Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The gathering aimed to reflect on the current state of evangelization within the Catholic Church in the United States, share experiences, and explore new ways of proclaiming the Gospel in today’s world.

Over the course of three days, participants took part in five thematic sessions focused on key aspects of evangelization: a personal encounter with Christ, spiritual accompaniment, life within the Church community, the missionary calling, and openness to the Holy Spirit. Special attention was given to how we can help people encounter Christ, accompany them on their journey of faith, and encourage their active participation in the life of the Church. Participants also reflected on how the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church can become a source of spiritual growth and inspiration for missionary service. An important part of the summit was the opportunity to share personal experiences of faith, evangelization, and ministry.

During group discussions, participants shared examples from their own ministries, the challenges they face in their communities, and their experiences of how the Lord works in people's lives. A central theme throughout the summit was openness to the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in her mission of evangelization. Each session included not only group discussions but also time for personal prayer, silence, and discernment of what the Lord is calling each participant to do in their ministry.

Participation in the summit provided a valuable opportunity for the representatives of the Philadelphia Archeparchy to deepen their understanding of contemporary approaches to evangelization, learn from the experiences of other Catholic communities across the United States, and gain new ideas for further developing catechetical and educational ministry within our Archeparchy.