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2012 Paschal Greetings from Archbishop Joseph
“And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, ‘Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He is risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His Disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you’” (Mark 16:4-7)
Christ is risen!
لمسيح ارتفع! حقا انه زاد!
Хрңстос Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе!
Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Άληθώς Άνέστη!
Beloved in Christ:
Words of joy are brought to us by this Great and Holy Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we take the time to ponder the depth of the meaning of this wondrous feast, the salvation brought to us through His death and resurrection, let us come together to truly celebrate this day the Lord has made to redeem us. May we experience a deeper renewal of our own faith and may those who need the hope of salvation be brought to say, “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death.”
Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord!
Yours in the Risen Lord,
+Archbishop JOSEPH
Blessed Name's Day to Archbishop Joseph!
We extend our prayers and love to His Eminence, Archbishop Joseph of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, and locum tenens of the Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest, on the occasion of his Name's Day on April 29 (St. Joseph of Arimathea, Second Sunday after Pascha). May God grant him many years!
Learn more about Joseph of Arimathea (Come and See Icons)
Read about Archbishop Joseph
Visit the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West
Visit the Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest
Save the Date: Canadian Orthodox Men's Retreat, April 20-22
The Sanctum Retreat Centre of Caroline, Alberta, will host the ninth annual Orthodox Men's Retreat of St. John the Baptist, on April 20-22, 2012.
Guest speaker, Conciliar Press author and priest Fr. Lawrence Farley, will speak on the Divine Liturgy. Indicating the pan-Orthodox character of the event, the announcement reads, "With the Blessings and support of our Bishops, and the support of our parishes and parish clergy, Very Reverend Father Taras Krochak, and Reverend Father Timothy Charpko – St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Congregation, Reverend Father Ibrahim Chahoud - Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Reverend Father Obrad Filipovic – Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Simeon, Reverend Father Demetrios Rougas – St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Congregation, Reverend Father Phillip Erikson – St. Peter the Aleut OCA Congregation, and Very Reverend Father Michael Lupu - St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Congregation, the Orthodox retreat committee invite you to the ninth annual Orthodox Men’s Retreat of St. John the Baptist – 2012."
In addition to the liturgical worship and retreat lecture sessions, the retreat committee notes, there will be ample time for quite time meditation and prayer. The retreat property is set in serene surroundings, and hot tubs are available so retreat attendees are encouraged pack swimming trunks.
New Induction at Holy Nativity Mission + Langley, BC
His Grace Bishop Joseph recently inducted new member Jared Neufeldt into the Order of St. Ignatius at Holy Nativity Mission in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.
Jared Neufeldt receiving his Cross from His Grace Bishop Joseph
Jared Neufeldt being sworn in by Bishop Joseph with his sponsor Kim Franklin
(L-R): Fr. Michael Gillis, Bishop Joseph, Kim Franklin, Jared Neufeldt (with his daughter Lucia in front)
Annual Orthodox Men's Retreat of St. John the Baptist + April 9-11, 2011
You are Invited to the Eighth Annual
Orthodox Men's Retreat of St. John the Baptist
Theme: “How do Orthodox Christians Evangelize?"
Guest Speaker: Rev. Fr. Joseph Huneycutt
April 8-10, 2011
Sanctum Retreat Centre
Caroline, Alberta, Canada
All men of good faith are invited to the annual Orthodox Men’s Retreat of St. John the Baptist, which will be held from April 9-11, 2011 at the Sanctum Retreat Centre, Caroline, Alberta, Canada. The fee for this years retreat is $200.00 to $300.00 per individual, depending on the room (see attached).
The theme of this years retreat will be “How do Orthodox Christians Evangelize?” The quest speaker for this years retreat will be Reverend Father Joseph Huneycutt.
Further to the Retreat schedule, we would like to emphasize that there will be ample time for quite time meditation and prayer, and to take full advantage of the retreat venue, while taking in the serene surroundings. There are hot tubs available, bring along your swimming trunks. Website http://www.sanctumretreat.ca/home.htm.
For more information, please see the attached documents.
2011 Creative Festivals Information
Below are the deadlines and contact information for the 2011 Creative Arts Festivals, Oratorical Festival and Bible Bowl for the Dioceses of Los Angeles and Eagle River. For more information and resources pertaining to the Creative Festivals, please visit www.antiochian.org/festivals.
Parish Life Conference Season Ends With A Bang on July 4
Bible Bowl winners with His Grace, Bishop JosephFor the Dioceses of Toledo, Ottawa, Charleston and New York, and Los Angeles and Eagle River, the Fourth of July holiday weekend ushered in the long-planned for Parish Life Conferences. With the Creative Festivals, liturgical worship, fellowship, and special speakers as the reward, the faithful of each diocese traveled long distances to convene over the holiday weekend. In Tucson, Arizona, the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West met at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa, thanks to the hard working parishioners of Fr. Philip Nixon's parish, Holy Resurrection. Attendees were also able to sign up for day tours to two sacred Arizona sites, St. Anthony's and St. Paisius' Monasteries.
Bishop Basil Reflects on Historic Episcopal Assembly
Recently, Bishop Basil spoke with AFR correspondent Matthew Namee about the historic assembly of bishops which took place in the week following Pentecost. His Grace was elected Secretary of the Assembly. Below are excerpts from the interview, which can be found here in full:
"The bishops delighted in being together and doing the work of the Church."
"The ultimate task was to prepare the Orthodox (Church) of this region...to constitute itself as a canonical, single Church.…It is a huge task, one that a vast majority of Orthodox Christians in America have been praying for, hoping for, talking about, for a long, long time."
"It’s as if the Mother Churches have said to us, ‘Look, you have been asking for this. Before we give it to you, we would like to know, what is your plan?’"
On SCOBA:
"We were blessed by the work of SCOBA….the work of the Episcopal Assembly was made quite easy by the 50 years of preparation."
"The Episcopal Assembly is comprised of every Orthodox bishop, not just the primates. We had 55 in attendance, (in New York) where the maximum of SCOBA members would have been 8."
Ancient Faith Radio has also posted an extensive interview with Fr. Mark Arey, General Secretary of SCOBA, titled Unraveling the Episcopal Assembly. Additionally, Antiochian.org has compiled a summary of online Assembly articles.
Memory Eternal! Fr. Thomas Moffat
The servant of God, Fr. Thomas Moffatt, fell asleep in the Lord at his home in Anchorage, Alaska, early Tuesday morning on September 2nd. He was buried at the Cemetery of St. John Orthodox Cathedral in Eagle River, Alaska, on Saturday, September 13. Please remember Fr. Thomas in your prayers. Condolences may be sent to Lynn Moffatt & Family, 7151 Beaumont Cir., Anchorage, AK 99502.