About us
Greek Catholic Youth Center Bárka is located in the village Juskova
Voľa (District of Vranov nad Topľou). History of this institution stretches back to 1960s when the construction
of Pioneer Camp began. In 1999, after previous reconstruction, an outdoor school for the purpose of organizing
recovery and rest stays for children and youth from the cities of eastern
Slovakia was established
by the state organization. In 2002, the property of outdoor school was delimited
to Prešov autonomuos region, which was its operator operator until 2005 when this
institution received a new owner. Thanks to Msgr. ThDr. Ján Babjak SJ,
Archbishop and Metropolitan of Presov, it became the Greek Catholic
Archbishopric in Prešov. After extensive renovation, which was realized from
2007 to 2008, and after the following consecration of renovated areas,
recognizing the importance and necessity of caring for the youth, this place
becomes the center of a special pastoration of youth of Prešov archieparchy.
GMC Bárka is a type of spiritual-formation and relaxation institution. Since
2006, two ecclesiastic schools operate here: ecclesiastic outdoor school (CŠvP)
and Leisure Center (CVC). The primary mission of outdoor school is to provide
accommodation, food, space and other services necessary to ensure a continuous
educational process for schools and school facilities. Moreover CŠvP provides
its services and areas for school
trips, camping stays for
children and youth, spiritual retreats
and revivals, meetings of
ecclesial communities and movements, conferences and meetings, trainings
and presentations. The facility offers accommodation for 173
people - 111 places in the renovated main building and 62 placess in the brick
cottages. Triple, four-bed and five-bed rooms are situated on three corridors. Each room has its own toilet and
shower. There is also dayroom
in the main building with TV,
satellite, DVD, canteen with excellent home made meals (breakfast,
snacks, lunches, snacks, dinner), saloon (meeting room for
approx 12 people), two classrooms equipped with teaching aids and chapel with a capacity of 120 people. In the complex of five brick cottages the four of them are used for accommodation. One cottage is equipped
with billiard table, table football and table tennis room. The complex includes
a classroom under the garden
house, covered stage, a large football
pitch and two clay playgrounds suitable for volleyball or football, playing complex for children, open
and covered fireplace with sitings for
lovers of barbecue. Another equally important institution is the center of
leisure time. Its mission is to devote the time to youth, children and their
parents in the spare-time education through the proper interest, occasional,
vacation, education or spontaneous activities realized in the Christian spirit.
Its aim is to create conditions for useful spending of leisure time. Since the
beginning of its activities CVČ organized dozens of events attended by
thousands of young people. If you want to have a good time with your
school, community or friends, to relax,
discover the beautiful nature of Slánske hills and get a lot of spiritual
power, you can choose from our program which is available at all offices of the
Prešov Greek Catholic parish archieparchy, right in our center or on our
website www.gmcbarka.sk. Reservations and accommodation information
are available at tel. No.: 057 / 44 902 90, e-mail: skolacentrum@centrum.sk.
Christ
among us!