Youth at the AAC

by Danielle Geeza

“St. Louis was a once in a life time experience, seeing bishops from all over the country and the world. The week was filled with inspiring and motivating people. It is nice to know that there are other people your age outside of your parish and Diocese who share your beliefs, and are there to support you when you need them.” – Oksana Karlgut, Youth Program Participant

“As I always say after working a youth event, my heart is full: It is full of joy, full of love for our youth, and full of love for the Church.” As the Chairperson of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey’s Department of Youth Ministry, I attended the 19th AAC Youth Program as a volunteer staff member working with the high school group. There were over 130 youth participants from ages 5-18 in attendance, and I wish every child and teen in our Diocese could have experienced everything that the week had to offer, especially meeting other young people from all 50 states in addition to Canada and Mexico. We had 10 youth from our Diocese present, each of whom told me that it was unlike anything that they had ever experienced before: from participating in a Hierarchical Liturgy in a hotel ballroom which was transformed into a chapel with 700+ fellow Orthodox Christians and numerous bishops, to enjoying daily excursions to the St. Louis Arch, Six Flags Amusement Park, the St. Louis Science Center while singing silly camp songs on the bus rides, to chanting Church hymns in the middle of the hotel lobby (all caught on video), and finally a banquet to conclude the week with an off the hook dance party. It was truly unforgettable, with every moment filled with the Grace of the Holy Spirit. At the closing session of the Council, the youth made a presentation to the Holy Synod of Bishops, clergy, delegates, and observers – complete with singing, a video/photo slideshow of what it means to be an Orthodox Christian, and finally, a plea from high school students to the OCA at large to provide more opportunities and events like the AAC Youth Program. What resulted from the presentation was truly remarkable: $87,500 pledged by delegates on the floor to fund a full-time Youth Director for the Orthodox Church in America, in addition to future youth activities.

As Archbishop Michael always says, “The youth are not only the future of the Church, but they are also the present.” I have never been more on fire to continue the momentum from St. Louis and share it with those in our Diocese, a Diocese that is already blessed by God to have robust, organized, and wellattended youth events.

For those who have never attended one of our annual events before, I personally extend an invitation to you for our upcoming opportunities:

1) Annual Girls’ Retreat: November 9-11, 2018 at St. Basil Academy in Garrison, NY and open to young women in grades 7-12.

2) Annual Altar Server Retreat: March 1-3, 2019 at St. Basil Academy in Garrison, NY and open to Altar Servers of all ages who currently serve, and for those with an interest in serving in the altar.

3) Annual Lenten Teen Retreat: April 5-7, 2019 at Camp Shiloh in Hewitt, NJ and open to all teens in grades 7-12 across the Diocese.

I hope to see you participate and witness you experiencing the Christian love and fellowship that keeps our youth coming back year after year.