My Journey with Jesus and Friends” in Jenkntown, PA (USA)
From July 29 to August 2, 2024, the Sisters of St. Basil the Great held a youth summer camp on the theme “My Journey with Jesus and Friends” in Fox Chase, PA. The camp was attended by forty children from different parishes and refugee children from Ukraine. At the camp, the children attended the Divine Liturgy, had daily catechism classes, sang and danced, participated in various games, quests and quizzes, baked cookies and made handicrafts. They wrote letters and painted pictures for the soldiers in Ukraine that the Sisters from Ukraine were taking back with them.
The children visited Manor’s Ukrainian Heritage Center to see a typical Ukrainian hut as well as all the Pysanky and Ukrainian costumes from different regions. They visited the Sisters’ Legacy Room where they learned about Bishop Ortynsky, the first Eastern Catholic Bishop of the United States as well as about where all the schools the Sisters taught. They also perused all the pictures and artifacts of the Sisters’ handiwork of Pysanky, embroidery, bead work and vestments. At the end of the camp the children presented a Talent Show.
The camp was organized under the direction of Sister Franciska Shabliy, OSBM with the help of Sister Chrysantha Burmei, OSBM and Sister Markiana Kazmir, OSBM who came for the camp from Ukraine. The other catechetical teachers and counselors were: Sister Dia Zagurska, OSBM, Deacons Ihor Demydas and Bohdan Vasyliv, seminarian Nicholas Sharga, Ms. Anna Dovhanyk and Ms. Iryna Prokhna, and animators Lila Yevseyeva and Sofia Prokhna. The camp’s spiritual director was Fr. Roman Oliynyk of the Annunciation Parish, Melrose Park. Sr Monica Lesnick,OSBM, Sr. Ann Laszok, OSBM and Sr. Teodora Kopyn, OSBM provided the nourishment for the children throughout the day.
For the children the camp was a special and joyful time of new acquaintances, friendship and learning. Parents were so happy for the camp that they wanted the camp to last several weeks.
(Text by Sr. Ann Laszok, OSBM – Photos by Sister Markiana Kazmir, OSBM)
