Brookline, MA - June 1, 2012. The North American OCF Office has launched an exciting new program to reach out to incoming first-year Orthodox college students at colleges and universities throughout North America, named The First Forty Days. As its name implies, during the first forty days of the 2012 fall semester, local OCF student leaders and chaplains will work to make personal contact with all new incoming students. They will be given information regarding the OCF chapter on campus and nearby Orthodox parishes. The intent of this program is to foster a personal connection with our students so that young college students will stay connected to Christ and His Church during their years in post-secondary education.
To accomplish this, OCF needs the help of all Orthodox Parishes in North America. In the coming weeks, OCF will be gathering the contact information of all incoming college freshman students in all of the Orthodox parishes across the continent. Each parish is asked to provide the North American OCF Office with some basic information concerning their high school graduates who will be attending college in the Fall on a downloadable spreadsheet. Click Here To Download
It is asked that parishes download the spreadsheet , fill out, and email it back to contacts@ocf.net. All parishes are asked to send this information by June 15, 2012 so that OCF can organize the information for all of its chapter leaders well in advance of the fall semester. Parishes are also asked to include in the email their parish name, jurisdiction, address, phone number, and email address so that OCF can stay in touch with them in the future.
All information received by OCF will remain confidential and will only be released to endorsed OCF chaplains assigned to a particular college.
When requesting the information from the students, parishes are asked to please make their students and parents aware that this information will be used in this manner.
For further information, please contact Christina Andresen, OCF Chapter Relations Coordinator, at (617) 850-1227.
Archbishop Demetrios Appoints New National Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
NEW
YORK – Archbishop
Demetrios of America has appointed the Rev. Fr. Jason C. Roll as the National
Director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries effective July
1, 2012, succeeding Rev. Fr. Mark Leondis who served as National Youth Director
from 2000 to 2011. Father Jason is currently serving as the assistant priest at
the parish of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Northridge,
California. Previously he
was a part time assistant at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New
Rochelle, NY.
Father
Jason has over 20 years experience in the field of youth work and camping
ministries, as well as 18 years of business and professional management
experience. Under the direction of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Fr. Jason
served as the Director of Ionian Village from 2009-2011. He has also directed
various youth camps throughout our Archdiocese and served in many areas of
youth, young adult and campus ministry, most recently including the OCF-West
Spiritual Advisor.
Commenting
on the appointment of Fr. Jason Roll, Archbishop Demetrios of America
said, “Fr. Jason brings to the
Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries a vigorous faith, an unwavering
enthusiasm and strong, managerial skills.
I am sure that with the help of God he will work diligently, creatively
and effectively on the challenging, but also promising, field of the youth
related activities of our Church.”
“With the blessings of His Eminence
Archbishop Demetrios, I look forward to serving the youth and young adults of
the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America” said Father Jason. “My goal is to strengthen the
relationship between God and the Greek Orthodox youth through supportive
Christ-centered resources aimed at sustaining youth leaders. I look forward to enhancing
and establishing a greater online presence with a live resource center for
Orthodox youth, young adults, parish youth leaders and parents.”
Father Jason is
originally from Portland, Oregon and is a graduate of Oregon State University
with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in
Behavioral Sciences. He received his Masters of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek
Orthodox School of Theology where he graduated cum laude in 2009. Prior to attending Holy Cross, Father
Jason worked for companies such as US Bank, NIKE Inc. and as a Neuroscience
Treatment Team Manager and Pharmaceutical Sales Representative with Eli Lilly
and Company. He is married to Presvytera Sandra (Salidas) of Sacramento,
California and they have three children, Demetre, Theodore and Georgios.
Youth Are Not The Future Of The Church
Check out this great youth ministry article about the importance of young people as the "Church's present."
Here's a preview:
How often do we speak about young people as though they are the objects of our ministry? Those for whom we must do something? How often do we say things like “Young people are the future of the Church” or call them the “leaders of tomorrow?” After this weekend, I take issue with these things.
Young people are not the objects of ministry; they are ministers themselves. They are not the future of the Church; they are the Church’s present. Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow; they are the servants of today.
Read the entire article at socalyouthministry.com.
Here's a preview:
How often do we speak about young people as though they are the objects of our ministry? Those for whom we must do something? How often do we say things like “Young people are the future of the Church” or call them the “leaders of tomorrow?” After this weekend, I take issue with these things.
Young people are not the objects of ministry; they are ministers themselves. They are not the future of the Church; they are the Church’s present. Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow; they are the servants of today.
Read the entire article at socalyouthministry.com.
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