Click here to read Archbishop Michael's letter.

Click here to visit St. Andrew's Camp's website and make a donation.

Want to help your parish kids make a quantum leap in their Christian Formation? Then please consider bringing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to your parish. 

We are thrilled to announce the formation courses of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Please consider sharing this news with everyone - our goal is to make as many catechists as possible! Please download, print, and share the following flyer in your parish.

It's time to beat the quarantine blues this summer at Camp! We are very excited to be reunited with our beloved campers for our 64th Camp Season of 5 glorious weeks in the beautiful outdoors on Lake Oneida, New York!

Click here to REGISTER your child for a summer of fun!

WAIT! WE WANT YOU TOO!

Are you ready to get out and interact with people? 

Want to make a difference in the lives of youth, while growing your faith and enjoying nature? Then helping out at Saint Andrew's Camp is for you!

We have a need for counselors, cooks & kitchen assistants, nurses, and weekend work crews. Join us for a weekend, a week, or more!

Take your summer to the next level and join the fun and important ministry at Saint Andrew's Camp!

For more information about the camp program or helping out, contact the Camp Office at (315) 675-9771 or saintandrewscamp@aol.com

www.saintandrewscamp.org

www.facebook.com/standrewsorthodoxcamp

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER

The Assembly of Bishops has declared 2021 as the "Year of the Youth"! We are excited to announce that part of this is a monthly Zoom call for our youth with our Orthodox hierarchs! These Zoom calls have been organized by region, and we ask that you check out the information below. We're excited that our own hierarch, Archbishop Michael of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey will be on the first call which is for the Northeast region on Tuesday, April 13th at 7pm EST!

Register here: https://www.assemblyofbishops.org/ministries/year-of-the-youth/

The latest issue of "First Fruits" is now available for download and distribution in the parishes. "First Fruits" is a quarterly newsletter on Christian Stewardship, under the editorship of Archpriest Jason Vansuch and with the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael.

On Sunday evening, March 21, at 5:00 PM, His Eminence Archbishop Michael will celebrate Vespers for the Triumph of Orthodoxy, at Holy Trinity Church, Elmira Heights, New York.  The service will be live-streamed on the parish's Facebook and YouTube pages.  See below for the links.

Because we are not holding area-wide events for the Sunday of Orthodoxy this year, His Eminence hopes that all the faithful who are not able to attend an Orthodoxy Sunday celebration in their area will be encouraged by this live-streamed service, as we continue our Lenten journey together!

Watch the Services via Live-Stream at:
www.facebook.com/htocelmiraheights
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCleYZV1JQD_ 10cCparcSAkg

FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES... Journey to Pascha
Click here for Lessons on Each Week of Lent
from the OCA Department of Christian Education

FOR YOUNG CHILDREN... Tending the Garden of Our Hearts
Click here for a low-cost downloadable Activity Book
Click here for a cookie recipe from Adventures of an Orthodox Mom

FOR TEENS & ADULTS... Youth & Young Adult Ministries
Click here for a Lesson on Forgiveness
Click here for a Video Lesson on Forgiveness

FOR FAMILIES... Lenten Reflections for Families
Click here for Reflections on Each Week of Lent
from the OCA Department of Christian Education

For more info or support, contact
Mat. Tamara Cowan, Department of Christian Education
tamarancowan@hotmail.com
www.facebook.com/nynjocaeducation

Sunday, April 11, 2021 4pm - 7pm ET

WHAT: Virtual Youth Lenten Retreat
WHEN: Sunday, April 11, 2021 - 4PM - 7PM EST
WHERE: Online - Zoom Link provided after online registration

Calling all Orthodox Youth - grades K-12! Join Archpriest Timothy Hojnicki and Archpriest Benjamin Tucci via Zoom on Sunday, April 11 from 4-7pm EST as they remind us the pathway to the Feast of Feasts - OUR LORD’S RESURRECTION!

This Lenten Retreat “Rediscovering Pascha - After a Year of Pandemic” is aimed at bringing Orthodox Youth from all jurisdictions and locations together during Great Lent.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

DOWNLOAD THE EVENT FLYER

OUR SPEAKERS
Archpriest Timothy Hojnicki - Holy Apostle Mission, Mechanicsburg, Pennyslvania
Archpriest Benjamin Tucci - St. Mary's Cathedral, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The latest issue of KOINONIA is now available for download and distribution in the parishes. KONIONIA is the quarterly newsletter published by the Diocesan Commission on Missions and Evangelism, under the editorship of the Director of that Commission, Archpriest Eric Tosi, and with the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael.

Click here to download the latest KONONIA issue.

The Department of Youth Ministry will be hosting its Annual Lenten Teen Retreat VIRTUALLY for Teens in Grades 7-12 on Saturday, April 17th. The day will begin at 12pm EST and be split into two sessions, 12-3pm EST and 7-8:30pm EST. There is NO FEE to participate.

Our guest speaker, Fr. Joshua Makoul of the Antiochian Archdiocese, will lead a discussion on Finding Balance Through Self-Care and the Church. His Eminence, Archbishop Michael will also be with us for a portion of the day.

All Teens in Grades 7-12 are invited and encouraged to attend, including those from other OCA dioceses and Orthodox jurisdictions. Based on feedback from our Virtual Winter Retreat, there will be more opportunities for fellowship throughout the day! 

Register here before April 16th. Please note that a link to the live Zoom sessions will be sent out closer to April 17th.

We look forward to welcoming both old and new faces! If you have any questions, email our Youth Department Chairperson, Danielle Geeza.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER

This Week's Theme: The Publican and The Pharisee

For Children... check out Orthodox Pebbles.com
Lessons with Activities that you can work on at home with your families.
Click here for a lesson on The Publican and the Pharisee

For Teens... check out Y2AM.org
Click here for a great lesson on PRIDE & DELUSION

For Elementary through Adults...go deeper with Orthodox Journeys.com
Try a sample comprehensive lesson with handouts on Seeing Ourselves (click here)

For more info or support contact
Mat. Tamara Cowan, Department of Christian Education
tamarancowan@hotmail.com
www.facebook.com/nynjocaeducation

The Deepest Sympathies of the clergy and faithful of the Diocese are expressed to Matushka Mary Tkachuk, daughter Vera, and grandchildren Alexandra and Peter; all the members of the Tkachuk family and their loved ones; and all the clergy and faithful parishioners of Holy Trinity Church in Yonkers; on the falling-asleep in the Lord this evening of beloved husband, father, and grandfather, + Archpriest John Tkachuk.  

Following is the schedule of services for the newly-departed + Archpriest John Tkachuk:

Tuesday, February 23, 2021
3:00 PM - Vesting (clergy only) at the funeral home.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Visiting Hours
(Holy Trinity Church, 46 Seymour St, Yonkers, NY)
7:00 PM - Priest Funeral Service
(Holy Trinity Church, 46 Seymour St, Yonkers, NY)

Wednesday, February 24, 2021
9:30 AM - Divine Liturgy followed by Memorial Litija
(Holy Trinity Church, 46 Seymour St, Yonkers, NY)
Burial at Saint Tikhon's Cemetery (South Canaan, PA)

Grant rest eternal in blessed repose with the Saints, O Lord, to the soul of Thy newly-departed servant, the ever-to-be-remembered + Archpriest John, who has fallen asleep in the Lord; and make his memory to be eternal!  "Vechnaya Pamyat!"

With love,
Archbishop +Michael

Deepest sympathy is expressed to Matthew and Timothy Chupeck, and all the members of their family;  and to all the parish family of SS. Peter and Paul Church, Syracuse NY; on the falling asleep in the Lord of their beloved father, and their pastor of many decades, + Archpriest John Chupeck, who fell asleep in the Lord today, February 10.

Following is the schedule of services for the newly-departed + Archpriest John Chupeck:

Tuesday, February 16
3:00 PM Vesting of the Body
5:00 - 7:00 PM Viewing at SS. Peter and Paul Church, 401 Hamilton St., Syracuse NY
7:00 PM Service for the Burial of a Priest

Wednesday, February 17
9:00 - 10:00 AM Viewing at SS. Peter and Paul Church, 401 Hamilton St., Syracuse NY
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy and Litya

Interment will take place at St. Tikhon's Monastery, time to be determined.

Grant rest eternal in blessed repose with the Saints, O Lord, to the soul of Thy newly-departed servant, the ever-to-be-remembered + Archpriest John, who has fallen asleep in the Lord; and make his memory to be eternal!  "Vechnaya Pamyat!"

With love,

Archbishop +Michael

The deepest sympathies of the clergy and faithful of the Diocese are expressed to the family and loved ones of the newly-departed + Protodeacon John Eby -- particularly, to the parish family of Holy Trinity Church, Yonkers NY, and to the community of St. Vladimir's Seminary.

Protodeacon John served the Yonkers parish faithfully for four decades, first as a devoted layman and then, for the past 22 years, as their parish deacon, retiring recently from active diaconal service. His passing into eternity is a great loss to the many parishioners touched by his ministry, and also to the countless students, faculty, and customers whom he served as Assistant Manager of Saint Vladimir's Seminary Bookstore.

Viewing hours will be on Friday, February 5, from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 46 Seymour Street, Yonkers, NY, immediately followed by a Panikhida at 7:30 PM. Divine Liturgy will be held on Saturday, February 6, at 10:00 AM at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.

Grant rest eternal in blessed repose with the Saints, O Lord, to the soul of Thy newly-departed servant, the ever-to-be-remembered + Protodeacon John, who has fallen asleep in the Lord, and make his memory to be eternal! "Vechnaya Pamyat!"

With love,
Archbishop +Michael

Archbishop Michael offers this List of Family Activities for the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple, on February 2 (also known as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord). These activities were prepared by Holy Trinity Church in East Meadow NY. Download the PDF file and enjoy them at home, as you keep the Feast!

The clergy and faithful of the Diocese continue to mourn the tragic losses of life, the needless acts of violence, the divisions among races, and the civil strife which plague many of our cities and countrysides...