2018 Girls Retreat.
The Annual Girls’ Retreat was held at Saint Basil's Academy November 9-11, 2018. We welcomed guest speaker Natalie Kapeluck Nixon, the Director for Youth & Young Adult Ministry of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and the Ukrainian Orthodox Camping Programs, to discuss the theme of “Finding Your True North: Where Does Christ Fit into Your Life?”
During her time with the young women, Natalie addressed contemporary moral issues facing all teenagers today, ranging from friendships, anxiety, social media, and dating. The weekend was filled with great discussion in a safe environment where everyone could share the challenges that they face every day, and learned how Christ’s teachings and our Orthodox faith can help them navigate through difficult situations.
Archbishop Michael was in attendance Friday evening for his "Questions and Answers" session, and served the Akathist "Glory to God for All Things" on Saturday morning. He was also able to be with us during Natalie's sessions until having to get on the road again.
This retreat marked Father Martin Kraus' first as the Department of Youth Ministry's official Chaplain. Welcome, Father Martin!