Emmaus Youth Group Continues to Grow in Faith and Fellowship

Emmaus, the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton’s monthly bilingual youth gathering, has now reached its third month of bringing teenagers together for prayer, learning, friendship and fellowship with Christ.

Emmaus welcomes youth ages 12–17 from across the Eparchy. Led by seminarian Marko Koval, each gathering offers teenagers an opportunity to explore their faith through engaging presentations, thoughtful discussions, prayer and activities designed specifically for their age group.

A Gathering at Holy Spirit Seminary

The most recent Emmaus gathering took place on October 25 at Holy Spirit Seminary in Edmonton. About 30 teenagers attended the evening, which combined liturgical prayer, faith formation, community life and time for fun.

The gathering began at 4:00 p.m. with Vespers with Litya in the seminary chapel. The service was offered in connection with the October 26 feast of the Great-Martyr Demetrius.

Rev. Julian Bilyj, Rector of Holy Spirit Seminary, led the service, while the seminarians led the singing. Several young people also participated by reading the Old Testament readings and the Psalms during Vespers.

Their participation helped the teenagers experience the beauty of the Church’s prayer and gave them an active role in the life of the liturgical community.

Discovering Seminary Life

Following Vespers, Marko Koval gave the youth a tour of Holy Spirit Seminary and explained more about the life and mission of the seminary.

For many of the teenagers, the tour was an opportunity to see where seminarians live, pray, study and discern their vocations. The visit also helped them become more familiar with the people and places that support the life of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada.

The gathering then continued with several short clips from the television series The Chosen. The teenagers enjoyed the clips and were eager to continue watching, but the program moved forward to make room for supper and the evening’s spiritual discussion.

Talking About Sin, Forgiveness and Metanoia

After a light supper, Marko led a discussion focused on sin, forgiveness and metanoia.

The clips from The Chosen provided a starting point for the conversation and helped connect the themes to situations and questions that young people can understand. Through the discussion, the teenagers reflected on what happens when people turn away from God, how forgiveness restores relationships, and how metanoia invites a person to turn their heart back toward God.

The youth participated actively and openly. The age-appropriate format allowed them to ask questions, share their thoughts and consider how faith can shape their everyday choices and relationships.

Prayer, Friendship and Joy

The final part of the evening included a game of “Mafia,” a favourite activity among the group. The game gave the teenagers time to relax, laugh and strengthen friendships in a welcoming and positive environment.

The evening concluded with a closing prayer and a group photograph. At 7:00 p.m., parents arrived at the seminary to pick up their children.

The gathering showed the growing energy of Emmaus and the importance of creating spaces where young people can pray, ask honest questions, learn about their faith and build friendships with others who are also seeking to grow closer to Christ.

A Place for Young People to Grow

Emmaus is more than a monthly meeting. It is a community where teenagers can encounter Christ, explore the life of the Church and discover that faith is lived together.

Through prayer, discussion, fellowship and joyful activities, Emmaus continues to offer young people a place where they are welcomed, heard and encouraged.

The Eparchy of Edmonton is grateful to seminarian Marko Koval, Rev. Julian Bilyj, the seminarians, parents and everyone who supports Emmaus and its mission to accompany young people in faith.

May Emmaus continue to grow as a place of friendship, prayer and encounter with Christ.