The Latest News in the Diocese

Inter-Orthodox Youth Ministry Conference

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America is sponsoring a conference of youth workers at Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, January 24-28, 2012.

Through the generosity of the Antiochian Village Staff and their love for the work of youth ministry at every level, there is a special discount for the conference. The new rates are:

New Conference Rates
Single    $405 / $430 after January 15th
Double  $310 / $335 after January 15th
Triple     $290 / $315 after January 15th

New Pre & Conference Rate
 (The Pre-Conference participants have received notification to attend)

Single    $520 / $545 after January 15th
Double  $390 / $415 after January 15th
Triple     $365 / $390 after January 15th


For those who may have already registered at the old rates, they will be refunded the difference. Please remember that these rates include lodging, all meals, snacks, transportation to and from the Pittsburgh Airport, etc.

Registration and the Schedule for those invited to the pre-conference may be accessed here.

We ask that you arrive to Pittsburgh Airport by 2:00 PM on January 24th or to the Antiochian Village by 4:00 PM. Meetings begin at 5:00 PM with Vespers in the Chapel. If you are flying in and want us to transport you from and back to the Pittsburgh Airport, please send your flight information. You should schedule your departure flight after 3:00 PM on January 28th from the Pittsburgh Airport, if you are using our transportation.

We are asking you to come prepared to share your ideas, dreams, hopes and concerns for working together as Orthodox Christian Youth Workers and Leaders.

Please read what the assembly has stated is the purpose of the Committee for Youth here. (Please read this page all the way to the bottom).

We will share what has been done to date. Most importantly we will provide time and opportunities for you to work with other Youth leaders in adding your voice and recommendations to this work, which in turn will be shared with the Bishops who form the Committee for Youth, so they may take into account your ideas and recommendations as they move forward.
Below are the links for the General Camping, Youth Worker and OCF Chaplains Conference for which we hope you will stay and invite all of your parish youth workers, camp staff and OCF chaplains.  Their Registration link is in the following announcement.

Details can be found here.

Conference Online Registration is now open here.
 
Links to the promotional flyer and tentative schedule:

    •    Schedule.
    •    Promotional Flyer.

Annual Mission Deanery Retreat

The Church of the Annunciation in Milwaukee, Oregon, will host the annual Mission Deanery Retreat on February 7-9, 2012. The retreat begins at 12:00 pm (noon) with a deli buffet and then Opening Moleben at 3:0 pm, on February 7th and ends mid-afternoon on February 9th.

The retreat master will be Archimandrite Meletios (Webber), Abbot of St. John of Shanghai Monastery in Manton, California. His topic will be "How to Find Silence in a Noisy World."

Cost for the retreat is $175.00 including two nights double occupancy and meals, or $125.00 for no lodging, meals and retreat only. For information, please contact Lydia Mullany at (503) 659-3646 or by email at annunciationoregon@hotmail.com.

You may also register online here.

Pilgrimage to Italy

ANCIENT AND HOLY ITALY
An Orthodox Pilgrimage
October 14-27, 2012

Download information and contact poster

Day 1. Sunday, October 14, 2012
Group assembles in the airport and departs from the US.

Day 2. Monday, October 15, 2012
Meals: Dinner.
Group arrives to the airport in Milan, Italy. Transfer to the hotel for some refreshment. After couple hours of rest, tour of the city in the afternoon. Milan is the largest city in Northern Italy, and always was an important cultural and administrative center. It was here that Constantine issued the famous edict that granted freedom of religion to Christians. During our tour we will see the mighty Duomo, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Europe. In the crypt under the Cathedral, we will see the remains of the Ancient Baptistry where St. Ambrose, saintly Bishop of Milan, baptized St. Augustine of Hippo. From here we will proceed to the Basilica of St. Ambrose, where his relics are resting amidst relics of Ancient Christian Martyrs Gervasius and Protasius. Overnight: Milan or area.

Nativity Message of His Grace, Bishop Benjamin

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18)

NATIVITY OF OUR LORD 2011

TO THE REVEREND CLERGY AND FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE OF THE WEST

Dearly beloved,

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

The words quoted above from the Gospel of Saint Matthew come immediately after we read the long list of the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ. These words teach us two very important lessons about the birth of the Lord. The first lesson is about the virginity of His mother, Mary. She was found to be with child "before they came together." This fact is vital because she fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the coming of the Messiah. It is vital because this young virgin was the culmination of all of creation preparing for this Coming.

The second lesson is that she was "with child of the Holy Spirit." This miraculous intervention by God Himself is the Gift of Christmas. God does not abandon us in our sin. All of creation for all of history is unfaithful to its Creator. All of creation chose sin and death instead of virtue and life. Yet God does not blot us out forever. He sends His Son to become everything that we are so that we might still become what He is! What a loving and generous Gift.

But we must still respond. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows..." is not only a statement; it is also a question to each and every one of us. How is Jesus Christ born in us? Have we prepared the dark cave of our souls and bodies with the purity of the Virgin? Have we asked the Holy Spirit to make alive in us the little Child sent from God Himself? Or have we been swept up in the cares and concerns of this time in our society? The answers to these questions determine what the real celebration of this Day will be in our lives.

Join me in preparing to receive the greatest Gift ever! May the Light of this day shine brightly every day in your lives!

Yours in the new-born Child,

+Benjamin
Bishop of San Francisco

Download a hard copy of the message here

2012 Mision Deanery Retreat Registration OPEN

Updated (17 Oct) Assembly Delegate Books Available

One more update to Delegate Book 2 has been posted; if you have already printed the full document, simply print the link labeled 17 Oct Change Pages. 

Delegates are required to review the material PRIOR to the start of the Assembly; no hard copies of these books will be provided onsite at the Assembly.