Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest

Metropolitan Philip Presides over Dedication of Family/Youth Center

St. George Family/Youth CenterSt. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of Akron, Ohio, celebrated 95 years and dedicated its new Family/Youth Center the weekend of April 27. Presiding over the busy schedule of events, His Eminence Metropolitan Philip joined parishioners at the hafli on April 27, at a banquet on April 28, and also celebrated liturgy with the community on Sunday, April 29.

Reporter Kathleen Folkerth of Akron Leader Publications, noted that "Mimi Hicks, president of the Ladies Society, gave Mahashie (Fr. Louis Mahshie) a $25,000 check for the Family/Youth Center building fund, bringing its total donation to $100,000." The Center was built to accomodate the growing and active youth group of St. George, recently named the Teen Club of the Year during a recent youth convention.

Read the complete article, "St. George celebrates milestone, dedicates new center."

Memory Eternal! + William George Kafoure

Fr. Nabil Hanna writes:

William George Kafoure was a faithful member of St. George Church [in Indianapolis, IN]. Over the years Bill served on the Parish Council, the Building Committee, and he was our Church Historian. Bill was a founding member of the SOYO youth movement and was President of Midwest SOYO from 1955-56. He was also a member of the Archdiocese Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Bill was the inspiration behind our 85th Anniversary musical, entitled "He's been there the whole time!," which was dedicated to his memory this past weekend.

Bill is survived by his children, William Paul (Coleen) Kafoure, Steven George (Dory) Kafoure, and Leslie Ann (Thomas) Kafoure Baas, grandchildren, Kelly C. Baas, William S. Kafoure, Lynne Herendeen, and Brett Herendeen and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in departure from this life by his wife, Frances H. Risk Kafoure, siblings Richard, Michael and Isabel Kafoure.

2012 Paschal Greetings from Bishop Anthony

Great and Holy Pascha

April 15th, 2012

Dear Beloved clergy, brothers and sisters in Christ:

Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!

May God's blessings and my joy at His Resurrection be given, first, to our beloved Metropolitan Philip and to the local Synod of this God-protected Archdiocese!

I wish I could be with all of you in person, but I am with you in the Spirit and in my heart.

St. Macarius the Great has written: "When God created Adam He did not give him bodily wings like the birds, but prepared for him in advance the wings of the Holy Spirit - the wings He desires to give him in the Resurrection to lift him up and carry him wherever the Spirit wishes."

Yes, in the great prophesies of Isaiah concerning the Savior, we read: "The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. . . . They that wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. (Is. 40. 28b, 29, 31)"

When we grow faint and weak and die, He comes to us to carry us up to Him, because He will not lose the loved ones who He has made to be like Him.

Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest - Young Adult Spring Retreat

Young adults from St. George in Akron reunite with Sayedna Anthony, their former youth directorBy Khalil G. Samara, Diocese of Toledo FSJD President

After the Fall Fellowship of St. John Gathering in 2011, His Grace Bishop Anthony (then Bishop-elect) encouraged the young adults that were at the Fall Gathering to continue to meet on a regular basis. With no spring meeting scheduled, we decided to plan a Spring Retreat to focus on spiritual renewal and fellowship with other young adults from our Diocese. The weekend of March 30-April 1, 2012 was chosen, and the Basilica of St. Mary in Livonia, MI, graciously offered their facility as the host location. Over 60 young adults from 13 parishes in our Diocese came together for our Young Adult Spring Retreat, sponsored by the Diocese of Toledo Fellowship of St. John the Divine.

The weekend began as we prayed the Akathist service with the parishioners of St. Mary’s. Following the service, His Grace Bishop Anthony began the retreat by introducing the topic “Following in the Footsteps of Christ.” The evening concluded with a Coffee House social in the church's Activity Center so we could relax from the long drive and to get to know each other. We thank Tom and Lillian Saba for planning and organizing the evening social.

Phillips Lecture is Titled "Silence in a Noisy World"

St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church once again has the honor of hosting the Anne & Theodore Phillips Lecture Series. This year’s lecture will be on April 28th from 3-5pm.

Our speaker, Archimandrite Meletios Webber will address the topic, "Finding Silence in a Noisy World: The Role of the Monastery in Modern Day Orthodoxy in America."

Archimandrite Webber holds a Masters degree in theology from Oxford University and the Thessalonica School of Theology in Greece and an earned doctorate in psychotherapy from the University of Montana. His two most recent books, Bread and Water, Wine and Oil: An Orthodox Christian Experience of God (2007) and Steps of Transformation: An Orthodox Priest Explores the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (2003) are published through Conciliar Press.

Download Retreat flyer.

1 attachment