Diocese Update - January 2025

 

Diocese Update - January 2025

Camp St. Joseph - August 11-16, 2025 - Registration opens January 2

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan SABA, we are excited to announce Camp St. Joseph of Damascus will be held August 11-16, 2025 for campers ages 9-17. The camp will be honored by the presence of His Grace Bishop JOHN, who will preside over the entire session, providing spiritual guidance and leadership to all campers and staff. Subdeacon William Ozone, the Diocese Youth Director, will serve as the Camp Director, along with Assistant Camp Director Soraya Bandeli, and Head Counselors Nick & Nadia Kimmett.

Registration for Camp Saint Joseph of Damascus will open on January 2 at 12:00 noon. For more details, please visit our website at www.campstjoseph.org 

Antiochian Village Registration Opens Sunday January 5 at 5 pm EST


Registration for Summer Camp at Antiochian Village begins on Sunday, January 5 at 5 pm EST. Please visit https://avcamp.org/programs/summer-camp/ for full details. Other programs include Iconography Camp where campers learn to the art of Iconography with Master Iconographer Kh. Erin Kimmett and Arch Week which is a program specifically for current High School Seniors (Class of '25).

Please visit https://avcamp.org/ for more information.

Bus to Antiochian Village for Session 2

St. George Cathedral has reserved a 56 passenger Charter Bus with Bloom Bus lines (same company as last year) to take campers to and from Antiochian Village for Session 2. The bus will depart from St. George Cathedral in Worcester at 7:00 am on Sunday, June 29, and return the campers to the Cathedral on Friday, July 11 between 5-6 pm. 

Chaperones will be needed both ways. Registration details and cost (depends on how many go on the bus)  will be announced in February.

Registration for 2nd Semester of Ecclesiastical Online Music School Open through 1/13

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:

  • Enrollment for the Spring, 2025 semester opens Dec. 9, 2024 and closes on Jan. 10, 2025. Enroll today!
  • Byzantine and Choral music education
  • For new and experienced Orthodox church musicians
  • A special class on the Typicon, how to organize divine services
  • Spring Semester: Jan. 13 through May 16, 2025, with breaks for Clean Week, Holy Week and Bright Week
  • Classes meet one time weekly for one hour
  • Tuition rate: $300 for each class 

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

Parenting Toward the Kingdom - January 25 @ 9:30 am at St. George Classical Academy

St. George Classical Academy (4 Georgetown Rd, Boxford, MA) invites you to a thought-provoking presentation by Dr. Philip Mamalakis on the principles of Orthodox parenting followed by a parent discussion. The event is free and open to all. Contact info@stgca.org with questions.
Register here: https://www.stgca.org/christian-parenting-today/



Promotional Flyer

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. 

REGISTRATION is open now through January 26!

DOWNLOAD the Schedule

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 Lenten Retreat & Family Day - March 21 & 22

The Diocese Lenten Retreat and Family Day will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at St. John of Damascus Church in Dedham. The guest speaker this year will be Mrs. Michelle Moujaes, Executive Director of Faithtree Resources, speaking on the topic "Building Up Person, Building Up Family, Building Up the Church."

On Friday evening, March 21, all teens and young adults of the diocese are invited to the Akathist service at St. George in Norwood at 6:00 pm. Following Akathist, Michelle will offer a talk to the Teens & Young Adults present. Dinner will be provided.

Registration will begin on January 7 at https://downe25.eventbrite.com

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.

Bible Bowl & Oratorical Festivals 2025

We hope every parish in the diocese will have at least one team participate in the Bible Bowl, and at least one person participate in the Oratorical Festival. 

Bible Bowl Topic: Gospel of Luke

Find out more here: https://www.teensoyo.org/bible-bowl

Oratorical Theme: "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” - Luke 1:38
Find out more here: https://www.teensoyo.org/oratorical

Save the Date!

  • January 2: Registration for Camp St. Joseph begins
  • January 4: 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 21: Diocese Teens & Young Adults: Akathist & Talk with Michelle Moujaes @ St. George Norwood
  • March 22: Diocese Lenten Retreat & Family Day @ St. John's
  • April 5: Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting @ St George, Worcester
  • June 20-21: Tentative Dates for Diocese PLC
  • June 29-July 11: Session 2 at Antiochian Village
  • July 13-25: Session 3 at Antiochian Village 
  • July 20-27: Archdiocese Convention hosted by St. George in Cicero, IL
  • July 27-August 8: Session 4 at Antiochian Village
  • August 9-16: Special Olympics Sports Camp at Antiochian Village
  • August 11-16: Camp St. Joseph in Lennox, MA