From July 28-30, young adults of the Edmonton Eparchy gathered at Camp Oselia on Lake Wabamun for the first Eparchial “World Youth Day@Home.” The weekend took its theme from the international WYD in Lisbon: “Mary arose and went with haste,” a quote from Luke 1:39. Guest speakers from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba shared their insights and led discussions on different aspects of Mary’s life and example. Topics included Mary’s free will and what that means for our own response to God, how Marian feasts help us understand the Christian vocation, what Mary’s “haste” can tell us about God’s plan for our own lives, and how praying the rosary can prepare us to respond to God’s call. The weekend also included liturgical services and times for personal prayer, icebreakers and games, a campfire on Friday evening, a soccer game on Saturday afternoon, other social time, and a Zabava with cash bar on Saturday night that lasted well past midnight.

Stay tuned for upcoming youth/young adult events, including “Pray Hard, Play Hard,” which starts on Saturday, August 19, with 4pm vespers at St. Josaphat’s Cathedral, followed by a potluck/BBQ and social. Stay in the loop by visiting their Facebook group page here.