Diocese Update - December 2024

Diocese Update - December 2024

Diocese Christian Ed Coordinator Appointed

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop JOHN, Mr. Sam Bitar has been appointed as Christian Education Coordinator for the Diocese of Worcester and New England. Sam is a member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester, where he also serves as Sunday School Director. Upon returning from the Christian Education Conference at Antiochian Village last June, Sam felt called to serve the Christian Education ministry of DOWNE. Beyond his work in the Church, Sam is deeply involved in nonprofit leadership. He is the board president for Holy Trinity Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, a pan-Orthodox facility serving seniors for over 30 years, and for the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, which provides vital services for those experiencing homelessness. A devoted father, Sam is blessed with three children: Isabella, Alanna, and Paul. The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Education Ministry welcomes Sam to the team of coordinators! To contact Sam about Christian Education resources and future workshops, please reach out via email at downechristianeducation@gmail.com.

Fr. Milad recognized as Hometown Hero

Worcester Magazine recognized our own V. Rev. Fr. Milad Selim of St. George Cathedral in Worcester as a Hometown Hero for his dedicated service over the past 14 years. View the article here: https://www.worcestermag.com/story/lifestyle/features/2024/11/28/rev-milad-selim-serving-st-georges-in-worcester-for-14-years/76108398007/ AXIOS Fr. Milad!

His Eminence Metropolitan SABA Feast Day and Ordination in West Roxbury

Metropolitan Winds Concert @ St. John's Dedham - Dec 7

Please join us on Saturday, December 7th at 6:00PM for St. John of Damscus Church's annual Holiday Pops Concert, presented by the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, with a special performance by our own St. John’s Choir. Click here to Order Tickets.

Registration for 2nd Semester of Ecclesiastical Online Music School Opens 12/9

The Antiochian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Online Music School offers both Byzantine and Choral music education for new and experienced Orthodox church musicians. The school is committed to providing excellence in learning experiences, resources and support for Music Ministry programs and leaders, while preserving the musical traditions of the Archdiocese. Almost two hundred people signed up for classes in the inaugural first semester that began this fall. Second semester information is as follows:

• Registration opens Monday, December 9
• Classes start the week of Monday, January 13
• Last week of classes is the week of Monday, May 12
• Classes run for 7 or 15 weeks
• No classes during the first week of Lent, Holy Week, and Bright Week

For more information, go to www.antiochian.org/dashboard?name=Antiochian%20Orthodox%20Ecclesiastical%20Online%20Music%20School

SOYO 3v3 Basketball Tournament - Jan 4 in Worcester

The Diocese Teen SOYO will be hosting a 3v3 Basketball tournament on Saturday January 4 at St. George Cathedral in Worcester starting at 9:00 am. $10 per person or $30 per team to enter. Please use the link below or email questions to Billy Ozone at DOWNEYouthDirector@gmail.com

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlCT6R-pw0hpztlBmEsFbX8LvzLfBVmJ9NxMKqLXAWYWCQVA/viewform

Diocese Council Zoom - January 27 @ 7pm via zoom

The next Diocese Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 27 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. All clergy and laity are invited to attend to help His Grace Bishop John in the planning of events for our Diocese. For more information, please contact Bishop John. 

Winter Sacred Music Institute: Van Nuys, CA, Jan 30-Feb 2, 2025

With the blessing of Metropolitan Saba, the Department of Sacred Music invites the musicians of the Archdiocese to the Winter Sacred Music Institute (SMI) hosted by St. Michael Church of Van Nuys, Calif. 

The Winter SMI theme is "The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord; the Culmination of the Nativity Season" with Keynote Speaker Bishop Anthony. Visit https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2215 for more details! 

Orthodox Youth & Camp Worker Conference - Feb 5-8, 2025

Join us at the St. Stephen Retreat Center in beautiful sunny Florida for our annual Conference bringing together Youth & Camp Ministry workers from throughout the United States and Canada. We are excited to welcome Paul & Cindy Karos as our keynote speakers who will speak on the topic "Be a Light of JOY" at this year's conference. The conference is open to all clergy, youth workers, church school teachers, camp directors and staff, and to anyone working with youth should attend! For more information, please visit https://www.orthodoxyouth.net/conference/ycc-2025/

Faith & Family Night at the Bridgeport Islanders vs Providence Bruins - Feb 15

Join us on Saturday, February 15 for “Faith and Family Night”, as the Bridgeport Islanders face off against the Providence Bruins at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, CT. The event will feature a pre-game seminar led by Bishop JOHN Abdalah, with guest speaker Rev. Peter Orfanakos (GOA), on the theme "All You Need Is Love". Doors open at 2:45 PM, with seminar beginning shortly after 3 PM, followed by puck drop at 5 PM.

Tickets are $27 plus fees, with net proceeds going to support IOCC’s hurricane relief efforts. Each ticket includes center ice seats, early stadium access, a post-game photo on the ice, and an Islanders hat. Plus, if you purchase your tickets before January 31, you’ll be entered to win exciting door prizes! Churches bringing 50 or more attendees will also receive a special gift basket from the Islanders!

If you’re interested in joining a Pan-Orthodox choir to sing God Bless America or have children who would like to participate in the intermission entertainment, or have any questions, please contact Kyle Laham (kyle.laham@stnicholasbridgeport.org).

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a historic gathering of Orthodox Christians from across New England and the Tri-State area.

Diocese Summer Camp - August 11-16, 2025

Save the date! Details are still being finalized, but we will have a one-week summer camp program for ages 9-17 this summer, August 11-16 at a beautiful camp in Lennox, MA. More details will be announced soon!

Orthodox Parents Network - For Parents of Youth in our Diocese

Billy Ozone, Diocese Youth Director, is starting the Orthodox Parents Network, an organization that empowers parents across the Diocese to take an active role in promoting and supporting Teen SOYO events and Youth Programs. Please encourage those in your parish to sign up using the link to join below:

Orthodox Parents Network WhatsApp Group

Please contact Billy Ozone (william.ozone@gmail.com) with any questions.

Save the Date!

• December 4: Vigil for St. Saba at St. George West Roxbury with His Eminence presiding and the ordination of Walid Awad.
• December 6-8: Metropolitan SABA visit to St. John of Damascus, Dedham
• December 7: Christmas Concert @ St. John of Damascus, Dedham
• January 4, 2025: 3v3 Teen SOYO Basketball Tournament
• January 25: Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting @ St Mary, Pawtucket - please note the date change
• January 27: Diocese Council Zoom Meeting
• Feb 5-8: Orthodox Youth & Camp Worker Conference in Florida
• Feb 15: Faith & Family Night at the Bridgeport Islanders vs Providence Bruins
• March 22: Diocese Family Day
• April 5: Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting @ St George, Worcester
• June 20-21: Tentative Dates for Diocese PLC
• July 20-27: Archdiocese Convention hosted by St. George in Cicero, IL
• August 11-16: Diocese Summer Camp in Lennox, MA

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