FOCA Executive Board meets with SVOTS students as school year opens
Members of the National Executive Board of the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America [FOCA] met with students at
Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary here on Monday evening, August 31, 2015. Representing the FOCA were Marge Kovach, President; Allison Steffaro, Vice-President; and Archpriest Theodore Boback, FOCA Spiritual Advisor.
After welcoming the students on the first day of classes, Marge and Father Ted spoke about the organization’s long history of assisting in the work of the Church and supporting our seminaries. They described the FOCA as a network of senior and junior chapters which, through a variety of religious, educational, cultural, social and athletic activities, provides an ideal way to meet others within the faith, beyond the boundaries of the local parish.
Allison highlighted several FOCA programs designed to help seminarians, including the availability of academic scholarships specifically for seminary students, the “Adopt A Seminarian Program,” which provides financial assistance during the academic year to seminarians in need, and the “Christmas Wish List Program,” which provides gifts from “Saint Nicholas” for the families of married students. Priest Dr. David Mezynski, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, reflected on the joy he witnessed on the faces of those students who had received gifts.
Established in 1927 as the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs, the FOCA today is an official organization of the Church with chapters in many parishes across the US. In July 2015, the FOCA held its 89th National Convention in Atlanta, GA, in conjunction with the OCA’s 18th All-American Council. Additional information may be found on the FOCA web site.