Youth and Family

The Antiochian Archdiocese is home to a range of ministries laboring for the sake of our youth and our families. Although all of these programs together encompass a broad range of activity and age groups, all share the same goal: to encourage full participation in the life of the Church through worship, witness, service, and fellowship. All of these ministries are looking for ways to help Orthodox parents navigate the challenging parenting climate of today. This page compiles all of the departments serving kids and parents, and provides a roadmap for Antiochian Christians who are looking for resources and support within our Archdiocese. Are we missing something important? Is there a book, an article, a camp, a youth activity that should be here? Email us at editor@antiochian.org with input and suggestions.

 

Teen SOYO 40th Anniversary Video Released on YouTube


Fr. Joseph Purpura, Archdiocese Youth Director, has released via YouTube this special Teen SOYO 40th Anniversary video commemorating the forty years of raising up generations of disciples and leaders for the Holy Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Click here to go to the YouTube page for this video, and click here for Fr. Joseph's article from The Word commemorating this important occasion.

Raising Up a Generation of Disciples and Leaders: A Leadership Training Presentation

Fr. Joseph Purpura, Youth Director of the Antiochian Archdiocese, has provided the following PDF presentation for the edification of youth and youth workers of the Archdiocese. It covers:

  • The Why, What, and How of Orthodox Youth Ministry
  • Youth Ministry Programs (as found in the Antiochian Archdiocese as an example)
  • Dynamics of Group Ministry

SOYO Reaches 40: 40 Years of Raising Generations of Disciples & Leaders

By V. Rev. Dr. Joseph F. Purpura

Forty years ago, the WORD Magazine recorded that during the Miami Convention of 1969 NAC (Teen) SOYO under the direction of his Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP elected its first President Mr. Robert Laham Jr. The teens were previously a committee of (Senior) SOYO (Senior SOYO is currently known as the Fellowship of St John the Divine). His Eminence with the help of Helen E. Rihbany, the National Teenage Chairwoman of Senior SOYO, set the following as priorities for this Teen Movement in the archdiocese, as found in Helen’s report to the General Assembly.

Katrina Bitar Appointed New Executive Director of OYO

Katrina Bitar, a past SOYO member, SOYO officer, Parish Youth Director, and recent graduate of St. Vladimir's Seminary, was appointed, with the blessing of Metropolitan PHILIP, by the Department of Youth Ministry, effective May 17, 2009, as the new Executive Director of OYO - Orthodox Youth Outreach. OYO is a ministry of NAC Teen SOYO. Katrina comes to this ministry with much youth and OYO experience. Katrina writes:

"I believe in the power of this ministry because I, myself, am a product of this program. I participated in the very first OYO trip. I plan to continue to serve Orthodox Christian young people through not only leading short-term mission trips, but also helping parishes to establish consistent commitments to serving the poor and needy in their local communities.

Pan-Orthodox Men's Retreat at Antiochian Village


Orthodox Men's Retreat
Friday June 26-Sunday June 28, 2009
Antiochian Village

All men, single, married, and of all ages are welcome to join us for this Pan-Orthodox Men's Retreat weekend led by Paul Karos and hosted by Antiochian Village. Group discount available for groups of 10 or more. Bring your parish men’s group!

Registration forms available at www.antiochianvillage.org
Questions? Call 724.238.3677 ext. 425 or send an e-mail to barli@antiochianvillage.org

Virginia Nieuwsma Featured in Podcast on OCN

 Antiochian.org featured author and staff member Virginia Nieuwsma was recently featured on the Orthodox Christian Network's Come Receive the Light podcast. In this special Mother’s Day podcast, Nieuwsma and Fr. Chris Metropoulos discuss the joys and the struggles of being a Mom today with a busy schedule.

Click here to listen

Nieuwsma reports that she is considering the possibility of an ongoing series of OCN podcasts on the subject of parenting. Potential future topics include Transmitting the Faith, Sibling Rivalry, Choosing a School, Children and the Media, Chores and Responsibilities, and many others.

IOCC Youth Camps in Lebanon Promote Tolerance


 

More than 400 Lebanese youth participated in IOCC camps. (photo credit: M. Joulouyan/IOCC Lebanon)

  

(Beirut, Lebanon) – International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) hosted 14 youth camps throughout Lebanon, promoting a culture of tolerance between youth and encouraging them to take an active role in improving their communities.

One 18-year-old who participated in a Baalbek camp, is already anxious to start a development organization where people from all religions can work together to help Lebanon’s rural areas. “The first day, we were strangers meeting for the first time,” he says, “but I was relieved to find out that although we came from various backgrounds there was nothing standing in the way of our unity.”

Register Now for Connect 2009 Exchange Program

What is CONNECT?

CONNECT is an academic and cultural exchange program which introduces youth of the world to the environment, culture and heritage of Lebanon, Syria, and the Middle East.

CONNECT aims at offering youth (17 to 25 years of age) a unique learning experience that will enrich their mind and soul, and connect them with their land of ancestry and rich heritage.

The four-week cultural exchange program includes:

  • Academic Programs and Interactive Tutorials
  • Seminars, Workshops and Discussions
  • Trips in Lebanon and Syria (optional)
  • Antiochian Heritage: Orthodox Belief; Liturgy; Architecture
  • Cultural Activities
  • Involvement in Community-based Projects
  • Sports and Outdoor Activities, including a beach resort on the Mediterranean Sea


more

Youth and Family Archives

 

Resources for Youth and Family

Bible study, podcasts and more for Orthodox youth from the Antiochian Archdiocese Dept. of Youth and Parish Ministries are available at www.orthodoxyouth.org.
 
 

Antiochian.org encourages our readers to join Orthodox Circle, the premier online social networking community for Orthodox Christians.
 

Orthodox Teen Talk Online (OTTO) is an ongoing podcast for Orthodox Christian teens and their peers developed by the Department of Youth Ministry and Orthodox Christian Network (OCN). Visit OCN online at www.myocn.net to learn more or listen here.
 

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is SCOBA's official collegiate campus ministry program, supporting fellowships on college campuses.
 
 

For Youth:
SOYO In My Life: Teens express what SOYO means to them.
 

For College and College-Bound Students:
Coming Soon!
 

For Youth Workers:

Orthodox Youth Outreach (OYO): A ministry of NAC Teen SOYO which has been designed to provide local parishes and youth workers with the resources necessary to involve junior and senior high students in local community service and short-term missions projects.

Let Us Attend! Children's Weekly Gospel Program with Audio: Produced by the Department of Christian Education and Ancient Faith Radio, and ideal for use as the curriculum for a small church school, or by parents who wish to read the gospel on Saturday night with their children.
 

For Married Couples:
Coming Soon!
 

For Parents:

Articles for Parents

Festal Celebrations Gallery: An independent collection for Orthodox Christians of images and ideas for incorporating the Life of the Church into the home and life of the family.
 

Books:
Coming Soon!
 
 

Archdiocese Youth and Family Departments and Organizations

Department of Youth Ministry: Integrates the Camping Program, Teen SOYO, Campus Ministry and the Fellowship of St. John the Divine - programs designed to meet the needs of varying age groups. Their work involves training youth ministers, both clergy and lay, to serve at all levels, and developing and providing relevant resource materials.

Department of Marriage and Parish Family Ministries: Exists to preserve and enhance the marriages and parish families of the Archdiocese, building a comprehensive archdiocesan network of Orthodox materials and resources to assist the healthy development and maintenance of Christ-loving marriages and families.

Department of College Ministry: Formed in order to provide outreach to Orthodox students while they are away from their home parish attending college. In our effort of promoting pan-Orthodoxy, many of the programs that were started by the Department of College Ministry are now under the supervision of the national Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) office, including the College Conference and Real Break. OCF is a ministry of SCOBA, the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas.

Department of Christian Education: Fosters cooperation in Christian education between the parishes and the central Archdiocese office, between the work of other Orthodox agencies, and among the various parishes of the Archdiocese. They provide support to church school directors, teachers, parents, and to all who are seeking to know the Orthodox Faith.

Department of Camping: Presents to young people a living experience of the Holy Orthodox Faith, in their relationship with God and other campers in an uncluttered, natural environment. More information about Orthodox camping is available at the website of Antiochian Village, where you can also learn about the other remarkable programs and facilities of the Village.

Teen SOYO: The national organization of Antiochian Orthodox Christian youth provides a range of material online, including their SOYO Leadership Manual.