Shadeland’s the place for a winter retreat or summer camp!

With the completion of the new dormitory, the Eastern Diocese expands Shadeland to a year round retreat facility.

Usually the sounds of children’s voices are heard in July and August at St. Sava Camp, Shadeland, but this year for several days before the New Year, the familiar sounds of laughter and chatter filled the dormitories, grounds, and the Administration Building. Under the joint sponsorship of the Departments of Christian Education of the Midwest Metropolitanate and the Eastern American Diocese, the first Nativity Fast Retreat for Youth was held at Shadeland from Wednesday, December 27^th until Saturday, December 30^th. Thirty-three children traveled from the Chicago and Detroit areas and joined children from the Pittsburgh, Ohio and Washington Deaneries. For many of the children from the Midwest, it was their first trip to Shadeland. They discovered what many summer campers from the Eastern Diocese already knew: Shadeland provides a wonderful setting in which to learn and grow in faith. In winter or summer Shadeland has much to offer.

Winter Retreat

His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher and His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan inaugurated the First Nativity Fast Retreat for Youth at St. Sava Camp Shadeland. Under the guidance of their respective hierarchs, Father Radovan Jakovljevic, Director of Christian Education from the Midwest and Father Rodney Torbic, Director of Christian Education of the Eastern Diocese worked together to coordinate a program that balanced worship, presentations, music, and activities. Deacons Damian Bozic from Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Chicago and Ivan Gasic from St. Lazarus "Ravanica" in Detroit were also in attendance, bringing with them their energy and enthusiasm

On Wednesday evening after Vespers were celebrated and the evening meal was completed, the children got to know one another through several icebreakers. In keeping with the theme of the Retreat, "Preparing for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ", participants were also shown a video of the Nativity according to the Gospel of St. Luke, which was followed by a group discussion.

After Fr. Radovan led the children in last prayers of the evening, it was off to the dorms and time for the informal icebreakers—late night chats and snacks until the wee hours of the morning. The girls headed to the newly completed dormitory while the boys headed to the dormitory completed in 2000. Everyone –adults and children— truly appreciated Shadeland’s accommodations that show the ongoing commitment of the Diocese to improve and expand Shadeland’s facilities.

Both Thursday and Friday mornings began with prayer. After breakfast, the children were divided into two age groups and attended varied presentations, which pertained to the retreat’s theme of preparing for the Feast of the Nativity.

On Thursday Father Aleksa Micich, from St. Luke Church of Washington D.C, gave the first presentation to the older children and spoke about the icon of the Nativity and the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ. Fr. Aleksa is a member of the Youth Ministry Standing Committee and is active in college student ministry for the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Father Radovan Jakovljevic who, in keeping with the theme of the retreat, addressed the youth about the Christian Spirit, followed him. Father Jakovljevic has worked with youth in different Christian education settings and specialized in Christian education in his advance theological studies. A member of the Standing Committee on Christian Education, he also recently completed a program of advanced studies on medical ethics.

Father Milovan Katanic from St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Hermitage, Pennsylvania spoke to the younger children about the importance of reading good books and being careful not to read books that have subtle messages that are anti-Christian.

For the second talk to the younger children, Christopher and Evgenia Radanovich delivered an active talk on the meaning of the many different things associated with Christmas. They are members of the choral group Serb Wings, and both are active in their home parish, St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church of Steelton, Pennsylvania. In addition, Chris is also a member of the Standing Committee on Youth Ministry and was one of the organizers of the First Youth Sabor held last August in Detroit, MI.

On Friday morning, another member of the Youth Ministry Committee, Alex Miskov gave a presentation to the entire group. He gave an extensive account of the Feast of the Nativity. Hailing from St. Sava Church in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Alex did considerable work to prepare for his presentation.

Friday’s second presentation was given by Shadeland Camp Director, Father Zivojin Jakovljevic who gave illustrations of the presence of God in creation. He also gave very specific examples about the power of prayer and the importance of faith. Father Zivojin is a doctoral candidate at The Ohio State University in addition to being Dean of St. Sava Cathedral of Cleveland, Ohio.

Other activities during the retreat included an evening session of singing with Fr. Dragomir Tuba from St. Archangel Church in Akron. Assisted by Popadija Kristina, Father instructed the children in the singing of the Nativity Troparion and other seasonal hymns. Fr. Rodney Torbic gave ten of the young people the text to a play they were to perform. The play about a Holy Supper in a Serbian family home on Christmas Eve was quite good for the limited practice, and showed the youths’ creativity since they had to totally organize their presentation. As a service activity, the young people –working in pairs—wrote Christmas greetings to retired clergy, clergy widows, and monastics.

On both Thursday and Friday the evening activities also included two organized challenges. Participants were divided into 5 groups of 9. One activity was a Bible verse scramble. All the verses were taken from one of the presentations the children had heard earlier in the day. Each group was handed an identical envelope and quickly had to put the words into correct order. Points were given to all teams based on the speed of completion. As the game progressed, their interest increased, and soon they were asking for more verses to put in correct order. Friday’s challenge activity was based on the Nativity icon, which was explained in one of Thursday’s presentations and again Friday morning. Each team was given 4-foot square dry erase board and markers and told to recreate the Nativity icon based on their recollections. Volunteer Ruzica Milvojevic from Chicago and Fr. Zivojin, who is also an accomplished iconographer, then judged the finished works in several categories. Both activities highlighted how much the children enjoyed working in teams.

It was fortunate that the weather was unseasonably warm, since it gave everyone the opportunity to enjoy the grounds. Retreat participants and several of the volunteers took a hike through the grounds, and some organized games were played which required cooperation and facilitated interaction, and on Friday night campers enjoyed a late night bonfire with toasted marshmallows. And, of course, there was plenty of action in the game room. No matter what the activity was, it was apparent that the kids (and the adults) just enjoyed being with one another.

His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan accompanied by Protopresbyter Djokan Majstorovic, Dean of St. Sava Cathedral of New York City, came to meet with the youth on Friday before Vespers. Bishop Mitrophan has a strong interest in developing the St. Sava Camp facilities for year-round use. His Grace comes to Shadeland every time young people are present to meet with them. He gave them the opportunity to ask questions of interest to them, and then His Grace turned things around and asked the young people questions. His Grace gave each participant an icon at the conclusion of Vespers and stayed to have dinner with them.

Friday’s other visitors included Protopresbyter Stavrophor Stevan Stepanov, Dean of the Pittsburgh Deanery from St. Elijah Church in Aliquippa who was accompanied by Brian Hayden, Youth Group Leader from St. Elijah Church, and Fr. Milan Pajic from St. George Church in Midland and his family.

Many of the retreat participants prepared for Holy Communion by taking Confession on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, Father Radovan, Deacon Damjan Bozic and Deacon Ivan Gasic served at the Divine Liturgy with the youths singing the responses. It was fitting that the retreat began with prayer and concluded with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

During the closing breakfast, Father Radovan Jakovljevic expressed appreciation for having the opportunity to bring the group of young people from the Midwest. Millie Radovick, president of the Eastern Region KSS and Shadeland Committee member, responded by saying the adults and youths from the Midwest should now consider Shadeland as their home and feel comfortable in returning.

God was good in blessing this retreat, in providing young people to attend, and adults willing to work to make the retreat possible. Many thanks are due to these dedicated volunteers from the Metropolitanate, Milly Terzic, president of the Midwest Federation of KSS, Marisa Lazich, Mary Perisic, Masa Kosanovich, Ruzica Milvojevic, Jasna Lappim and Ranko Marjanovic, and from Eastern Diocese, in addition to Millie Radovick, Shadeland Camp Committee members Vesna Meinert and Federation KSS vice-president, Dee Dee Baskot. We are grateful also to Shadeland’s caretaker Scott Felix for assisting the Camp committee in getting the new dormitory ready for occupancy on short notice.

May the Newborn Christ Child hear the many prayers of gratitude from the attendees and sense the joy the young people felt as they spent these days at St. Sava Camp-Shadeland. May God bless the adults, the clergy and the hierarchs responsible for undertaking this retreat and for the benefit of the young people who attended. We hope more joint projects will be considered in the future.

Father Rodney Torbic

With Vesna Meinert