Diocese of Wichita News Archive
Bishop BASIL Missions Endowment Fund
Each year during the Nativity season, all congregations in the Diocese of Wichita are requested to solicit contributions from all of their individual parishioners and parochial organizations for this worthy endeavor, which provides assistance to mission priests throughout the Diocese.
Every year we have the opportunity to celebrate the feast of St. Basil the Great and honor our own Bishop BASIL by donating to the Bishop BASIL Missions Endowment Fund.
It began in 1975 when the Southwest Region (name at that time) wanted to increase awareness of the need for mission work in the Region. At that time, the Southwest Region consisted of only 8 communities (our Diocese now numbers 51 congregations). Pledges were made to the "Missions Fund", and in 1977 Father Michael Wellborn was partially funded by the Region and assigned to the Region's first mission, Three Hierarchs in New Orleans, Louisiana (renamed St. Basil and relocated to Metairie, Louisiana). In 1978 a "Region Missions Blitz Weekend" was held in Dallas, Texas, resulting in the founding that very weekend of the Region's second mission, Ss. Constantine and Helen in Dallas. The Region also helped fund their first priest, Father Anthony Nelson. Over the years, the Region has funded many missions and helped fund their priests.
He is Worthy!
His Grace with Dn. Michael and Shamassy Melanie SakranOn Thursday, November 12, 2009, during the Divine Liturgy for the commemoration of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop BASIL ordained to the holy diaconate Michael Sakran, a DOWAMA vocation at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, at his home parish of St. George in Houston, Texas.
Report from the DOWAMA SOYO Basketball Tournament
The gymnasium at St. Elijah in Oklahoma City was bouncing with activity as more than 150 teens and advisers gathered for the third annual DOWAMA SOYO Basketball Tournament. SOYO members traveled from El Paso, Houston, Denver, Wichita, Omaha and everywhere in between to attend this wonderful event and retreat.
Fr. Michael Nasser served as the retreat speaker for the weekend. He talked with the teens about "Maintaining Faith in Chaos." Everyone in attendance was enlightened by his words of wisdom on how we can make our lives more focused on Christ while living in a world with many distractions.
AXIOS!
Bishop BASIL writes:
AXIOS! Fr. Michael Pavez of St. Michael Church in Beaumont, TX will be elevated to the dignity of Archpriest on the feast of the Archangel Michael - Sunday, November 8th.
HE IS WORTHY! On the evening of Thursday, November 12th, during the Divine Liturgy for the commemoration of St. John Chrysostom, Michael Sakran, a DOWAMA vocation at St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, will be ordained by me to the holy diaconate at his home parish of St. George in Houston, TX.
MOUSTAHIQ! On Sunday, November 29th, our DOWAMA and Cathedral Youth Director Camille Anthony Baba, a DOWAMA vocation and a graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, will be ordained by me to the holy diaconate at St. George Cathedral in Wichita, KS.
2009 DOWAMA Fall Gathering and SOYO Basketball Tournament + October 23-25
The 2009 DOWAMA Fall Gathering and SOYO Basketball Tournament will be hosted at St. Elijah/Oklahoma City, OK on the weekend of October 23rd-25th. Please distribute the material previously provided to you concerning this event to your parish organizations and congregation. Questions? Contact Judy Stanley of St. George Cathedral/Wichita, KS (jstanleyfacs@yahoo.com), president of the DOWAMA Fellowship of St. John the Divine.