[East Meadow, NY] - Holy Trinity Orthodox Church will host its Annual Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 7:00 PM. The Choir of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church will perform choral music of the Orthodox Church and traditional carols from both East and West. This is the first concert to be held since 2019 because of the pandemic. The parish began offering this concert to the local South Shore community in 2008. It will be livestreamed on Facebook as well; see the parish page at https://www.facebook.com/htocem.

On Sunday, November 13, the faithful of St. Nicholas Church in Auburn, NY, surprised Fr. Michael and Matushka Julie Speck with gifts and a luncheon on the occasion of Fr. Michael's 35th anniversary of ordained ministry.

[Jersey City, NJ] - Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral of Jersey City celebrated the 115th anniversary of the founding of the parish on Sunday, October 30th with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, Mitred Archpriest Joseph Lickwar (the Rector), Very Reverend John Kluchko, Very Reverend Samuel Kedala, Very Reverend Daniel Andrejuk (Representation Church of Saint Catherine the Martyr in Moscow), Deacon Stephan Karlgut, Deacon John Black (Saint Vladimir’s Seminary) and Deacon Solomon Longo (Saint Tikhon’s Seminary), Subdeacon Mark Federoff and Subdeacon Zachary Parisi.

[Jackson, NJ] - The weekend of November 5th and 6th, the Parish of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin, located in Jackson, NJ was blessed to have His Eminence Archbishop Michael join the faithful for our annual Archpastoral visitation.

This Fall, we had a very productive teaching season, with over 30  participants attending special workshops held at Saints Peter and  Paul Parish in Syracuse, NY; Holy Trinity Parish in Yonkers, NY;  and Christ the Saviour Parish in Paramus, NJ. These three deanery offerings were generously sponsored by the DDB, and all participants took home two Vacation Church School (VCS) lesson plans to get their efforts started.

On the weekend of October 21-23, 2022, ten guys from across the diocese came together in the remote Adirondack wilderness at Cedar River Campsite to listen for God’s still, soft voice amidst the chaos of today’s world. The attendees ranged in age from 16 to 69, and included a catechumen, some newcomers to the Faith, a few old-comers, and a seminarian.

[South Canaan, PA] - The Saint Tikhon Choir is pleased to announce the world premiere concert series for Benedict Sheehan’s modern masterwork Vespers. Two-time GRAMMY®-nominated conductor and composer Benedict Sheehan will lead the professional choristers of The Saint Tikhon’ Choir in this unique and powerful musical exploration that has been called “luminous and uplifting” (Choir & Organ) and a work of “unique musical genius” (Fanfare Magazine).

This fall, Orthodox Christian worship services will be taking place in Plattsburgh Saturday, November 19 at 10:00 am at the United Methodist Church, 127 Beekman St. Plattsburgh, NY. We are seeking all persons, whether Orthodox Christians or those who are interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith. We hope to gather a small group of people in order to start a mission church. This past April we celebrated our first Orthodox Liturgy in Plattsburgh. If you are interested in attending the upcoming services, please call or text Fr. Terenti at 518-369-2430 or send an email to 1954tlw@gmail.com.

Zoe for Life!® Southern Tier is planning a baby shower fundraising on Saturday, November 12th at 1:30 P.M. at Dormition Church, 54 Baxter St, Binghamton, NY 13905. Zoe for Life!® Southern Tier is an Orthodox Christian-based organization in New York State formed to provide confidential, non-discriminatory, and life-affirming material, emotional, and spiritual support at no cost to women and families needing help with pregnancy.

The Diocese of New York and New Jersey is presenting a unique and spiritually rich Retreat for Men, including young men of high-school age and over.  The "Mountain Men's Respite: Acquiring Peace in the Midst of Chaos" Camping Trip will take place October 21-23 in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

The Department of Youth Ministry invites all middle school and high school students to the OCA Diocese of New York & New Jersey’s Fall Teen Retreat being held at a new venue, Camp Ramapo, in Rhinebeck, NY from November 18-20th!

[Randolph, NJ] - On Saturday, September 17, the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Tea Committee invited fellow Randolph, NJ parishioners, family members, and friends to follow them and Alice down the rabbit hole! Nearly 100 guests enjoyed a lovely and fun afternoon tea with the Mad Hatter, aka William Cullinan.

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.

It's been nearly a year since the Assembly of Bishops approved the creation of a Pan-Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministry Agency, and until now, not a lot has been known about it! Join Christian for this look at where OYM came from and why it exists at all. In the upcoming weeks, we will release more information about how OYM plans to help you pass on a faith where every young person can Encounter Christ, Embody His Church, and Engage the world in His Name!

This exciting method teaches you how to easily plan a successful Vacation Church School (VCS) that can be used throughout the year, to draw our families closer to parish life. Participants will take home two VCS lesson plans to use in their parishes.

South Canaan, PA [OCA]
On September 6, 2022, His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko), retired Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, fell asleep in the Lord at the age of 90.  He had served as Metropolitan of All America and Canada from 2002 until his retirement in 2008.

Thursday, September 1st is the beginning of the Liturgical Year for the Orthodox Church. His All Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomew has asked  all Churches to pray for God's creation on this day. The Roman Catholic Church and most Protestant confessions have in recent years decided to follow suit and do likewise.

Scientists and world leaders have been concerned for several years about the impact that such damaging effects as warming temperatures, pollution, deforestation, rising sea levels and other factors have had on this earth since the industrial revolution.

SADDLE BROOK, NJ - On Monday, August 29, 2022, His Eminence, the Most Reverend MICHAEL, Archbishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, ordained Deacon John Holoduek to the holy priesthood at Holy Apostles Orthodox Church. Co-serving with His Eminence were Archpriest Terence Baz, Archpriest Maryan Chaykivsky, Archpriest Stephen Evanina, and Presbyter Jacob Ramsey. Numerous faithful from across the Diocese attended the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Everyone in attendance gathered together for a meal following the service.

Many Years to the newly-ordained Priest John and his son, Subdeacon John! Mnogaya Lyeta!

Submitted by: Fr. Jacob Ramsey

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...