For those of you who watched the Fox Network reality show Secret Millionaire on December 11, you got to see this year’s Diocesan designated charity in action.

Photos of His Beatitude Jonah visiting St. Nicholas parish in San Anselmo, CA on its Altar Feast, December 2008 are available here.

News from the All-American Council

Pictures from the Episcopal celebration of St. Barbara’s Monastery Feast Day, December 4th, 2008

The services for Mtka. Barbara are as follows (the services will be held at St. Seraphim Church in Santa Rosa): 
Mon., October 13, 6:30 PM:  Panikhida
Tue., October 14, 7:00 PM: Funeral
Wed., Oct. 15, 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy.  Memorial and interment at Healdsburg Cemetery.  Memorial meal to follow at the Santa Rosa Parish.

The 2008 Diocesan Assembly took place at Annunciation Orthodox Church in Milwaukie, Oregon on October 8-9, 2008

Fr. Thomas and Mtka. Angela Alessandroni are returning to Atlanta, Georgia, after twelve years of service at the Synaxis of the Theotokos Mission in San Francisco. With their departure, the Synaxis Mission officially closed its door on March 30th of this year.

The choir of Eastern Orthodox Church of the Annunciation will host a workshop on Orthodox liturgical music on Saturday, September 6, 2008.  The workshop will focus on effective vocal techniques for choir directors, chanters and choral singers to create beauty in the liturgy and gain a deeper understanding of the Orthodox choral tradition.  The presenters [...]

With the blessing of His Grace, BENJAMIN, an All-American Council “Town Hall Meeting” is being planned in conjunction with the upcoming June 26, 2008, Diocesan Council meeting. The meeting will take place at Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco, CA, beginning at 7 pm, and is open to all.

The input of the Diocese of the West is crucial. The hope for this meeting is to open dialogue that will be continued at the 15th All-American Council to be held in Pittsburgh, PA, November 10-13, 2008.

Pictures of Holy Week and Pascha at St. Christina’s Orthodox Mission in Fremont, CA