On December 14, the parish hall of Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Church in Chicago hosted a youth gathering focused on a topic relevant to everyone: how to live as a Christian in a world of money, business, and economic challenges.
The event began with an opening word by Fr. Ihor Darmogray and a communal prayer, in which participants entrusted their thoughts, questions, and desire to understand how to live their faith in everyday decisions to God. The discussion was guided by Yulia Danyliuk, who skillfully combined spiritual and practical aspects, creating a space for open and meaningful dialogue.
In his address, Bishop Benedyct Aleksiychuk emphasized the importance of understanding one’s vocation, practicing discipline and perseverance in daily life, and putting good decisions into practice. He reminded participants that while money is part of life, it should never become its center. A strong spiritual highlight of the evening was the Scripture passage:
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me — Christ.”
The practical dimension of the topic was presented by Vitaliy Kutny, CEO of Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, who explained the difference between credit unions and banks, highlighted the importance of financial literacy, encouraged starting to save early, and introduced the 50/30/20 rule as a simple tool for financial planning. He also noted that Selfreliance (Samopomich) is a living example of combining Christian values and community support, dedicating one-third of its profits to charity for the Ukrainian community.
The gathering continued with a panel discussion, small group work, and an open Q&A session, where participants reflected on freedom, choice, and responsibility in everyday financial decisions.
The evening concluded with a communal prayer and an opportunity for personal conversation. The event provided the youth with an important opportunity to reflect on integrating faith and daily life and on living Christian values in the modern world of economic challenges.
