On March 14, our parish family at St. Volodymyr Church gathered for a special Day of Spiritual Renewal, a time dedicated to prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal for everyone who participated.
The central event of the day was the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Fr. Hieromonk Josaphat Koval, OSBM, who serves at the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in New York. In his homily, he shared profound reflections on the meaning of the Great Fast, emphasizing that fasting is not only about abstaining from certain foods, but above all about inner purification, repentance, prayer, and renewing our living relationship with God.
After the Divine Liturgy, the faithful had the opportunity to pray before the relics of Blessed Hieromartyr Mykola Charnetsky.
The faithful also had the opportunity to receive the Holy Mystery of Repentance. Confessions were heard by Fr. Oleh Kepeshchuk, pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in San Francisco, who helped many parishioners spiritually prepare for the bright feast of the Resurrection of our Lord.
A particularly moving moment of the day was Fr. Josaphat’s testimony about his priestly and monastic vocation. He shared how the Lord guided him along the path of service, encouraging those present to trust in God’s will and not be afraid to respond to God’s call in their own lives.
At the conclusion of the day, the pastor of the parish, Fr. Roman Bobesiuk, expressed his gratitude to Fr. Josaphat for celebrating the Divine Liturgy, for his inspiring spiritual reflections, and for the shared prayer. He also thanked Fr. Oleh for his ministry in the Holy Mystery of Confession.
This day became a true moment of spiritual renewal, grace, and joy for our parish community, helping many to enter more deeply into the spirit of the Great Fast and to strengthen their faith.
May the Lord bless everyone who took part in this day of prayer and help each of us walk faithfully through this Lenten journey toward the bright feast of the Resurrection of Christ.