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On Saturday, April 1, 2017, the Annual Eastern Regional Lenten Retreat took place at St Francis Center For Renewal, in Bethlehem, PA from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (EST).

This year, the retreat was co-sponsored by the Ukrainian Orthodox League of the USA and the National ACRY.

Frs. Anthony Perkins and Michael Danczak led the adults and teenagers in a discussion of the topic: ” Peace Be Unto All: Encountering The Divine Liturgy”

Frs. William George and William Bennett served as retreat masters for children ages 6-11 and spoke on the topic: The Divine Liturgy: The Five Senses.

In all, there were nearly 150 people in attendance from the Ukrainian Orthodox Diocese, the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and The Orthodox Church in America.

Natalie Bilynsky, the retreat coordinator, offered words of welcome.

Fr. Anthony Perkins gave an excellent presentation on the First Part of the Liturgy – The Liturgy of the Catechumens and a later presentation on “Living The Liturgy”

Fr. Anthony Perkins

The Paten..

The Proskomedia Display.

The Chapel was filled to capacity for the presentations.

Fr. Andrew Gromm and parishioner from St Gregory of Nyssa Church in Seaford, NY.

Participants from Holy Ghost Church in Phoenixville, PA and Waldorf, MD listen intently to the presentation.

The youth work on a special activity.

The children were led in a discussion of the theme: “The Divine Liturgy: The Five Senses”

Fr. William George

Fr. William Bennett

Fr Michael Danczak offered a presentation on the second part of the Divine Liturgy – The Liturgy of the Faithful.

Fr. Michael Danczak

Everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch.

2017 UOL and ACRY Lenten Retreat Participants

2017 UOL and ACRY Lenten Retreat Participants

The day ended with a Q & A session led by Frs. Michael Danczak, Anthony Perkins and Peter Paproski.

Fr. Peter responds to a question.

One of the participants who will soon be received into the Orthodox Faith with his children, spoke of his journey to the Orthodox Faith from the Baptist Faith.

Fr. Anthony Perkins was the celebrant of Great Vespers. Responses were sung in the Kievan and Carpatho-Rusyn tradition led by Frs Taras Naumenko and Peter Paproski.