December 2005

Expanded Content from the December 2005 Issue of the Word Magazine:

• "Graduation Day" by Robert J. Snyder 
• "Icons - God with us in our Homes" by Vasiliki Oldziey

Sharing the Faith
News from the Department of Christian Education & Tithing

From the Director’s Desk

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In this issue of the newsletter, we bring you wonderful words from our two featured diocesan coordiators, Bob Snyder, and Billie Oldziey. As our space is limited here, we have "teased" you with a portion of their articles so that you will go onto the website and read them in their entirety. We are so blessed to have such gifted and spiritual volunteer staff members to serve you.

Mini-Institutes. The "Orthodox Institute Midwest," and the "Orthodox Institute MidAmerica" were successful. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera for the Midwest Institute (Livonia); however you can see photos from the MidAmerica Insitute (Oklahoma City) in this issue. We were blessed to have both diocesan hierarchs present, Bishop Mark, of Toledo, and Bishop Basil, of Wichita. The MidAmerica Institute was held in conjunction with the diocesan Fall Gathering, upon the request of Bishop Basil. I believe this venue is excellent and urge other dioceses to consider the idea. The staff and I were also busy at teacher trainings around the Archdiocese. Please enjoy photos in this issue, and go to the website "Photo Gallery" for many more.

Finally, if you have not received a mailing for "To Tithe is To Love," the web is the place to visit. The initial program, which was received late and not implemented by the majority of parishes, is to be used this year. we are asking that the first of the four sessions be in Advent, with the remaining three every four to six weeks thereafter. A Blessed Nativity to you and yours!

Carole A Buleza

Department of Christian Education 

Regional Coordinators

Please contact the Regional Representatives for updates on trainings and other events in your region

Eastern: V. Rev. George Alberts (203)798-1771
Midwest: Robert Snyder (330)493-4029
Western: Joseph Tershay (831)335-8350
and for Northwest, Linda Funk (306)934-1695
Can-Am: Jacquelyn Fadel (716)282-8243
Southwest: Vasiliki Oldziey (512)459-6264
New England: Anna Hughes (978)686-3274
Southeast: Betty Randolph (864)639-2204

The Department of Christian Education newsletter is published in the months of September, December, February, and April.

The office is staffed from 9:00-3:00 Monday through Wednesday. Phone (717) 747-5221.

FAX (717) 747-5832. E-mail: DCE@antiochian.org. Web page: www.antiochian.org/christianeducation

The Department gratefully acknowledges the on-going support of the Order of St. Ignatius which helps fund, in part, the programs we offer. 

York, Pennsylvania

A Festival for Saints

On October 9, 2005. The children were asked to dress as a saint or Biblical figure and to know one fact about their saint to share with everyone. The social hall was decorated with a "heavenly" theme, where lunch was served. A story about a saint was read, and books on saints were displayed. The children answered questions about saints, did a craft, and played games. As they left, each child was given a treat bag, along with saints activities to take home.

For more details, go to www.antiochian.org/christ... and click on Saints Festival.

Introducing

Mr. Robert Snyder

Coordinator for the
Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest

Robert Snyder is the Religious Education Coordinator for the Midwest Region; a position he has held for the last fifteen years. He has been actively engaged in Christian education for the last thirty years as a High School teacher, a teen youth advisor, and, currently, as an instructor in Adult Christian Education. During this time, Robert has conducted many Christian Education Workshops, and written numerous articles on Christian Education for The Word and the OCEC Christian Education newsletter. He is known in his parish of St. George, Akron, Ohio, for his work as a highly successful youth advisor (achieving, among others, "Teen Club of the Year" award), as a past president of the Parish Council and since 1996, as the recipient of the Protsyngelous Ellis Khouri Merit Award.

Introducing

Mrs. Vasiliki Oldziey

Coordinator for the
Diocese of Wichita and MidAmerica

Vasiliki "Billie" Oldziey holds a B.A. in Humanities and Dance and a certificate in Movement Analysis. She is currently working as a substitute teacher and a vision and hearing screener for the Austin, Texas school district. She has taught church school at St. Elias in Austin for the past 18 years and is the director of the church school program. She was the founding editor of the quarterly publication, The Children’s Magazine for Orthodox Christian Children. For the past five years, she has been studying iconography with master iconographer, Vladislav Andrejev and writing icons for private prayer. In the past, she served as the Southwest Region Writing Festival Coordinator and led workshops for church school teachers.

Teacher Training Workshops Across the Archdiocese

St. Elias Church
Sylvania, Ohio
October 8, 2005

Top to Bottom: 1. The participants with Carole Buleza, and Abby Wackenheim, presenters. 2. The Icon of St. Raphael written by Fr. Paul Alberts, pastor. 3. Carole Buleza with Carol Haddad, Church School Director, and Fr. Paul Alberts. 4. Classroom door showing that each class has a patron saint.

Orthodox Institute MidAmerica

Top to Bottom: 1. The participants with Billie Oldziey and Sandy Mitchell. 2. Bishop Basil visiting a session. 3. Billie Oldziey teaching "Overview of Orthodoxy." 4. The courtyard garden dedicated to the saints of North America. 5. A discplay box detailing the history of the parish along with photos. 6. Learning how to make palm crosses in "Utilizing Crafts."

Teacher Training Workshop

Top to Bottom: 1. The Church, 2. Kh. Linda Funk and participants, 3. participants, 4. Kh. Linda presenting certificates.

Teacher Training Workshop

by Joanne Olsen, Church School Director

One afternoon, our parish priest, Father Elias Ferzli, invited me to come to our church to meet Father Bernard Funk, the pastor from St. Vincent of Lerins Antiochian Orthodox Church in Saskatoon. Upon arrival, I had the opportunity not only to meet Father Bernard, but his lovely wife Linda as well. Through conversation, Linda spoke about the Church School teacher workshops that she presented through our archdiocese. Father Elias and I looked upon this as a wonderful opportunity for our church. I am a strong believer in the old saying, "Our children are our future", and I was very excited about the workshop and the promise it held for our children. The better informed and educated we are as people, the better educators we will become. I was looking forward to meeting other Church School teachers within our city and to the gathering and sharing of ideas.

On June 3 and June 4, 2005 the first ever Church School Teacher’s Workshop was held at St. Philip’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Edmonton, Alberta. The workshop was very well attended with 26 teachers represented from 5 different jurisdictions over the two days. Some of the topics covered over the 2 days included: Orthodoxy, lesson planning, and curriculum and resources. This was a hands-on workshop that enabled us to interact with others teaching similar ages. The topics covered definitely will enhance the quality of teaching in our churches.

It truly was a blessing to have so many teachers that share one faith under one roof committed to learning more to enrich the lives of our children.