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.

Jersey City, NJ — May 8, 2025

Clergy and faithful from across the Diocese of New York and New Jersey gathered at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Cathedral in Jersey City, NJ on Thursday, May 8, 2025, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the consecration of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, to the episcopate.

The morning began with a joyful Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by clergy from across the diocese, giving thanks for Archbishop Michael’s steadfast leadership and devoted ministry. The cathedral was filled with prayer, song, and heartfelt gratitude as the faithful lifted their voices to God, praying for many more blessed years for their beloved archpastor.

Dear OYM Friends,

Christ is Risen!

As we continue to celebrate the Paschal season, I hope that the resources in this newsletter will inspire and encourage you in your ministry efforts. In this month's ministry reflection, Christian Gonzalez prompts us to ask ourselves what needs we see in our own corners of God's garden — and what gifts He has given us to meet them. This theme is exemplified beautifully in our latest installment of What's Your Ministry?, an interview with Presbytera Laura Blazev. It is truly amazing how seemingly simple acts — such as starting an iced coffee stand for parishioners to enjoy after liturgy— can prove themselves to be powerful examples of Christian hospitality, bearing untold fruits of fellowship.

Happy Anniversary, Archbishop Michael

With gratitude and love, we celebrate the 15th Anniversary of your consecration. Thank you for your faithful, wise, and loving leadership. May God grant you many more blessed years!

Eis polla eti, Despota!

On Bright Saturday, Saint Andrew’s Camp joyfully welcomed guests for its Annual Paschal Open House—a day filled with prayer, fellowship, and festal joy in the light of the Resurrection.

The celebration began with the Divine Liturgy, served in the camp’s chapel with the participation of numerous clergy and faithful from across the diocese. The service, radiant with Paschal hymns and bright vestments, reflected the beauty and triumph of Christ’s Resurrection.

St. Thomas Sunday, 2025 - Yonkers, NY

On Sunday of St. Thomas, April 26–27, 2025, the faithful of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Yonkers, NY, joyfully welcomed His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, for an archpastoral visit.

The visit began on Saturday evening with the celebration of Vespers and Litiya. Surrounded by the glow of Paschal candles, the parish gathered in prayer, continuing the radiant joy of the Resurrection.

Protocol No. 01-002/2025
Great and Holy Pascha
Sunday, April 20th, 2025

Dearly Beloved Members of our Diocesan Family:
Christ is Risen! – Indeed He is Risen!

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 15:57).

Many of those who have seen the pop cultural phenomenon “Jesus Christ Superstar” tell of leaving with a depressed feeling – because it ends with the crucifixion. What can be more depressing than to have a play or a movie end with the crucifixion of its hero? It is not surprising, though, that “Jesus Christ Superstar” ends with the crucifixion, since those who wrote it are non-believers. They tried to express through this rock opera their depressing philosophy about life – namely, that it ends with death for everybody.

With the blessing of Archbishop MICHAEL, the Department of Youth Ministry would like to honor all high school and college graduates from our diocese by featuring their accomplishments on the Diocesan website as well as in Jacob's Well, the official magazine of our Diocese.

Please submit this form, one for each graduate, by April 30th. Bios should be 75 words or less. If uploading a photo of the graduate it must be high resolution (minimum 300 ppi).

The Diocese of New York & New Jersey’s Department of Youth Ministry hosted their annual Lenten Teen & Young Adult Retreat the weekend of April 4-6. The retreat, held at Frost Valley YMCA in Clarryville, NY, was free for all participants. 

[LANSING, NY] - Archbishop Michael’s visit to the Holy Apostles Mission in Lansing, NY, on the weekend dedicated to St. Mary of Egypt was a joyful and grace-filled moment in the heart of our Lenten journey. His Eminence was warmly welcomed by several of our children, who greeted him with daffodils, and by our Chief Steward, Paula Tarralo, who presented the traditional offering of bread and salt. Father Joel Brady then welcomed him with the cross.

"I see my work as an extension of my baptism. As an Orthodox Christian, my faith is at the core of who I am, and my work reflects that—hopefully in a meaningful way."

The above quote is from this month's installment of our "What's Your Ministry?" article series profiling Warren Farha, owner and founder of the beloved Eighth Day Books in Wichita, Kansas. It is also an excellent encapsulation of what we hope to help Orthodox young people to find in their own lives — the ways in which they might use the unique gifts and talents given to them by Our Lord to lead lives of purpose and service to Him.

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt – April 6, 2025

On the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, the faithful of St. Vladimir Orthodox Church in Trenton, NJ, under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Volodymyr Chaikivskyy, were deeply blessed to welcome Mother Abbess Christophora of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, PA.

On the weekend of March 28–30, approximately thirty women gathered at Saint Andrew’s Camp and Retreat Center in Jewell, NY for a spiritually enriching Lenten Women’s Retreat. The retreat featured guest speaker Mother Melania, Abbess of Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, CA, and a prolific author of Orthodox Christian books.

From the evening of March 29 through the morning of March 31, the faithful of St. Innocent Orthodox Mission in Oneonta, NY were deeply blessed by the presence and pastoral care of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael. Over the course of two days and two nights, His Eminence presided at four services, met with our parish council and Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) group, and offered words of encouragement and love to our growing community.

DEEPEST SYMPATHIES are expressed to Archpriest Paul Shafran, daughters Nina and Paula, and all their family, on the falling asleep in the Lord of beloved wife and mother and grandmother, + Matushka Mary, on Monday evening, March 31.

March 23, 2025 | Trenton, New Jersey

On the evening of the Sunday of the Cross, clergy and faithful of the New Jersey Deanery gathered in prayer and fellowship for a Lenten Mission Service hosted by St. Vladimir Orthodox Church in Trenton, NJ, where Father Volodymyr Chaikivskyy serves as rector.

Minneapolis, MN – Orthodox Journeys, LLC is pleased to announce its curriculum and animated video exploring the life of Saint Tikhon, Apostle to America and Patriarch of Moscow is now available for parishes.

The curriculum, with over 120 pages of content, lessons, activities, and resources was created specifically to help parishes, clergy, families, and young people learn about St. Tikhon in advance of the 100th anniversary of his martyrdom on April 7.

On the weekend of March 8–9, Saint Mary Magdalen Orthodox Church in New York City joyfully welcomed the miracle-working icon of Saint Anna, along with the Seminary Choir of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.

DEEPEST SYMPATHY is expressed to Matushka Tamara Skvir and her children and grandchildren on the falling asleep in the Lord of her beloved husband and their father and grandfather, and our brother priest, + The Mitred Archpriest Daniel Skvir, who fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday evening, March 23, at their home in Pennington, New Jersey, after a courageous battle with cancer.

The clergy and faithful of the OCA Diocese of NY & NJ, New Jersey Deanery invite you to join us for a Lenten Mission Service on the Sunday of the Cross.

This issue of KOINONIA, Volume 7, Issue 2 (March 17, 2025), centers on the theme of miracles and their transformative power in the lives of believers. The feature article, "Miracles Finding You" by Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, sets the tone by exploring how the miraculous works of Jesus are not only divine gifts meant to heal but also signs of His ongoing presence in our lives. The issue features deeply personal narratives—from one man’s dramatic recovery from a debilitating illness to another individual’s quest for purpose—that illustrate how encounters with the miraculous serve as catalysts for spiritual rebirth and conversion to the Orthodox Church. These stories remind readers that miracles are not confined to biblical times but continue to shape lives today, offering hope and a renewed sense of purpose. ​

In addition to these inspiring testimonies, the newsletter reports on the Diocese’s third Annual Evangelism School. This event brought together clergy and laity from across the Diocese to engage in intensive sessions on parish revitalization and evangelism. The discussions and workshops addressed practical challenges facing legacy parishes, providing participants with strategies to renew and invigorate their communities. Overall, this issue of KOINONIA not only celebrates the tangible manifestations of divine grace in everyday life but also serves as a call to action for building vibrant, responsive church communities in today’s dynamic social climate.

Hannah Holowach, a parishioner of St. Basil’s Orthodox Church in Watervliet, NY, has been honored with the Midshipman Commendation Award from the U.S. Navy ROTC at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). This prestigious award recognizes her outstanding efforts as a member of the Academics Division.

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...