BATH, PA [DOEPA COMMUNICATIONS]

Dear to God,

Christ is in our midst! By the Grace of God, we were able to have a safe and successful summer camp program this year and were filled to capacity, with approximately 160 campers and approximately 65 counselors and volunteers. We are extremely grateful to all who participated in the important ministry. Running a camp is multifaceted and every person’s contribution is important. Thank you to Dan Peck our camp director, Jen Bzik our Diocesan Administrative assistant, and Carmen Hodson for their help with registration and background checks. Our media team, Nicholas Hojnicki and Ella Parsells did an excellent job. Sam Regan put together our new service books and Maria Peck did an excellent job directing.

We are also grateful for the presence of our clergy, the V. Rev. Fr. Timothy Hojnicki, Fr. Silouan Burns, Fr. Nikolai Breckinridge, Fr Aleksey Payanyuk, Fr Jason Franchak, Fr John Black, Fr Joseph Toroney, Fr Vjekoslav Jovicic, Fr Kirill Zawatski, Fr John Parker of the seminary and Abbot Sergius and Madrecita Emilia Burns, Matushka Emilia Shepherd, Papadija Dragona Jovicic and Mathushka Kathy Toroney. Our youth usually do not have access on Sundays in their parishes and the camp allows very personal interactions and development of trust through time spent together.

We wish to thank the V. Rev. Fr. John Parker of St. Tikhon’s Seminary and Abbot, Archimandrite Sergius of St. Tikhon’s Monastery for generously making their facilities available for our Diocesan program and their personal contributions. Fr John generously provides ice cream for the 4th of July and Abbot Sergius of the monastics provides the fireworks. We are also grateful to the volunteers of our Diocese, the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, the Archdiocese of Washington and all who gave of their time and talents.

Let us also thank those who prepared three meals a day, especially Dimitri Ressetar, Elizabeth and Jim Clause, Papadija Dragona Jovicic, Madrecita Emilia Burns, Fr. Jason Franchak, Judith Lezinsky and several others for close to 230 adults and children meeting a variety of dietary needs. Food preparation takes hours for quality meals and is devoured in minutes. The daily cleanup after meals and setup for the next round was a labor of love. We were very blessed by St Nicholas of Bethlehem for their homemade meatballs and chocolate chip cookies and Christ the Saviour for their pierogies. Additionally, Pani Olivia Zawatski secured a donation once again from Mrs. T’s for 1200 potato and cheddar pierogies.

Fr Joseph, Matushka Katherine Toroney and John Kariouk faithfully took care of fishing and boating daily. Please accept my humble thanks on behalf of the Diocese and our youth. As mentioned above, the roles and ministries are multifaceted and would take pages to acknowledge. Hopefully, we will see many of the same children, counselors and staff again next year. We also invite others from our Diocese to become involved and plan to serve next year. We would be remiss not to thank our parishes and faithful for their personal and financial support. Without you, many of our youth simply would be unable to come to camp. Forgive me for not listing every single person, but the Lord knows who you are. Every person who worked or donated made this all possible. Let your light so shine that men may see your good works and give Glory to your father in Heaven!

Sincerely,

+Mark

Archbishop of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania

Issued by the Diocesan Media Office