The Diocese of the West Mission Deanery Retreat by Fr. Andrew Jacobs

The Diocese of the West Mission Deanery Retreat was held Monday through Wednesday, January 29-31, at the Life-Giving Spring Retreat Center in Boulder City, NV. This year, the retreat hosted His Grace, Bishop SERAPHIM of Ottawa (now Archbishop SERAPHIM of Ottawa), and the Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, the V. Rev. Michael Dahulich, Ph.D. His Grace, Bishop BENJAMIN gave the introductory greeting on Monday afternoon.

During his talk on Tuesday afternoon, His Grace, Bishop SERAPHIM discussed the situation of several Canadian monastic communities in response to a question from the attendees. Vis-à-vis theological education in Canada, His Grace then related very joyfully that, finally, a 96 credit-hour, threeyear Master of Divinity Program for St. Arseny Orthodox Christian Theological Institute had been approved by the University of Winnipeg—thus providing Canadian candidates for Orthodox priesthood the means for getting the necessary training “at home.” His Grace also discussed the history and development of Fair Haven, the Diocesan Center of the Diocese of Canada (now the Archdiocese of Canada), which was purchased in 1988 as a permanent residence for the ruling bishop and all records pertinent to the diocese. Though the property was then a 150-year-old farmhouse with 12 hectares of wooded land and a marsh, many renovations have since taken place, making Fair Haven not only an episcopal residence, but also an administrative diocesan center, and a spiritual center for the diocese.

Although it is 85 kilometers from the present Cathedral in Ottawa, Fair Haven is within easy driving distance from Ottawa, Montreal, Kingston, and Toronto, and is also within driving distance of New York. Fair Haven also fulfills the role of a resource and central reference for the monastic communities that have been established throughout Canada, and is a place of spiritual refreshment for the faithful who visit from all over the country. On Monday evening, Tuesday morning and Tuesday evening, Fr. Michael Dahulich addressed the retreat participants. Under the general topic of “Pastoral Reflections,” his themes for the talks were “Preach Christ,” “Love the People” and “Don’t Compromise the Faith,” respectively. Fr. Michael imparted his rare mixture of deep Pauline scholarship and incisive, practical pastoral insight, urging those priests present to preach Christ always as the author and finisher of our faith, Who cannot be taught enough to the people in this spiritually difficult world.

Fr. Michael also lauded the missionary endeavors of the Diocese of the West, encouraging the clergy and laity in attendance to continue planting churches and engaging in the optimistic, steadfast approach to Orthodoxy that is the hallmark of missionary effort. Citing our successes, and recent instances of successful missionizing in Pennsylvania, he encouraged the missionary effort of the Diocese of the West as a positive exemplar for missionary effort in the OCA as a whole.

Paramount in this missionizing, as Fr. Dahulich presented it, is the love of the pastor for his people, and the very basis of that love is adherence to the faith as handed down to us by our Church. Integral to that tradition is the good shepherd, who gives his all for his flock, and whose love is an unflagging support and assurance to his flock. The good shepherd hears the members of his flock and pays heed to their necessities, and they follow him because they know and trust him.

Cogently and generously imparting his wisdom to the audience in answer to questions, even in break periods, Fr. Michael offered insight into such crucial matters as the relationship between truth and love. Offering up proofs from Scripture and the Fathers (especially the Apostle Paul), Fr. Michael also shone a light on his own life in Christ, rendering for our edification and moral support an unmistakably clear and impassioned presentation on pastoral practice in the mission field.

The retreat began on Monday with a moleben led by Fr. Eric Tosi, and that evening, Fr. Michael Anderson led Vespers. Tuesday, the second day, opened with Divine Liturgy led by Fr. Christopher Swanson, and included an evening Vespers led by Fr. John Strickland. Wednesday, which was nominally the final day of the retreat, was dedicated to the special Diocesan Assembly to elect a bishop for our diocese. The day opened with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, and a brunch, and then the Diocesan Assembly commenced.