GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO OFFICE OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES

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1 GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO OFFICE OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES METROPOLIS CLERGY-LAITY REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES OCTOBER 2-5, 2013 Hosted by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at the Marina Inn Conference Center, South Sioux City, NE Mr. Chris Avramopoulos, Director When we speak of Youth and Young Adult Ministry we first and foremost speak of a relational ministry. This is a relationship with Christ and His Holy Church and a relationship amongst one another. The goal of Orthodox Christian Youth Ministry is the integration of each young person fully into the total life of the Church. This integration is experienced through Worship, Witness, Fellowship and Service. His Eminence Metropolitan IAKOVOS has consistently maintained as one of his top priorities a vibrant outreach and ministry to our Orthodox young people and families. Our Metropolitan s focus is To Bring Our Families and youth to a Living Relationship with Christ and His Holy Church. He is especially concerned that we as Church leaders both clergy and laity focus much of our efforts and attention to the leaders of the present and future our youth and the family as a whole. He has therefore challenged the Metropolis Youth Ministry Office to focus on ways in which we can reach out to the faithful of our Church, and offer support, resources and education on family and youth issues. It is with the above mentioned directives that the Metropolis of Chicago Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries seeks to minister to our Orthodox youth and families throughout the Mid-West in a holistic and Christ Centered manner. The following is a list of ministries that fall under the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. These ministries hope to be continued for years to come and ultimately bring glory to God. 40 East Burton Place, Chicago, IL Telephone: (312) Fax: (630) gochicagoyouth@aol.com website: www. chicago.goarch.org

2 FAMILY SYNAXIS The past 14 years has seen the birth and growth of one of the most unique and effective ministries in our Archdiocese under the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. This ministry known to families throughout the Metropolis as The Family Synaxis Ministry has provided a wonderful and powerful building, learning and growing opportunity for the Orthodox Family. The overarching theme, as given by His Eminence Metropolitan IAKOVOS, of The Church in the Home focuses this vital ministry to bring that which is taught and understood through the divine services and the teaching of the Fathers into the home to be practiced and lived. A truly unique ministry in the Archdiocese of America, the Family Synaxis brings together parents, grandparents, children of all ages to a setting where individual elements of the family as well as the family as a whole is discussed. Throughout the day groups are divided into Adults, College Age, Teens, Elementary, and Preschool. These groups are designed to meet the needs of parents, teenagers, children, men s issues and women s issues. Along with individual groups, family building activities and other events are featured throughout the weekend or day long festivities. The Synaxis is and continues to hope to be a spiritual oasis for families in years to come as the focus on the family continues to grow from within the ministry of the Church. With the direction of the chairpersons of the Family Synaxis committee, Mrs. Eleni Anast and Mrs. Carrie Colis, the Spiritual Father of the Family Synaxis, the Rev. Fr. John Rallis and the Youth Office, we look forward to expanding this ministry and getting more clergy and laity involved, so as to continue to provide ministry at the parish level. Over the course of the past two years we have hosted Lenten Day Retreats for the whole Metropolis at the communities of St. Spyridon, Palos Heights, IL and St. Andrew, Chicago, IL. We also hosted our Labor Day Weekend Retreats at the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, WI. In all of these retreats we have had local speakers and experts as well as Keynote speakers from throughout the United States and world. We have brought in Khouria Maggie Hock, a licensed psychotherapist and Marriage and Parenting Expert, and the Director of Marriage and Parish Family Ministry for the Antiochian Archdiocese of America. We have also had Dr. George Stavros, a licensed psychologist and pastoral counselor, and professor at Holy Cross School of Theology and Boston University, and Dr. Philip Mamalakis, also a Professor of Ethics at the Holy Cross School of Theology, as well as a licensed psychologist and pastoral counselor. Dr. Alber Rossi, Professor at St. Vladimir s Seminary, specializing in family therapy and child psychology. We were blessed to have in our presence the world renowned and beloved author and speaker, Sister Magdelan of the Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist, in Essex, England which was founded by elder Sophrony. Our very own Dr. Ary Christofidis, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder and Director of the Orthodox Christian Counseling Institute in Park Ridge, IL, serves on the Synaxis Committee and is a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and served as our Retreat Master in the recently completed Labor Day Synaxis. Our most recent speaker for our Labor Day Weekend Retreat was Dr. Philip Mamalakis, marriage and family therapist and professor of pastoral theology at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. All of these speakers and many more, including our local clergy, provide a wealth of knowledge and information to equip our parents and children with the necessary tools to raise a family with love and discipline, always looking to Christ and His Holy Church as our anchor and salvation. Currently the committee is working diligently in preparing the Lenten retreat. It is essential that this ministry grows, and it is essential that the word about this ministry is relayed to the families of our Metropolis. It is by far one of the most exceptional and worthwhile ministries for the whole family. Comments: Mrs. Eleni Anast, Mrs. Carrie Colis or Mr. Chris Avramopoulos 2

3 YOUTH PROTECTION POLICY Responding to the charge from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and the Holy Eparchial Synod, the National Department of Youth and Young Adults Ministries created the Youth Protection Manual for Metropolis/Direct Archdiocesan District Camps and Retreats (YPM). The YPM is designed to guide clergy and laity charged with the task of selecting, training, and supervising those who work with young people at camps and retreats. A Camp/Retreat is defined as any Metropolis/Direct Archdiocesan District sponsored youth event or activity (i.e. Basketball Tournament, Cultural Festivals, etc.) This manual has been created with the assistance of Praesidium Inc., a risk management organization that specializes in training and prevention. It consists of policies and procedures for the protection of children and youth participating in camps and retreats of our Archdiocese. Beginning in 2009, each Camp/Metropolis retreat of our Archdiocese was mandated to utilize the YPM within their program. Youth Ministry and camping programs are entrusted with the spiritual upbringing of the young people who participate in them. Those working with young people are first and foremost accountable to God, as well as their wider communities, for the well-being and spiritual formation of our children. The Church must be a secure and safe environment where young people can grow and mature in the Faith. While we can never completely eliminate the possibility of abuse and injury, we can take concrete steps to ensure that our Churches are as safe as possible. With so many factors beyond our control, we need to do everything possible to protect our children and youth from abuse, negligence, and accidents. The process described in the YPM provides a number of practical measures to protect the children in your youth programs. The Youth Protection Policy has been instituted in our Fanari Camp Summer program, Winter Camps, as well as the Family Synaxis with no issues. The Holy and Sacred Synod would like to see this policy expand beyond Metropolis events to the parish life itself. However, in the mean time, it would be a good practice to start instituting some of the policies of the YPM into the parish. For more information regarding the YPM, please contact Chris Avramopoulos YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY The Young Adult Ministry in the Chicago Metropolis has had a great history and tradition of being a leader within the Young Adult movement for the Archdiocese of America. However, as has occurred throughout the Archdiocese and in many other Christian Communities, participation in Young Adult events has dwindled, so much so that the Archdiocese put together a Young Adult Ministries Task Force, which met with all of the Metropolis Youth and Young Adult Ministries Directors at the Archdiocesan Council Meetings, in New York, on October 30 th, Along with this Task Force, the Metropolis itself has established a Young Adult Commission, to study and advice when it comes to Young Adult Ministry. The need for a task force arose because of the realization that Young Adult Ministry in its current state is broken. The ministry itself is not thriving and participation in events is decreasing or non-existent. Young adults are leaving the Church and not coming back and their participation in the sacramental life of the Church is declining, and their spiritual needs are not being met. As many of you know, Young Adult Ministry is one of the most challenging ministries, as it tries to attend to an age demographic that is very fluid and transitional and many times highly influenced by the society around them. These needs, whether they be a social experience, education in the faith, a connection with other Orthodox Christians, or a connection to their heritage, and a desire to grow in their faith and their working toward salvation must be met. 3

4 The Young Adult Ministry that we are familiar with, that began in 1976 and fed many generations of Young Adults is now, for this generation, a broken paradigm. The life and passion the initial movement procured, produced and provided an active participation in the ministry of the church. Those generations have become the leaders, the teachers, and the workers of our current communities. The current generation of Young Adults needs to somehow define its own vision of what the ministry will be for them. This can only be done by a synergy of a movement upward, from the parish level, and a movement downward from the Archdiocesan and Metropolis level. They must meet together to produce something that will feed this generation and allow them to become the leaders of their communities. For the past several years, the Metropolis Youth Office has recreated the Metropolis Young Adult Committee (which it established) which spearheads the ministry to young adults throughout the Metropolis. This committee has as its goal to provide different avenues for young adults to gather together in fellowship, worship, outreach, and witness along with encouraging young adults to become active within their own communities. It is a very dynamic group which cares deeply for the Church and the love of Christ. This committee will continue its mission of service to the Church, however, it will also has as a main goal, to help establish local and parish based Young Adult Ministry groups. We are at a time where one of the largest challenges the Church will face is communicating and maintaining a dynamic relationship with its Young Adults. This will not happen overnight, however through the help of our clergy and concerned laity, as well as by the power of the Holy Spirit in His grace, I believe that our young adults will be revitalized, to offer glory and worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His HolyChurch. COLLEDGE MINISTRY The transition from high school to college is an exciting time. First year students experience new routines, new roles, new relationships and new ways of thinking about themselves. All life transitions - even positive ones - can be challenging! Knowing what to expect and accessing resources can help students make a successful transition to the university so that they have a strong first semester and college experience. College is one of the biggest transitions a person will make. Therefore, it only makes sense to focus more attention on high school to college transition. This is what the CollEDGE ministry is all about. This ministry will focus on that transition, not only academically and socially, but more so spiritually. We encourage parents and students to begin the process years before applying to college. But as a last ditch effort, we suggest using the senior year of high school and months after high school graduation to focus on the academic, personal, social and spiritual expectations your son/daughter hold about college. We have put together a great team of clergy, youth workers and professionals to spearhead a ministry that will, God willing, offer a valuable tool for those young adults taking that next great step in their life. We have also teamed up with OCCHY (Orthodox Christian Coalition for Healthy Youth) directed by Fr. Nicholas Dahdal and Project Coordinator, Gordana Trbuhovich to offer their research, expertise and resources on substance abuse and prevention. For more information see Chris Avramopoulos or Rev. Fr. Athanasios Papagiannis PICK UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY Separate report by Ms. Toni Poteres, who directs this ministry with His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos through the Metropolis Youth Office. 4

5 OCF MINISTRY Another very important and vital avenue for Young Adult Ministry, but more specific to a certain age group is OCF Ministry. This ministry, which takes place on the college campus, is fundamental to the continued growth and upholding of the Orthodox faith for our college aged students. College is a pivotal time in a young adult s life that lays the ground work for their future participation in the Church. It cannot be overlooked or minimized. The OCF ministry has established a National Office through what was formally known as S.C.O.B.A. (now the Assembly of Bishops) which organizes and spearheads the OCF ministry. The Youth Office is always looking to expand this ministry to universities within the Metropolis. Please, if you have children in college or are going into college please give those names to your parish priest or to the youth office directly so that perhaps we can assist in finding them an OCF group or creating one on their campus. (Note: Clergy from all the, what was formally known as S.C.O.B.A, jurisdictions provide OCF ministry. You can find out more about OCF ministry by going to the official OCF site, at METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO WINTER CAMP Winter Camp is an opportunity for our youth to come together in a spirit of Orthodox Christian Fellowship and Agape. It also provides our young people an avenue to come together in a camp or retreat setting. With the assistance of a wonderful staff of volunteers, and a Retreat Master, this ministry offers our young people a chance to retreat for just a short while and learn something about our faith and each other. This year s Winter Camp dates have tentatively been set for March 14, 15, and 16. (For further information please go to the Metropolis website at METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO FANARI SUMMER CAMP A full report of the Fanari Camp program will be given by the Director, Mr. Nick Kirkeles, however it is worth noting that the Youth Office works very closely with the Fanari Camp Steering Committee, and especially the director to provide the best experience, both spiritually and emotionally, to the youth who attend this wonderful ministry. Words cannot convey the importance a good summer camp experience can have on a young person s life. This is a vital ministry of the Metropolis and to the youth of our Metropolis, as can be seen by the purchase and development of the St. Iakovos Retreat Center. The ministry that can be offered and the life altering experience a young person can have in a week worth of camp (or more) cannot go unnoticed. Ministry programs that last throughout the year, such as G.O.Y.A. or J.O.Y. can perhaps only touch upon life issues and concerns that these teenagers are going through. The opportunity to take these young people out of there usual environment and foster an atmosphere that emphasizes Christ and His Church can create a spiritual awakening. This awakening can be fostered at camp so that when the young person goes home, he/she does not fall into the same traps and snares that can bring them down and minimize the power and relevance of Christ and His Church. In the summer of 2012 we had 405 campers and over 100 staff. This past summer we broke records with 430 campers and over 100 staff and clergy participating. 5

6 METROPOLIS ACOLYTE PILGRIMAGE TO HELLENIC COLLEGE/HOLY CROSS The Metropolis of Chicago Acolyte Pilgrimage is a ministry that will be revived once again in 2014 by the Metropolis Youth Office. It has served our young men, sending many to Hellenic College/Holy Cross, some of them serving the Metropolis today. However, it has also brought together youth from throughout the Metropolis in their shared love of serving God s Holy Altar. We have not solidified a date as of this Clergy Laity; however we are looking at sometime in early April for this years trip. Each parish will be asked to assist 2 of their most deserving Altar Boys serving in the Holy Altar in offsetting the cost of this trip. Altar Boys will be introduced to the services of the Seminary, as well as classes with Holy Cross Professors and sessions led by senior seminarians on vocation and serving the Church. This outreach offers acolytes the opportunity to experience the life of our beloved seminary and college first hand. With the grace of God, it can cultivate an openness and desire to serve in the priesthood and other ministries of the Archdiocese. Historically, these pilgrimages have ultimately borne fruit of numerous ordinations and parish clergy. It is our hope that such will again be the case. Since instituting this trip over 15 years ago, approximately 12 college and seminarian students have entered HC/HC. ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL AND FINE ARTS FESTIVAL The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical and Fine Arts Festival provides a rare and exceptional opportunity for the youth of our Metropolis to witness their faith and become apologists for Christ. The Metropolis of Chicago not only holds the Oratory Division, as does every other Metropolis of the Archdiocese, but also incorporates an Essay Division, Poetry Division, and Iconography Division. Expanding the categories allows for more children to participate in different mediums which showcase their God-given talents. The past two years the Oratorical Festival was held at the Churches of St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church, Aurora, IL and last year the festival was held at the community of Kimissis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Racine, WI. With over 100 participants in Junior and Senior Divisions, both years, the host communities put together an experience to remember. Just the words coming from the speeches leaves an Orthodox Christian overwhelmed at the depth of faith these young people show and believe. This year s festival will also celebrate the 31 st Anniversary of the St. John Chrysostom Festival. The Festival will commence on April 26, 2014, at the St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Des Plaines, IL. Coming this winter, the youth office will be calling a meeting of all the parish Oratorical Festival Chairpersons to discuss the effectiveness of their parish Oratorical Festivals. Topics and Topic Tips can be downloaded from the Archdiocesan Website under Religious Education and St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. P.A.C.T. (PASTORAL ASSISTANTS COMMUNICATING TOGETHER) With more and more of our metropolitan area parishes employing Pastoral Assistants/Youth Directors, all of whom are graduates of our Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological School or the University of Athens, a great opportunity arose to bring them together in monthly meetings to help develop and cultivate a unified voice and vision. The Metropolis Youth Office s goal was, to not only offer advice and direction to these Pastoral Assistants/Youth Directors and their ministries, but also to harness their growing expertise in Youth Ministry. The group has come together to work on creating ministries for our youth that have a greater scope and reach. Meeting monthly, this wonderful working group shares ideas and thoughts on their own parish ministry, identifying what has worked for them and their youth and what hasn t. These talented youth workers also take it one step further and assist in coordinating activities, with the Metropolis Youth Director, that will assist the Metropolis Youth Ministries and enhance their own parish youth ministry. 6

7 ATHELIC MINISTRY OF THE METROPOLIS GREEK ORTHODOX ATHLETIC LEAGUE (G.O.A.L.) Under the auspices of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and the Clergy Syndesmos, the Metropolis Youth Office organizes and administers a basketball league for the parishes in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. This athletic ministry has been in effect for many decades and thousands of youth have passed through it. The season began on the weekend of October 29 & 30, 2011 and ran through the weekend of February 18 & 19, 2012 when the championship games were concluded at the community of St. Demetrios, Elmhurst, IL. The league games are played on Saturday s and Sunday s throughout the season always taking into consideration liturgical services and feast days. All games commence at 2:15 p.m. The season began on the weekend of October 28, 2012 and ran through the weekend of February 23 & 24, 2013 when the championship games were concluded at the parish of SS. Constantine and Helen, Palos Hills, IL. This past year there were 13 parishes participating in the League with 36 youth teams in Biddy, Grade School Division, Girls Division, and High School Boys Division. The League has also conducted a Men s Division where anyone out of High School and older can play for their respective parish. This past year there were 14 teams participating in the Men s Division. The Men play games on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. The league runs in conjunction with the youth divisions and finishes on the same weekend. Along with the League, the G.O.A.L. sponsors the Metropolitan IAKOVOS Thanksgiving Tournament open to all those teams involved in the G.O.A.L. Consideration is being made to open this tournament to all the parishes of the Metropolis family. The season is scheduled to begin at the end of October and run through the weekend of February 22 & 23, This year will be the third year that the G.O.A.L. will have a Biddy Division of 5 th and 6 th graders. The Biddy Division is being incorporated into the G.O.A.L. as an outgrowth of an interest in local parishes, who already hosting their own Biddy Leagues, wanted to expand the scope and awareness to bring in other parishes and teams into the fold. It has been included seamlessly in to the other youth divisions. Comments: Chris Avramopoulos - Commissioner GREATER WESTERN REGION FAMILY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT The Greater Western Region Family Basketball Tournament is a wonderful opportunity for families to gather in Christian fellowship and athletic competition and share in one another s company. The rotating Tournament is a weekend where the whole family can travel together, meet other Orthodox Christian families from parishes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Omaha, Missouri, South Dakota, and Kansas, and enjoy our faith and heritage. The 2012 Western Region Tournament was hosted by the parish of St. George, St. Paul, MN. The 2013 Western Region Tournament was hosted by the parish of St. John the Baptist, Omaha, NE. The tournament is split into 5 divisions. A Boys Division (ages 12-18); A Girl s Division (ages 12-18); a Men s Division (ages 18 and up no limit); a Women s Division (ages 18 and up no limit); and a J.O.Y. Division (ages 7-13). The 2012 tournament had 25 teams total over the five divisions. The 2013 tournament has 26 teams over the 5 divisions. As you can see the addition of the J.O.Y. division was 7

8 welcomed and the hope is that more churches will see its success and enter teams. We have also expanded the area of participation whereby many of the Missouri parishes and western Illinois parishes have been invited to participate this year. The Tournament Director is Mrs. Tina Kouzes Houck and the Spiritual Father of the Tournament is Fr. Demetrios Rick Andrews, from the community of St. George, St. Paul, MN. We look forward to another successful year in Minneapolis, MN under the hospitality of the St. Mary s Greek Orthodox Church where this year s tournament will be held on the weekend of February 7-9, Comments: Mrs. Tina Kouzes Houck or Rev. Fr. Demetrios Rick Andrew, or the Youth Office. JUNIOR OLYMPICS For the past 32 years the youth of the Metropolis of Chicago have been privileged to experience a weekend of Christian athletic fellowship that is quite unique in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. This is the Annual Metropolis of Chicago Junior Olympics held every Memorial Day Weekend. Under the very able guidance of the General Director, Fr. Nicholas Jonas of the community of SS. Constantine & Helen, in Palos Hills, directors Fr. Athanasios DeMedeiros, Mr. James Stavrou, MR. Angelo Fotopoulos and the Metropolis Youth Office, the Junior Olympics have been and will continue to be an event where youth from throughout the Metropolis can gather in Christian Athleticism, renew friendships, and create new friendships. This past year, the Junior Olympics attracted 1800 participants from 37 parishes. This is not to say how many more coaches, advisors, and spectators were in attendance easily bringing that number to well over In 2014, the Junior Olympics will be celebrating its 33 rd Anniversary and we hope that it will be our greatest year yet with more parishes and more youth participating. With this in mind, the need for a resurgence of parish participation is needed, amongst the parishes in the greater Chicago metropolitan area and especially amongst our communities in Wisconsin, Western Illinois, Southern Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. We took a tremendous step forward this past year with the addition of some of those parishes. The Jr. Olympics is one of the largest events of its kind in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. It has brought youth and adults together from all the regions of the Metropolis for decades. It has created a sense of a greater Orthodox family among our large, small, near and far parishes. As someone who grew up in a small parish that was not close to other Orthodox parishes, the Jr. Olympics opened my eyes to a larger Greek Orthodox community, an accepting community that was and is proud of its faith and its heritage. This is the beauty and importance of the Jr. Olympics. For the Metropolis to work as a whole there must be a total commitment of parishes to the ministries of this great Metropolis. It is the hope and need of the Jr. Olympics executive committee that all of the parishes of the Metropolis, no matter how large or small, will be participants in the 31 st annual Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Jr. Olympics Comments: See Rev. Fr. Nicholas Jonas report on this past year s Jr. Ollympics. Track and Field Ages 7 18 List of Sports represented in the Junior Olympics: Team Sports 50 Meter 200 Meter Relay Table Tennis Singles/Doubles Volleyball Girls/Boys 100 Meter 1 Mile Tennis Singles/Doubles Softball Co-Ed 400 Meter & Relay 10 K Softball Throw 7-9 Soccer Co-Ed 800 Meter & Relay Shot Put Chess / Checkers / Tavli Soccer Co-Ed 800 Meter & Relay Long Jump Soccer Co-Ed Soccer Co-Ed Minor B-Ball Co-Ed Major B-Ball Co-Ed 8

9 Swimming 25 Meter Freestyle 25 Meter Backstroke 50 Meter Breaststroke Wrestling 50 Meter Freestyle 50 Meter Backstroke 50 Meter Butterfly Bowling 100 Meter Freestyle 200 Meter Relay.and more 100 Meter Relay 200 Meter Medley Looking Ahead. The Youth and Young Adult Ministries Office will continue to offer the excellent ministries that have been in place for many years and the recently established ministries that provide different avenues for our young people, young adults and families to participate in the life of the Church. New ministries and a return to the basics, for the Young Adults of our Metropolis are crucial in expanding our scope of reaching more young adults. The committee has done a fantastic job so far, however new avenues must always be tried. Focusing on OCF ministry and trying to bring it to more college and university campuses is a must. There must be an opportunity for college students to maintain, enhance, and grow spiritually while in college. With the help of our clergy as well as graduates from the seminary, this focus can become a reality. Metropolis G.O.Y.A. Summit: This meeting will invite G.O.Y.A. Presidents and Vice-Presidents (or Senior Leaders) as well as their advisors/youth workers for an open dialogue on G.O.Y.A. ministry in their parish and in the Metropolis as a whole. The goal will be to foster a discourse on what young people want to see from youth ministry and how they can assist in seeing it come to fruition. Another focus of the summit will be to sit down with the advisors and have a frank discussion on youth ministry and the needs of the local youth worker. Youth Worker Training Seminars: It is vital that those who deal with our youth groups, who provide ministry to our young people, be trained and be given the opportunity to grow in this ministry through workshops and retreats. The Office is available and more than willing to come and has come to parishes to provide assistance in setting up various youth ministries that are specific for the parish. This is a unique and unequivocal method of creating ministry that will benefit a particular parish with its respective needs. Regional Youth Retreats: It is the goal of the office to provide, in conjunction with the local clergy and youth workers, regional or district retreats. Working with P.A.C.T. and a small group of dedicated staff, the foundation of the program is being established and hopefully by winter or spring this avenue of ministry can begin. This will bring together youth from sister parishes who, perhaps feeling isolated and alone in their faith and culture, will see the greater scope of orthodoxy within their own lives and the lives of their brothers and sisters. (Ministry Teams) District Acolyte Retreats: Another goal of the office is to provide an avenue for young men to come together to discuss their service in the Holy of Holies, the Altar of the Holy Orthodox Church. The significance of the position of acolyte cannot me minimized in the good working order of the Church and her liturgical services. District Retreats will be offered, initially in the suburban and city regions of Chicago, with the hope of expanding these retreats to the Metropolis as a whole. The focus will be on Holiness. Workshops will delve into the holiness of the Altar and the unique opportunity and blessing a young man has in assisting the clergy in administering the liturgical services of the Holy Orthodox Church. 9

10 In Conclusion For the Metropolis Youth Ministries to be successful, full participation amongst all the parishes of the Metropolis is needed, no matter how small or large a group. Every parish is invited to take advantage and participate in these ministries and enhance them with their involvement. The only way these ministries of the Metropolis will grow and expand is if the parishes and their youth and young adult ministries team make a commitment to be active in this part of the life of the Church. The Youth Office is always willing to assist a parish in establishing and enhancing their youth ministries. I can be contacted at gochicagoyouth@aol.com or at I encourage all who are passionate about youth ministry and creating and cultivating a love of Christ and His Church in our youth and families, to be active in the Metropolis ministries and to always feel comfortable in contacting the Youth Office for assistance. PRAY FOR OUR YOUTH With the above mentioned ministries, proposed ministries and plea, we ask for your continued prayers and support as our Metropolis seeks to serve the needs and concerns of our youth, young adults, and families. The following passage from Scripture has become the theme for the ministry to our youth: People were bringing little children to Him on order that HE might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16) Respectfully Submitted, Mr. Chris Avramopoulos, Director Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry 10