Protodeacon Stephen Sweet reposed in the Lord on Friday, May 30, 2025, at University of Rochester Strong Medical Center in Rochester, New York at the age of 74.

Protodeacon Stephen was born in Rochester, NY. He worked in the restaurant industry, was a delivery truck driver for the Music Lovers musical instrument store, and worked at Saints Cosmas and Damian Nursing Facility on Staten Island. During his professional life and throughout his retirement years, he was an active member of Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Rochester, New York. He studied under Archpriest Cyril Stavrevsky in the Diaconal Vocations Program.

The latest issue of Koinonia, the official publication of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, invites readers to reflect on the Gospel call to love our neighbors, not in word alone, but in concrete acts of mercy, presence, and evangelism. Featuring powerful contributions from Archpriest Eric Tosi, Elder Thaddeus, Saint Silouan of Athos, Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, and an insightful interview with leaders from FOCUS North America, this issue challenges parishes to rediscover their urban neighborhoods as fertile ground for mission and renewal.

On Saturday, May 31, Holy Resurrection Church in Wayne, New Jersey, hosted the Annual Diocesan Altar Servers Retreat, welcoming thirty-eight altar servers from across the New Jersey and New York City Deaneries. It was a day filled with prayer, learning, fellowship, and joy.

The retreat began with the formal greeting of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, by the host rector, Archpriest Stephen Evanina, and Archpriest Martin Kraus, Chair of the Diocesan Department of Youth Ministry. His Eminence then presided at the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which was followed by a festive lunch in the parish hall.

South Canaan, PA

St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary is once again serving as the setting for the Diocese of New York and New Jersey’s summer formation course in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS). This year's session, taking place from June 9 through June 13, brings together 25 participants from across the diocese and beyond.

The subject of this month's What's Your Ministry? profile, Jaleen Claassen, is a perfect example of this in her role as Executive Director of The Treehouse, a ministry dedicated to helping mothers and their children in Wichita, Kansas. The Treehouse's ministry goes beyond meeting basic material needs, creating networks of support and providing ongoing resources to help their clients experience lives of dignity and the love of Christ.

One of our Diocesan seminarians, Joel M. Bridge from Annunciation Church in Brick, New Jersey, has been selected for the Chaplain Candidate Program in the New Jersey National Guard. Joel, who is pursuing his theological studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, was recently administered the oath for commissioning, after being selected for the Chaplaincy program by the U.S. Army Chaplain Accessions Board.

The Army Chaplain Accessions Board carefully considers every applicant to the Chaplain Candidate Program and advances select qualified persons to that program. Joel was one of 16 individuals determined to be fully qualified for Federal recognition in the Army Reserve National Guard as Chaplain Candidates.

His Eminence Archbishop Michael offers his congratulations to Joel, on behalf of all the clergy and faithful of our Diocesan family, as Joel begins this journey of formation and training. Please keep Joel, and those whom he will serve in our Armed Forces, in your prayers. May God grant them all many blessed years!

Dearly Beloved Members of our Diocesan Family:
Christ is in our midst! – He is and ever shall be!

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 
And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared
to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. 
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4).

[Auburn, NY] - On Sunday, May 4, the parish family of St. Nicholas Church in Auburn, NY, joyfully welcomed His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, for the celebration of Great Vespers and the Divine Liturgy on the Third Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women.

[Watervliet, NY] - We are proud to share the wonderful news that Dr. Kimberly Peregrim, a dedicated parishioner of St. Basil’s Orthodox Church in Watervliet, NY, has been promoted to the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves. Her extraordinary dedication to both her country and her faith is a shining example for us all.

Christ is Risen!

As spring unfolds, St. Andrew’s Camp is preparing for another joyful summer season. The old dining hall and recreation center have been transformed into a maintenance and storage facility, thanks to dedicated volunteers. Campers have contributed too—building a kayak rack and enjoying campfires by the newly painted boathouse mural.