Dormition in Saskatoon starts another year of youth programming

August 26, 2005 -- Sunday School at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God will be having its registration on Monday September 12th at 7:00 pm in the church basement. Programs being offered in the parish are:

Sunday School Liturgy lessons. They are taught every Sunday beginning after the September long weekend until the end of June. During school breaks we still gather but have no formal instruction. There will be four groups of children and they will be separated according to their school grade. The program being used is the God Is With Us series. There is a child’s workbook and instructor’s manual which is complete with lesson plans. The program focuses on our Byzantine faith and our Ukrainian Catholic church.

Junior Ukrainian Catholic Youth (UCY). This program is for pre-teens and early teens. Our program offers the opportunity to our youth to participate and become active parishioners in our Ukrainian Catholic church. They gather once a month on a Friday evening. They begin with a short lesson and preparation for Children’s Liturgy. The lessons are thematic-based to incorporate their faith, church and the reality of being a young Ukrainian Catholic youth in today’s world. Their evening ends with a social gathering.

First Solemn Communion. This program introduces our young children to a deeper understanding of the celebration of the Eucharist. The program also prepares the children for the sacrament of penance. The program is offered on select Sundays at 9:00 am from September to April. In May, the children their parents and family along with their parish community celebrate their joyous journey together. Along with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, a dinner is held in honour of our young parishioners. Tentative date is Sunday May 7th, 2006. Age: minimum of seven years of age or grade two.

Altar Servers. Being an altar server is a unique opportunity for the boys and young men of our faith to be a servant of God. Their role within our parish is a supportive position to our Pastor and his Sunday duties. The altar servers work along side with the Starshi Braty (older brothers) of the parish to prepare the church for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. They assist our Pastor with his duties at the altar. This group also meets once a month, Friday evenings with a short lesson and will end on a social note. Completion of First Solemn Communion required.

Children of Mary. Being a Child of Mary also is a unique opportunity for the girls and young women of our faith to be a servant of God. Their role is important to the parish. Our program will introduce the role women have had in the foundation of our faith and church. This group also meets once a month, Friday evenings, with a short lesson and ends on a social note. Completion of First Solemn Communion required.

Children’s Choir. The Children’s Choir meets twice a month following the Liturgy for twenty minutes. The choir learns the hymns sung during the Divine Liturgy, special Feast Days and Christmas carols.

Children’s Liturgy. The last Sunday of every month actively involves the youth of our parish. They are the Welcomers, they are the Epistle reader, do the Sunday collection and sing with the choir in the loft. The position of Epistle reader and Sunday collection are reserved for the Junior UCY.

Year End Wind-up. There will be a year end wind-up social Bar-B-Q at Ukrainian Park on either June 9 or June 10. Details available after Easter.

Karen Pidskalny, Parish Catechist