Protocol No. 35/2020

September 9, 2020

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Very Reverend Protopresbyters, Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, and Diocesan Faithful,

As I have been, I am concerned about our Diocesan children. I am concerned about their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Of course, we have always been concerned about the well-being of our children, but now, the continued effects of being physically distant from one another are becoming more apparent. If you speak with Child Psychologists, or read the growing amount of literature on the subject, you will begin to understand how difficult physical distancing is for children AND how dangerous it is to their well-being and formation.

We need to be ever more vigilant during this time in watching over our children.

As your Hierarch I am asking you to do 3 things:

1. Keep our children in your prayers. Commend them to Christ’s care. Commend them to the care of His Most Holy Mother Mary. Again, pray for them.
2. Stay connected to your own children AND your spiritual children. Talk often with them. Find out how they are doing. Help them as you are able. Stay connected with them.
3. Help me gather them together for an online event. The event is described below. Again, help me gather them together.

We are planning an online event for our Diocesan children, ages 5-18, on Sunday, September 27, 2020 from 6:30 – 8pm. They will have an opportunity to see each other and be together, have some fun together, learn a little, and see the support of their Diocesan Priests and Hierarch.

We’ve learned through our Diocesan and Parish Youth Programs that getting our children together, even in the online environment, is important for them. God works in the online world too. We need only provide the opportunity. Again, help me bring our kids together.

I look forward to the time when we will gather in person. Until then, we will do what we have to do in order to continue to care for our children.

With my blessing I remain
Working in His vineyard,

We have a number of feast days and events over the next week:

Sept 9 :The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna
Divine Liturgy at 7:00pm  (Zoom)
Sept 10: Community Nights in the Park and Canon of Reconciliation
Hot Dog BBQ in Regent Park behind church 5-7:00pm
Canon of Reconciliation and Discussion 7-8:00pm
Sept 13: Sunday before Holy Cross
Hours 9:30am
Divine Liturgy at 10:00am
Sept 13: Great Vespers for the The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
 Vespers at 7:00pm

It is with great joy that we will restart our Sunday School program beginning this coming Sunday. Our new Phos director Minja and the team of catechists are creatively finding ways of making catachesis available and possible during these exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in. Classes will be held outdoors immediately following communion.

A link has been created to update and inform parents and catachists of our program: https://sites.google.com/view/cgs-phos-program/home - please check back periodically to get any all up-to-date information.

Please pray for Rd. Bogdan, Andrea and the new baby Teo!
For the souls of Elizabeth (Sandy), Ihor and Elisabeta
Also pray  for the number of recent Catechumans that God may reveal Himself and His will to their hearts as they continue their journey with us.
All those who still can not be with us,  are isolated, or suffering due to this current Pandemic

Protocol No. 33/2020
Glory to Jesus Christ!
August 27th, 2020
Dear Reverend Clergy and Faithful of our God-Protected Diocese,
 
Today I am writing to express my concerns about the importance of religious education especially in this time of the Coronavirus pandemic.
 
First, let me say that the most important time and place for the religious education of our youth, but also the adults, is while we are participating in the Divine Liturgy of the Church. When and where is there a better time and place to see, hear, touch, smell and taste our Orthodox Faith? All five of our senses are fully engaged. This is when we most experience the Faith as a family.
 
It is an imperative to be in the Divine Liturgy on a weekly basis. This is the time and place where we will see the icons and hear the hymns commemorating the Saints and /or Feasts of the day. In addition we hear the Epistle and Gospel Readings for the day. This is the time and place where we normally venerate items of the Faith.
 
This is the time and place where we smell the fragrance of the incense offered to God. This is the time and place where we receive and taste God’s gift to us, the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of His Son Jesus Christ. This is the time and place where together as the Christian family we offer praises and prayers to God, thanking Him for His gifts and asking for His help with our needs. Our participation is crucial to our lives.
 
Second, let me say that the next most important time and place for religious education of our youth is in Sunday School. This is the time and place where our beloved teachers offer additional information about our Orthodox Faith, its practices and traditions. The lives of Saints and their icons are examined. Feast days of the Church are studied for their importance and relevance in our lives. Life issues are presented and morals are reinforced by presenting them in the context of the Orthodox Faith.
 
This time is very important in the Orthodox understanding and the spiritual development of our children.  It must take priority in their lives Sunday morning.
 
As we enter the Ecclesiastical New Year on September 1/September 14 we must renew our efforts to educate our young people. In this time of the Coronavirus it might seem easier to delay things until things get better, whatever that means, but we cannot afford this delay.

Our children are most important to us. Let us do whatever is necessary not only for their spiritual development, but also their physical protection. Each Priest and those responsible for religious education should get together to discuss ways of “making it happen”, in other words making sure that Sunday School begins as soon as possible.

Each local area within our Diocese has various directives connected to the Coronavirus, try to interpret them and move forward as safely as possible. Already some of our parishes have made their plans including for the use of masks, social distancing, on-line classes, out-door classes as long as the weather cooperates, etc.

Everyone should figure out what works best for your community and then implement your local plan. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to write or call me.
 
Looking forward to the Ecclesiastical New Year with much love,


+Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa

To download and read the letter click DOWNLOAD FILE:

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ,

Last week our parish celebrated three Divine Liturgies - and it would appear as though this weekly sign-up for Wednesday and Sunday Liturgies is good working model. 

The registration form now has all of the liturgies for the month.

So please click the link below to reserve your place for any Wednesday or Sunday liturgies in July.

 
CLICK to Register for July Liturgies

​The newly illumined Joachim! May God grant him and his Godparents Florence and Ted many blessed years!

With our blessing of our Bishop and the recent changes in Ontario's health directives we are now able to begin a phased re-opening and resumption of in-person service.  Please find some information about this planned re-opening.

Frequency of Services
The directives allow us to have a maximum of 30% of capacity in the church.   As a result of these capacity restrictions, we will not all be able to gather on the same day. In these first weeks, therefore, households will be invited to attend services on an equitable rotating basis.  As such we will be increasing our number of liturgies in order to accommodate all who would like to attend (based on your responses to our survey).    You will be contacted to come to church on a rotating basis in regular groups at specific times.  Please do not attend if you have not been invited to a particular service.   If you have not been contacted,  need a different time, or you would like to visit our parish please reach out Father or the Parish council.  

Schedule
Due to the ever changing requirements and developments we may have to cancel parish events or services to accommodate the evolving schedule of services. Please bear with us and check our schedule and newsletter regularly. 

Social Distancing
In order to minimize risks and to ensure we are allowed to continue to meet, a number of protocols have been developed for attending services.  This includes spacing, masks, singing, communion, fellowship etc..  Please see the email sent to parish members or ask us and we can send to you.  An usher will be available at each service to direct people. 

As per usual, if you have been scheduled to come to the church but are feeling unwell or experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home.  

If you are unable or uncomfortable with coming to the service, this is an honorable reason of an absence.  We would invite you to contact Father who will be happy to work with you on any needs you may have. 

We are excited and hope to see you soon!

Please find a humble offering of our Parish Choir.  Christ is Risen (Serbian melody in Slavonic)

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] - With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory,  a booklet entitled “Holy Week From Home” has been created by Frs. William Bennett and Jonathan Bannon as an aid for all of our people who will be celebrating the services at home this year instead of in their churches.  This family friendly booklet even has icons at the back that can be cut out and used during the week.  

All Diocesan families young and old are encouraged to download and print up a copy of this excellent resource for use in their homes.

In obedience to our Bishop , the health authorities and to the weakest among us we must suspend public services for the time being.  But this doesnt mean that we have ceased to be the church of Christ in the world.  

We have prepared a page that includes information on how to we plan to stay connected during our closure along with resources for living in the desert of our homes.  Information about streaming services will be included there as well.  

Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have a need, want us to pray for you, or just need to talk.  

Urgent Update From Metropolitan Gregory
Regarding The Coronavirus or Covid-19 Pandemic
 
March 18, 2020
Protocol No. 8/2020

God is with us!

Dear Reverend Clergy and Faithful Laity of the Diocese,

I am writing you with a very heavy heart as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect all of us here in the United States and around the world.  Earlier today the Chief Secretariat the Holy and Sacred Synod following a meeting of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Hierarchs in Constantinople issued a statement concerning the pandemic.  The announcement follows below:

          As this Coronavirus crisis continues to spread and intensify on a global scale, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is monitoring the situation with an urgent sense of responsibility towards the faithful and all people without exception, and, following the Communique of 11 March 2020, upon deliberation of its Hierarchs in the City announces the following:

• 1) The Ecumenical Patriarchate emphatically reiterates its appeal to everyone to limit their outings and travels to what is necessary, remaining in their homes for their own safety and the protection of the general public.
• 2) It commends the spirit of self-sacrifice demonstrated by those working in the field of healthcare and expresses its gratitude for their extraordinary and exhaustive efforts to assist those in need, as well as for the danger they knowingly risk by coming in contact with those infected by Covid-19.
• 3) It underlines the need for everyone to follow the decisions and instructions of the responsible health authorities for the sake of the common good.
• 4) In light of the decisions already taken by some of the eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne, today we universally declare our ecclesiastical resolution and mandate to cease all divine services, events, and rites, with the exception of private prayer in church that will remain open, until the end of March. This restriction will be later reassessed, in accordance with the development of the pandemic caused by the virus.
• 5) All Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monasteries will continue to hold regular divine services for their monastic communities, but outside pilgrims and visitors will not be permitted entry.
• 6) In the same framework, the Patriarchal Offices at the Phanar will remain closed until further notice, while the Ecumenical Patriarch and clergy of the Patriarchal Court will perform the prescribed divine services and pray for the whole world and for its speedy relief from this trial.

From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod

Phanar, 18 March 2020

All parishes of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese are to follow the instructions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.  All divine services, events, and rites are to cease for the time being, except that the Churches are to remain open at normal times in order for parishioners to enter and offer their private prayers and maybe light a candle or vigil lamp.  If the Priest and/or Parish leadership sees that the number of people is above the local limit, whatever it might be, the people should enter in smaller numbers.  If there are any questions please email me or call at the Chancery.  Hopefully this situation with our prayers and God’s help will improve quickly.

         “But the Lord, He is the One who goes before you.  He will be with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you: do not be afraid, nor terrified.”  (Deut. 31:8)
Working in His Vineyard with much love,                                 

+METROPOLITAN GREGORY OF NYSSA 

From Father Paul Tadros, St. Silouan Parish Priest

As we await updated directives from the Diocese, ministry volunteers, parish council, and myself have agreed to stop all meals and hospitality hours effective immediately.

Specifically, until further notice:

• There will no longer be an agape meal served after liturgy on Sundays
• Community Suppers on Monday nights are cancelled
• House of Hospitality on Thursdays are cancelled
• Soup will no longer be served after Pre-Sanctified Liturgy

In addition, our parish will only be open during services.  However, in accordance with provincial directives, no service will exceed the maximum number of 50 persons.

This will be controlled through an electronic registration process and a count at the door.  Please keep an eye on your emails for an invitation to register. 

If you have not already done so, please sign up to our email bulletins on our  CONTACT US page .

Please note that e-registration for liturgy attendance will have to be strictly limited and priority will be given to clergy, servers and choir. 

In the coming days, parish council will work with myself, and all updated directives from the Diocese to manage how best to be in church while practicing social distancing.  Stay tuned.