Bishop BASIL's Christmas Letter 2008
The Nativity 2008
To the Right Reverend Archimandrites, the Very Reverend and Reverend Priests and
Deacons and their families, the Venerable Monastics, and all the Christ-loving Faithful of
the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America:
I embrace and greet you with a holy kiss in the Name of the Incarnate Christ. I
send to each of you and your communities my paternal love, festal greetings and prayerful
best wishes for the merriest of Christmases and a healthy and happy 2009.
In Christ Jesus the Incarnate Word,
+ B A S I L
Bishop of Wichita and the Diocese of Mid-America
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
2009 DOWAMA Clergy Brotherhood Retreat
The 37th Annual DOWAMA Clergy Brotherhood Retreat
February 3-6, 2009
The Spiritual Life Center – 7100 East 45th Street, North – Wichita, Kansas – (316) 744-0167
"All Scripture is Given by Inspiration of God"
The Right Reverend Bishop MARK of Toledo and the Diocese of the Midwest has graciously accepted the invitation to be the featured speaker at the 37th Annual DOWAMA Clergy Brotherhood Retreat, which will be hosted at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, KS, Tuesday through Friday, February 3rd through 6th, 2009. The theme of the retreat is "All Scripture is Given by Inspiration of God" (II Timothy 3:16a).
Winter Camp St. Raphael
Winter Camp St. Raphael, hosted by DOWAMA SOYO, will be held at Camp St. Raphael in Wagoner, OK, January 16th-19th, 2009. This first-ever weekend event is open to teens who are in 7th-12th grades. For more information and registration materials, please contact CSR Director Fr. James Shadid at campstraphael@yahoo.com or DOWAMA Youth Director Camille Baba at camillesbaba@yahoo.com.
Click here to download the Winter Camp St. Raphael application and flyer (Adobe PDF format).
Photos from Bishop BASIL's Visit to Rocky Mountain Deanery
A selection of photographs from His Grace Bishop BASIL's visit to the Rocky Mountain Deanery in late September and early October, 2008:
September 27, 2008 - 1st Rocky Mountain Deanery All-Parish Picnic and Vespers in Denver, CO.
 |
 |
Fr. John Salem to be Elevated to Archpriest
Bishop BASIL writes:
AXIOS! Father John Salem of St. George Church in Houston, Texas will be elevated to the rank and dignity of Archpriest this coming Sunday, November 2nd, during festivities marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of St. George Church.
Diocesan Pilgrimage Commemorates Fr. Nicola Yanney
Bishop BASIL writes:
BY YOUR PRAYERS, the Diocesan Pilgrimage held this past weekend in Kearney, NE was a truly blessed event. Twenty priests, five deacons and over 150 laity from twenty-three of DOWAMA's fifty congregations joined our hosts Fr. Christopher Morris and the Christ-loving faithful of St. George/Kearney, NE for a weekend filled with divine services, homilies, historical talks and presentations (not one business meeting!). Numbered among the pilgrims were many of Father Nicola's grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
The Pilgrimage (held in lieu of our Fall Gathering) began on Friday afternoon with the Akathist to St. Raphael at St. George Church. The rousing congregational singing was led by Subdeacon John Wolf, Protopsaltis of St. George/Kearney.
Diocesan Pilgrimage Schedule
Wednesday, October 22nd is the deadline to register for the Diocesan Pilgrimage! If you have not yet registered, contact FATHER CHRISTOPHER MORRIS of St. George/Kearney, NE today by email (fr.christophermorris@yahoo.com) or by telephone (308-234-9252 or 308-234-6969).
The Pilgrimage Schedule is as follows:
Friday, October 24th
- 4:00 pm—Akathist to St. Raphael of Brooklyn at St. George Church
- 5:00 pm—Blessing of Father Nicola’s new gravestone at the Kearney Cemetery
- 6:00 pm—Dinner and keynote address by Bishop Basil at the Ramada Inn
Saturday, October 25th
- 8:45 am—Orthros at St. George Church
- 10:00 am—Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Trisagion Prayers of Mercy
- Noon—Lunch and address by Father Paul Hodge at the Ramada Inn
- 3:00 pm—Great Vespers at St. George Church
(Conclusion of the Pilgrimage. For those staying over:)
Sunday, October 26th
- 8:45 am—Orthros at St George Church
- 10:00 am—Divine Liturgy presided over by Bishop Basil
Clergy are reminded to bring with them GOLD vestments for concelebrating divine services.
Register for the 2nd Annual DOWAMA SOYO Basketball Tournament
An important note from our Diocesan Youth Director, Camille Baba:
Registration for our 2nd Annual DOWAMA SOYO Basketball Tournament & Retreat (November 14th-16th) is happening right now! Visit http://www.dowamasoyo.org/ for all the forms, but what is MOST important is each individual's registration form and medical release form attached to this email be completed and mailed. Please have each of your teens complete this form and send it directly to: St. Elijah Orthodox Church - Attn: Erin Learned - 15000 N. May Avenue - Oklahoma City, OK 73134. If for any reason your teens cannot do this before the November 1st deadline, please call Erin (405-755-7804) and tell her exactly how many teens will be attending from your parish. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at my office at the Cathedral (316-636-4676).
Download Parental Authorization and Medical Consent Form (PDF Format)
Metropolitan SABA to Speak at 2009 DOWAMA PLC
His Eminence Metropolitan SABA, Archbishop of Bosra-Hauran, will be the keynote speaker at the 2009 Parish Life Conference of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America. The PLC will be held during the fast-free week after Pentecost from June 10-13, 2009. The host parish will be St. Mary Church in Wichita, Kansas.
For more information on Metropolitan SABA and the Archdiocese of Bosra-Hauran, please visit The Hauran Connection, the web page for the Sister Diocese Program between Wichita and Bosra-Hauran.
2nd Annual DOWAMA SOYO Basketball Tournament
The 2nd Annual DOWAMA SOYO Basketball Tournament will be hosted November 14th - 16th at St Elijah Church, Oklahoma City, OK. Registration fee is $50.00 per team. For further information go to www.dowamasoyo.org or contact the DOWAMA Youth Director Camille Baba of St George Cathedral/Wichita, KS at camillesbaba [at] yahoo [dot] com or the DOWAMA SOYO Spiritual Advisor Fr. Antony Bahou of Ss Constantine & Helen/Dallas, TX at antonyel [at] hotmail [dot] com.