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Written by Anthony K. Sedun, St. Ann Byzantine Catholic Church,
Harrisburg, PA
Uniontown, PA - Addressing Byzantine young adults at the one-day retreat
“Growing Up Into Christ,” Fr. Jack Custer (Dean of Ss. Cyril and Methodius
Seminary) said: “A great conversation has got to happen in the Church...and
you young people will be a part of that.” Indeed, that conversation on
Saturday, May 24, 2003 marked an historic day for the future of the
Byzantine Catholic Church in America. The Sisters of St. Basil the Great
hosted more than a dozen young adult pilgrims on the grounds of Mt. St.
Macrina in Uniontown, PA—already a center for pilgrims throughout the
year—now the nexus for Byzantine youth 18-25 years old. The participants are
listed according to Eparchy. From Van Nuys, Darrenn Jackson; from Parma,
Elizabeth Anastasia Hritz, CJ Tran, Beth Krofcheck, Mike Krofcheck, Anne
Nagrant, and Chris Pullella; from the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, Nick Homer,
Amanda Trapp, Alan Troyan, and Beth Wolensky; from Passaic, Gregory Lazur
and Anthony K. Sedun. The event “Growing Up Into Christ: Beyond ByzanTEEN-hood,”
marked continued efforts and interests in the Young Adult (YA) ministry in
our Church.
For quite some time, many within the Church—from the pulpits to the
pews—have arrived at several realizations about our young adult population.
They are growing in numbers; they are often not directly ministered to; they
are untapped veins of natural and precious resource for our Church. However,
such realizations are not conclusions, but beginnings. Certainly Saturday’s
retreat was not the first effort at outreach to Byzantine young adults. For
that it is helpful to recall last year’s annual Labor Day pilgrimage to Mt.
St. Macrina, where Fr. Jack gave a presentation to our young adults. Again,
Saturday’s retreat marked another stepping stone along the path toward the
common goals of addressing the needs of Byzantine young adults and engaging
them in the Church at large.
Fr. Jack and Sr. Barbara Jean
Mihalchick organized this one-day retreat together with the Retreat Center
staff. It attracted 13 young adult participants from every Eparchy in the
United States. From Van Nuys to Parma, to Pittsburgh to Passaic—the
invitation went out. Though the numbers were modest, the response and
interest spoke of greater things to come. Not only was it a chance to set
the course and tone for YA ministry in the Church, but it was an opportunity
for fellowship with Byzantine young adults from across the country. For Nick
Homer (from the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh) and others, it was a “really nice
way to meet other young Byzantines.” The point of Nick’s words here cannot
be over-stated enough. For a host of reasons, many of our parishes—including
Nick’s—present their youth with the peculiar situation of being relatively
isolated or few in number, making it difficult at times to remain rooted in
their Byzantine heritage. The occasions, therefore, like the one-day event
“Growing Up Into Christ,” are critical and nurture one of the many needs
young adults in our Church have.
Lending particular poignancy to the importance of the day for the entire
Byzantine Catholic Church in America was the presence and participation of
His Eminence, Metropolitan Basil. Arriving after the first break-out session
(a discussion on considerations of Christian maturity), Metropolitan Basil
led an unscripted discussion on the Church and ways to strengthen her
ministry to the young adults within her fold. Anne Nagrant, a participant
from Michigan, shared in the pleasant surprise all felt at the flexibility,
generosity of time, and receptivity of His Eminence, saying “He didn’t just
make an appearance—he stayed.” “I have always appreciated,” she adds, “how
our hierarchs are personal.”
The young adults participating in the retreat arrived at several specific
areas regarding YA ministry and presented them to Metropolitan Basil. These
needs, Fr. Jack says, “put a great emphasis on education, on formation to
assume roles of responsibility in the Church, on spiritual growth, and on
fellowship.” He goes on to point out: the fact that the Metropolitan himself
invited “a totally open-ended impromptu discussion of more than an hour’s
duration...is a powerful indication of his interest and trust in the young
adults committed to his care.”
The recurring theme underlying all of these discussions was one of service.
From the Metropolia’s perspective, the question remains essentially: How can
the Church minister to her young adults? Chris Pullella from Cleveland, Ohio
asked the question from the young adults’ perspective: “In what capacity am
I supposed to serve?” The response to both questions depends largely on the
collective and individual responses of all involved to the Holy Spirit.
Already the talents, interests, and energies of the Church and her young
adults in YA ministry have continued sowing the seeds for the future, as May
24’s event has shown. Sr. Barbara Jean’s optimism is characteristic of
everyone involved. The future of YA ministry? She notes: “the doors are wide
open.” Furthermore, speaking now specifically to the young adults she says:
“Mt. Macrina has spoken and shown its willingness to host you, the Church
has said ‘Yes, we value you.’”
Joined by the other Sisters at the Retreat Center, the young adult
participants concluded Saturday’s event with Vespers celebrated by Fr. Jack
in the Retreat Center Chapel, after which opportunities for the Sacrament of
Confession were offered. Though the retreat concluded, the spirit and labors
of the day did not see an end. In fact, several upcoming events will allow
the conversation of May 24 to carry on. “Join Hands Day” at Mt. Macrina and
the annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help over Labor
Day weekend mark two of these events. After these, the next momentous
occasion for YA ministry in our Church will be a three-day retreat this
fall, November 7-9 at the Mount. Fr. Jack and Sr. Barbara Jean will work
particularly with Retreat Team Members: Amanda Trapp (Archeparchy of
Pittsburgh), Elizabeth Anastasia Hritz (Eparchy of Parma), Christopher
Pullella (Eparchy of Parma), and Anthony K. Sedun (Eparchy of Passaic).
Anyone 18-25 years old who wants to find out more about his or her future in
the Church, please contact Fr. Jack jackcus@aol.com, Sr. Barbara Jean
sbjm45@yahoo.com, go to the Byzantine Catholic web-site
www.byzcath.org, or
go to the newest forum for the YA ministry
www.geocities.com/byzcathyouth.
The seeds for the YA ministry have indeed been sowed, reaping those fruits,
however, depend on the dedication, talent, and care we give today—both, as a
Church, and as young adults growing up into Christ.
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Contact: Edward Barr (412) 321-3771 |
