VIII All-American Youth Pilgrimage Begins in Parma

On June 11, 2026, the VIII All-American Youth Pilgrimage began in Parma, Ohio. This year’s pilgrimage is being held under the theme: “God’s Plan of Salvation and Your Place in It.” The first day of the pilgrimage opened with the arrival of special guests - Bishop Bryan Bayda, Chairman of the Patriarchal Commission for Youth, and Fr. Roman Demush, Deputy Chairman of the Commission. The participants gathered for a Moleben, which was led by Bishop Bohdan Danylo. During the prayer service, Bishop Bohdan reflected on God’s Word, encouraging the young people and all those present to open their hearts to God’s plan and allow the Lord to guide them on the path of salvation.

On the second day of the pilgrimage, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak celebrated the Divine Liturgy. At the beginning he expressed his gratitude to Bishop Bohdan Danylo, the clergy, the organizers, and the entire youth team for their hospitality and dedication in making the pilgrimage possible.

Reflecting on the Feast of Christ the Lover of Mankind, Metropolitan Borys described it as a “feast of God’s closeness.” He emphasized that one of the greatest challenges facing people today is not simply believing in God, but truly accepting the reality that God loves each person personally. Through the Baptism of Christ and through our own baptism, he explained, every Christian becomes a child of God and can call God Father. It is the awareness of this closeness of the Lord, he said, that gives people the strength to overcome fear, doubt, and uncertainty. “When we wake up in the morning, we should remember that we are loved by God,” he said.

The Metropolitan also stressed that faith should not remain merely a matter of knowledge or tradition but should become a living experience of encountering the Lord. He encouraged the young people to recognize their unity with Christ and to remember that God is near and actively present in their daily lives. Metropolitan Borys noted that people often live in fear and insecurity because they do not fully recognize God’s love and their dignity as His children.

He further encouraged the youth not to be afraid to seek answers to the deepest questions of their lives through dialogue with God. He reminded them that Christ not only came into the world and gave His life for humanity but continues to remain present among His people, nourishing them through His Word and the Holy Eucharist. In conclusion, the Metropolitan invited the participants to reflect on their own place in God’s plan of salvation and to entrust their future to the Lord.