Blog Archives

Packing List and Things You Need to Know About Coming to Unity 2014

Posted by thisisunity2014

Can it be only 2 days away? Honestly, everyone, I’m kind of freaking out… with excitement! With all the planning the Core Team has been doing since November 2012, we’re in for a great weekend. To help all of you be a little more prepared about attending Unity, here is a packing list and a few things you need to know about Augustana Campus and what will be going on at Unity 2014. If you’ve already registered, you should have received a document containing this information in your confirmation email. If for some reason you didn’t get it, the info is below. NOTE: one thing not listed on the packing list was a new or almost new and clean article of clothing you are willing to donate for the Youth Shelter in Camrose. And on to the info:

I. WHERE TO GO, AND HOW TO GET THERE

Unity 2014 will be taking place at Augustana University in Camrose, Alberta. Transportation will be available for those flying in to Edmonton.

If you are taking any form of transportation other than air or driving directly there – please contact the team at this.is.unity.2014@gmail.com or Taras at 780-236-4614.

Once you arrive at Augustana, head over to the Faith and Life Centre main entrance and you will be greeted by a wonderful hospitality crew, a welcome package, and an amazing group of young adults and spiritual leaders from across the country.

If you are driving, here is a google map link to help with your travels, http://bit.ly/XHWspg

II. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ONCE YOU GET THERE

We will have a cash bar (cheap drinks, we promise!) at the Taste of the Eparchies and Zabava. Bring enough cash with you to support your interests! There are no truly convenient ATM’s.

Augustana is a dry campus. Liquor is only permitted in the designated areas and at the designated times.

There is cell phone reception in case you need to make an emergency phone call or if your family needs to get a hold of you from home. There is limited Internet access on site.

There is no need to bring bedding, but please bring your own towel. Showers are divided but they are mainly dorm-style so you may wish to bring shower sandals.

We are trying to make Unity as “green” as possible. If you have a water bottle and/or travel mug – bring them along.

We have a fantastic team on site to accommodate you in every way possible – if you are hot, cold, hungry, confused, or just looking for someone to talk to – they’ll be there!

III. WHAT TO BRING

A packing list for you:

bug spray and sunscreen
a blanket or something to sit on for any outdoor sessions
cash for social events
a travel mug for hot beverages and water bottle
ear plugs, if you’re a light sleeper
casual clothes (for most of the weekend)
semi-formal clothes (for banquet and dance) – no jeans or T-shirts, please!
church clothes (for, you guessed it, church!)
toiletries
a small flashlight
a (new or almost new and clean) item of clothing to donate to the youth shelter in Camrose
shower sandals (optional)
your provincial health card
rain gear
an open mind, an open heart, and a positive attitude ☺

IV. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, August 14^th

4:00pm–Registration
5:30pm–Welcome Dinner
6:45pm–Welcome keynote
7:00pm–Vespers/Opening Ceremonies
8:00pm–Ice Breakers
9:00pm–TBA

Friday, August 15

7:45-8:30am–Breakfast
9:00am–Divine Liturgy
10:30am–Break
11:00am–Keynote #2
11:45am–Break
12:00pm–Lunch
1:30pm–Session 1
2:30pm–Break
2:45pm–Session 2
3:45pm–Break
4:00pm–Bishop’s Panel
5:30pm–Dinner
7:00pm–Akathist
8:30pm–Taste of the Eparchies

Saturday, August 16

7:15am–Optional Divine Liturgy
7:45-9:00am–Breakfast
9:00am–Third Hour
9:15am–Session 3
10:15am–Break
10:30am–Session 4
11:30am–Break
12:00pm–Lunch
1:30pm–Reconciliation Service
4:00pm–Optional Vespers
6:00pm–Banquet
8:00pm–Zabava

Sunday, August 17

7:45-9:00am–Breakfast
10:00am–Divine Liturgy
12:00pm–Lunch and Ending Keynote

V. WORKSHOP CHOICES

There will be 12 phenomenal workshops offered at Unity 2014.

The bad news: You only get to choose 4.

For each break out session slot there will be several workshops happening at the same time.

Also – session space is limited. You will be able to sign-up at registration on a first come, first served basis. Please consider in advance which sessions you would like to attend. To refresh your memory:

Workshops

Note: All sessions are offered twice, once on Friday and once on Saturday, with the exception of the talks by Srs. Emily and Zoe. Their talks will only be offered on Saturday.

Session 1 on Friday, August 15th at 1:30 pm: (choose one)

1. “Warm Bodies.” What our bodies tell us about what it means to be human. (Debbie Larmour)
-An intro to Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body
*For those who have little to no experience with Theology of the Body

2. “Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match!” (Fr. Mihajlo Planchak)
-Based on Crystalina and Jason Evert’s book How to Find Your Soul-mate Without Losing Your Soul.

3. “I feel the need—the need to read (the Bible)!” How to Read the Bible (Fr. Daniel Wach, OSBM)
-Is it a manual? Storybook? History? Myth? Find out in this session!

4. “Are you watching closely?” The Beauty of Iconography (Kim Bombak)
-A look at what goes into writing an icon and how we use it to pray and further our faith.

5. “May the force be with you! And with your spirit! Wait, what? – Divine Liturgy 101” (Jess Lastiwka)

-What really goes on during all those “Lord have mercy”s and signs of the cross? Find out here!

Session 2 on Friday, August 15th at 2:45 pm: (choose one)

6. Les Misérables: What our Bodies Tell us About our Relationship with God (Debbie Larmour)
-A more in depth look at Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body
*For those who desire a deeper look at Theology of the Body

7. “Houston, we have a problem.” (Or do we?): Women Deacons in the Church (Tobias Underwood)
-The history of women deacons in the Ukrainian Catholic Church and what looking at the past means for the future.

8. “My Big Fat Greek Wedding: How to make a marriage work when there is a cultural divide” (Carol and Eric Batty)
-Delve into the life of a couple who’s managed to make it work despite the odds.

9. “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” (Bishop Bryan Bayda)

-The fabric of faith that holds communities together can be seen as a gift for growth. How do we keep our faith and at the same time share it with others who belong to other world religions and faith traditions? What is UNITY after all?

10. “The name’s Francis. Pope Francis.” Get to Know our Beloved Pope. (Bishop David Motiuk)
-The man at the head of the Catholic Church: his past, his present, his future, and what that means for us.

Session 3 on Saturday, August 16th at 9:15 am: (choose one)

1. “Warm Bodies.” What our bodies tell us about what it means to be human (Debbie Larmour)
-An intro to Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body
*For those who have little to no experience with Theology of the Body

2. “Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match!” (Fr. Mihajlo Planchak)
-Based on Crystalina and Jason Evert’s book How to Find Your Soul-mate Without Losing Your Soul.

3. “I feel the need—the need to read (the Bible)!” How to Read the Bible (Fr. Daniel Wach, OSBM)
-Is it a manual? Storybook? History? Myth? Find out in this session!

4. “Are you watching closely?” The Beauty of Iconography (Kim Bombak)
-A look at what goes into writing an icon and how we use it to pray and further our faith.

5. “May the force be with you! And with your spirit! Wait, what? – Divine Liturgy 101” (Jess Lastiwka)
-What really goes on during all those “Lord have mercy”s and signs of the cross? Find out here!

6. “Mamma Mia!” Ethical Issues Around Birth (Sr. Zoe Bernatsky)
-Learn about the newest issues surrounding conception and birth thanks to an advanced technological age.

7. Our Christian Vocation: To Boldly Go With God Where We Have Never Gone Before (Sr. Emily Schietzsch)
-Following God can be the most exciting, fulfilling and life-changing adventure imaginable. The trick is to let God take the lead and then, follow him everywhere. Sound easy? This workshop will discuss what it means to follow Christ with everything we have and offer some practical suggestions for how to do so.

Session 4 on Saturday, August 16th at 10:30 am: (choose one)

8. Les Misérables: What our Bodies Tell us About our Relationship with God (Debbie Larmour)
-A more in depth look at Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body
*For those who desire a deeper look at Theology of the Body

9. “Houston, we have a problem.” (Or do we?): Women Deacons in the Church (Tobias Underwood)
-The history of women deacons in the Ukrainian Catholic church and what looking at the past means for the future.

10. “My Big Fat Greek Wedding: How to make a marriage work when there is a cultural divide” (Carol and Eric Batty)
-Delve into the life of a couple who’s managed to make it work despite the odds.

11. “The name’s Francis. Pope Francis.” Get to Know our Beloved Pope. (Bishop David Motiuk)
-The man at the head of the Catholic Church: his past, his present, his future, and what that means for us.

12. “Mamma Mia!” Ethical Issues Around Birth (Sr. Zoe Bernatsky)
-Learn about the newest issues surrounding conception and birth thanks to an advanced technological age.

13. “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” (Bishop Bryan Bayda)

14. Our Christian Vocation: To Boldly Go With God Where We Have Never Gone Before (Sr. Emily Schietzsch)
-Following God can be the most exciting, fulfilling and life-changing adventure imaginable. The trick is to let God take the lead and then, follow him everywhere. Sound easy? This workshop will discuss what it means to follow Christ with everything we have and offer some practical suggestions for how to do so.

VI. CONTACT INFORMATION

Here is the contact information for Augustana. In the case of an emergency, please contact Millie directly at (780) 446-1061.

The University of Alberta Augustana Campus
4901 – 46 Avenue
Camrose, Alberta
T4V 2R3

Phone: (780) 679-1100

See you soon!

The Unity 2014 Planning Team

Posted in Blog

Core Team Spotlight: Robyn Watt

Jun 20

Posted by thisisunity2014

Time for another spotlight on one of our Core Team members. This week? The ever-present Robyn Watt!

Robyn, you show up rain or shine for every core team meeting, so you must have a great deal of love for the work you’re putting into Unity 2014. What is it that make you excited for Unity this August?
I’m excited for a change of pace from everyday work life – a break from my routine to spend several days focusing on faith.

That’s a really great point; I bet a lot of people would love to get away from the real world for a bit to focus on something different. It’s great that you want to use this time developing your faith. Is there anything specifically that you’re looking forward to during this most epic of weekends?
I’m most looking forward to hopefully seeing some familiar faces from Holy Eucharist Church in Toronto at Unity this summer! And hearing Bishop David speak about Pope Francis! And the picnic after Liturgy on Sunday!

Wow, that’s a lot of things to look forward to! Hopefully our team lives up to your expectations. Speaking of the core team, what is your job in planning Unity 2014?
Compiling and editing the Unity program book.

Nice! That’s a really big job but I know you’ll do a wonderful job with the book. Hey, maybe you can sneak your name in there somewhere so that everyone knows that the book was all yours, eh? I’m just kidding. Anyway, do you have any final wisdom for those who are on the fence about attending Unity 2014?
If you’re on the fence about attending, I’d try to convince you to come by telling you that Camrose is a really pretty town (they have a lake with swans!). And that Unity is a great chance to be part of the larger Ukrainian Catholic community in Canada.

Well, there you have it, folks, the lovely Robyn Watt! Stay tuned for our next Core Team Spotlight and Speaker Spotlight, coming soon to a computer near you (well, in front of you would be preferable).

Peace and God Bless,

Joyanne

Posted in Blog

Unity 2014 Screening

Feb 16

Posted by thisisunity2014

CIX! Glory be to JC!

We are getting close, my friends! Only 6 months to go until Unity 2014 is upon us. To get you all even more excited for this fabulous event, check out the updated Location info under the About Unity tab at the top of the page.

A couple weeks ago, the Unity 2014 Planning Team was joined by delegates from the Eparchies of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. We started off Friday night with pizza and getting to know each other. Saturday was packed full with a trip to Camrose to see St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Augustana Campus, finishing off with dinner and games at our youth minister, Millie’s, house. Sunday, everyone was on their own for liturgy, many choosing to go to St. Josaphat’s Cathedral for 9:00am. Sad to see them go, the Unity 2014 Planning Team said good bye to our delegates, wishing them a safe journey home.

Here are some pictures from the weekend: