Girls' Sleepover Success!

We want to say a big THANK YOU to all the teens and young adults who attended our Girl's Sleepover at the monastery this weekend - as well as their parents for bringing them!  We had a great time praying, eating and having fun with everyone!  We started off the sleepover by celebrating Great Vespers for the Sunday after Theophany, which was followed by a traditional sleepover feast of pizza!

All 18 of us around the dining room table!

Then we decorated Christmas cookies, and settled into the living room to watch a few movies.  We watched a great documentary on Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, an 18 year old Italian woman who died from bone cancer in 1990 and was beatified in 2010, and had a brief discussion about her life.  We played some games, watched another movie, and prayed Compline together.

The Fun Zone.

On Sunday, we began our morning with Matins followed by Divine Liturgy with the traditional Theophany house blessing celebrated by Fr. Stephen Titko.  Afterwards, we had brunch with the girls and some of their families.  We are grateful for the opportunity to open our home and spend quality time with such a wonderful group of young women.  We thank God for the gift they are to us!

Divine Liturgy on Sunday.

Blessing the monastery.

Thank you young people, you rejuvenate the Pope, inspire the Church and refresh a world thirsty for hope and courage. 
- Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day 2011