College Ministry
Welcome to the Department of College Ministry! College Ministry keeps young Antiochian Orthodox students close to the life of the Church after they leave their home parish to attend college. In support of pan-Orthodoxy, much departmental energy is channeled into the more overarching Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)—a campus group for Orthodox college students from all jurisdictions. Nevertheless, the College Ministry believes in staying personally connected to students who come from Antiochian Orthodox parishes. It is therefore crucial for our ministry for each parish to kindly send us the contact information for all of their young parishioners who enroll in college each year. Only by keeping our database complete and up-to-date can College Ministry effectively promote OCF events and keep in touch with students through care packages and e-newsletters.
College Student Database
The Antiochian Archdiocese Department of College Ministry in cooperation with the Department of Internet Ministry is pleased to announce that we now have an easy access online form to submit contact information for college students. The Department of College Ministry is charged with the ministry of keeping students connected to the Church. This is done in several different ways: a monthly e-newsletter entitled Word-Up, periodic emails from our diocesan student representatives regarding upcoming events for college students in the diocese, and a small gift from the NASB and the Fellowship of St John the Divine in December, among other things. We welcome students, parents, parish priests, youth directors, Teen SOYO advisors, Sunday School superintendents, godparents, etc to submit the contact information of Antiochian Orthodox college students by clicking here!
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) to honor His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos
Fishers, IN – August 19, 2010
The OCF Board of Directors will be honoring His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos for his tremendous contributions in establishing Orthodox Christian Fellowship with a celebratory dinner in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 17, 2010.
Beginning in 1960 as a recent seminary graduate, Bishop Dimitrios (James Couchell) was the driving force in establishing what has become the all-important campus ministry arm of the Orthodox Church. Inspired by his dedication and devotion to college students, OCF has been able to build upon the foundation he laid 50 years ago.
In the year 2000 OCF experienced a renewal, which included the strong and continuing support of the various Orthodox jurisdictions in North America. Recognizing these two milestones, this fall marks the 50th anniversary of OCF’s creation and the 10th anniversary of its current efforts.
In addition to the dinner, OCF will be holding its annual Board of Directors, Chaplain’s Network and Student Advisory Board meetings throughout the weekend. These planning meetings will lead into OCF’s College Student Sunday on September 19th, which was designated by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) as the Sunday after the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross. On this day, Orthodox Christians are asked to call to mind, support and prayer all of our college students.
OCF Hosts College Student Sunday on Sept. 19
OCF has announced their annual event, College Student Sunday, which will take place Sunday Sept. 19, 2010.
Endorsed by the Episcopal Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in North America, this observance is designed to draw attention to the importance of ministering to our college age Orthodox Christian Students. Parishes are reminded that young Orthodox Christians are attending college in their cities and towns, and the faithful are encouraged to connect with these college students in order to provide a parish home away from home. For more information, contact the Orthodox Christian Fellowship.
St. Katherine, Orthodox Liberal Arts College, Founded in San Diego
In the fall of 2011, a new institution will open its doors to the Orthodox community. St. Katherine College in San Diego, California, will commence the first year of classes, offering an emphasis in Composition, English Language and Literature, Foreign Language, U.S. Government and History, Economics, Mathematics, and the Sciences. As to affiliation, the website explains that "The College community is independent, but it is closely associated with the Orthodox Christian community." Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dr. Scott Cairns, and Dr. Vladimir Morosan are all listed as faculty, among several other Orthodox academic luminaries.
Recently, Antiochian.org interviewed Vicki Brannock, St. Katherine College's Executive Director for Communications and Recruitment.
1. Tell us about your academic approach.
Of course the academic emphasis is important to us. We are selecting staff that represents the best in Orthodox academia and are working to strike a balance between the well established (Fr. Thomas Hopko, Scott Cairns) visiting professors and mid-level and younger faculty that we believe will make significant impact on the future.
OCF Releases Spring Edition of WITNESS
Orthodox Christian Fellowship has released the annual edition of WITNESS, the lively online student review that profiles Orthodox leaders, encourages campus activism for the faith, and highlights ministry opportunities for college students. (To subscribe to OCF's Headliner and Witness Listserv, contact Student Editor Arianna at: Arianna.Ranahosseini@du.edu.)
In this issue's opening reflection, Stevie Hull writes, "I entered my professor's office and, not without a bit of hesitation, announced that I would be missing 'Introduction to Ancient Greek' to attend Holy Week services. This was two years ago, when I was a sophomore and Pascha did not fall on the same day as western Easter. He turned towards me in surprise. 'Are you Greek? Your last name's not Greek. Is it your mother's side?'
'No,' I said.
'Russian?'
'No. I'm American. I converted to Orthodoxy.'
He stared at me, stunned, for a few moments before blurting out, 'Why?'
This caught me off guard, so I offered the first explanation that surfaced in my head: 'To escape nihilism.'
That put an abrupt end to our conversation. Two years later, I learned that the professor in question is a self-professed nihilist. But even without this hilarious conclusion, my professor's initial shock at my profession of faith left its mark on me. I realized that, in my department, I was like an exhibit at a circus sideshow. And I was going to be watched."
Department of Marriage and Parish Family Ministries Announces Two New Brochures
In conjunction with Conciliar Press, the Antiochian Department of Marriage and Parish Family MInistries has released two much-requested brochures for Orthodox Christians. "Crowned with Glory and Honor," a free, downloadable brochure, presents readers with a set of helpful guidelines for Orthodox marriage preparation, including such concepts as the meaning of crowning, and the purpose of the Betrothal Service. Readers will even learn about the wedding almonds: "The white coating symbolizes purity; the egg shape represents fertility and new life that begins in marriage. The hardness of the almond represents the endurance of marriage, and the sweetness of the sugar encourages the hope of the sweetness of future life together. Giving of three almonds signifies the union is indivisible, just as the bride and groom will remain undivided in their union with each other and with Christ."
The second brochure, "A Guide to Parish Etiquette," lists everything parishioners need to know about respectful and reverent behavior while in liturgy. Department Director Khouria Maggie Hock encourages all parishes, couples and families to make use of these valuable, free resources.
