IN THE NEWS: Indiana, PA, Ohio, Illinois
MERRILLVILLE, IN: Fall retreat in NW Indiana September 21-22
The Protection of the Virgin Mary Church, Merrillville, IN, will sponsor a retreat for men and women on Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22, 2013.
The retreat theme — “The Church: Our Family, Our Home, Our Salvation” — will be developed by Priest Andrew Moore, Rector of Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, Springfield, MO. Father Andrew has a wealth of pastoral experience and is widely known as an engaging speaker.
Additional information and schedules may be accessed here and here.
DONORA, PA: Cathedral Choir celebrates 50th anniversary with concert September 29
The Cathedral Choir of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania of the Orthodox Church in America will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a liturgical concert at Saint John the Baptist Church, Canonsburg, PA, on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Over the years, the a capella choir has performed at numerous musical and public programs around the greater Pittsburgh area, including concerts at Carnegie Music Hall, the Heinz Chapel of the University of Pittsburgh, and a joint concert appearance with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony. In recent years, the Cathedral Choir released five recordings. The Cathedral Choir has sung at many of the local diocesan services, as well as at a number of inter-Orthodox concerts and religious services.
The Cathedral Choir has been under the direction of Archpriest Igor Soroka—rector of Saint Nicholas Church, Donora, PA for 54 years—since it was established shortly after the first national CEYOLA gathering at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena in 1963. Father Igor is a graduate of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary and Duquesne University, where he majored in voice.
The concert is open to the public. A social hour will follow the concert in the church hall.
BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL, IL: New OCF chapter being formed
Faithful from Holy Apostles Mission, Bloomington-Normal, IL, staffed a booth on Orthodox Christianity at Illinois State University’s fall festival on the quad August 29, 2013. Emphasis was placed on reaching out to Orthodox Christian students to initiate an Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter on the campus while connecting and welcoming them to Holy Apostles as their “church away from home.” To emphasize the parish’s hospitality, over 600 cookies were handed out to students who visited the booth!
Parishioners Dr. Subdeacon David Gresham and Mark Comadena are both professors at ISU, with Dr. Gresham serving as chapter advisor. Many student names were collected and an organizational meeting will be held in the near future.
Those knowing of students studying at ISU and neighboring schools, including Illinois Wesleyan, are invited to submit their names and contact info to Priest Danial Doss, Acting Priest-in-Charge, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
PARMA, OH: ZOE for Life to sponsor “Pure Living Retreat” October 19
Holy Trinity Church, Parma, OH, will be the site of a Pure Living Retreat sponsored by ZOE for Life on Saturday, October 19, 2013. The theme of the retreat is “God, Sex and Me.”
Presentations and sessions are designed for a broad range of participants, including students in grades six through 12, young adults and adults, clergy, lay leaders, youth workers, teachers and parents. While there is no charge for the retreat, participants are asked to bring one non-perishable food item.
To register, send an e-mail to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call Lea Khoury at 216-551-7650.
Zoe for Life is a northeastern Ohio-based Orthodox Christian support organization for women in crisis pregnancies. It aims to offer emotional and spiritual support, to provide confidential access to existing professional agencies, and to connect interested women with potential adoptive Orthodox Christian families. For additional information visit here.