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 s ubmit the contact information of Antiochian Orthodox college students by clicking here!

North American Student Board

Chair: Leigh Cohlmia

Diocese of Toledo Representative: John Abud

Diocese of Miami Representative: Stephanie Baker

Diocese of Los Angeles Representative: Amanda Haddad

Dioceses of Charleston & Oakland Representative: Kristina Kachur

New York & Washington Representative: Kristina Kachur

Diocese of Wichita Representative: Grace Saad

Diocese of Worcester Representative: Rachael Sabbag

Diocese of Ottawa Representative: Samantha Michael

Director: V. Rev. Anthony Yazge

NASB Lay Advisor: Kathy Abraham

Join our Word Up (E-Newsletter) mailing list for the school year by clicking here!

Second Annual Encountering Eastern Orthodoxy Conference at Hope College, Holland, MI

April 12-13, 2010 + Hope College + Holland, Michigan

The 2nd Annual Encountering Eastern Orthodoxy Conference presents…

Let God Arise (and let His enemies be scattered):

The RESURRECTION of CHRIST in Eastern Orthodox Theology & Worship
with Deacon Nicholas V. Belcher, M.Div., Dean of Students, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology - Boston, MA, and guests, including His Grace Bishop MARK of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest

+For complete description & campus map, please visit www.hope.edu.

Click here to download flyer (PDF)

OCF Forms Regional Chaplaincy Network

L. to r.: Fr. Mark Leondis, Fr. George Gartelos, Fr. Nicholas Hadzellis, Fr. Martin Kraus, Fr. Alex Micich, Fr. Kevin Scherer, Fr. James Coles, Fr. Michael Ellis, Fr. Peter Paproski, Fr. Anthony Salzman, Dn. Paul Zaharas and Sbdn. John MahfouzTEMPE, AZ --- On February 4-5^th, 2010, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF), in partnership with a very generous grant from The Order of St. Ignatius, gathered a group of Board members and priests, from across five different SCOBA jurisdictions, to form the first-ever OCF Regional Chaplaincy Network. In order to meet the pastoral needs of the 270 local OCF chapters throughout the United States and Canada, OCF has broken the country into nine different regions. A Regional Chaplain and a Student Regional Representative will represent each of these regions. Together these roles will assist with the development of new and existing OCF chapters.

“Identifying a group of talented and committed spiritual leaders to help build this network is a critical step in helping OCF create a spiritual safety net for our students as they leave home for college,” remarked Fr. James Coles, the OCF North American Chaplain.

Besides the organizational administration of this new network, the group discussed ideas and plans for Chaplain training and resources. Fr. Kevin Scherer, the OCF Executive Director said, “It’s our hope that this new network will not only help grow new OCF chapters, but resource those that are struggling to develop and stay connected to other Orthodox students across the country.”

OCF Releases Transitions DVD

Fishers, IN – January 15, 2010

In response to the growing concerns that Orthodox students are leaving their family roots in the Church, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) has produced a gripping, high definition documentary film and launched a complimentary webpage.

“We decided that we had to do the film after reading that only 7% of incoming freshmen could identify a Christian organization on campus before arriving,” said Executive Director, Fr. Kevin Scherer. “They’ve prepared themselves academically for that transition, but there’s been little or no preparation spiritually.”

This just released DVD captures the honest and unedited interviews of eight different students and their transition from high school to college. Their stories cover everything from leaving home and friends to the temptations and pressures of modern college life. “We made this film to start a dialogue. We want parents, priests and students to use this DVD to talk about what’s likely to happen emotionally and spiritually during four of the most important years of a person’s life,” said Fr. Kevin.

2010 OCF Day of Prayer

“Let my prayers rise up as incense and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.” Psalm 142

Fishers, IN – February 2, 2010

Each year, college students across North America join together in offering their prayers for Orthodox Christian Fellowship’s Day of Prayer held on Clean Monday.

On February 15, 2010, OCF chapters will take part in 24 hours of unceasing prayer. Each school will take a one-hour slot to pray for themselves, their chapters and their fellow students.

Contact your local OCF chapter if you would like them to include your name on their prayer list. If you would like to sign-up your chapter, please contact Kelli Phillips, OCF Program Director at kelli@ocf.net or visit www.ocf.net.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

2010 Francis Maria Scholarship Applications Now Available

Through a generous gift of the Francis Maria Foundation for Justice and Peace, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America will once again grant several scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to students attending an accredited College.

Scholarships will be granted each July. Completed 2010 Francis Maria Scholarship Application and all supporting documentation must be postmarked by May 15, 2010.

For more information, please visit www.antiochian.org/scholarships. Click here to download an application (PDF).

College Ministry News Archive