JOHNSTOWN, PA - The weekend of December 13-15, 2002 was an especially memorable one for a large number of our diocesan deacons, sub-deacons and readers. This year, 23 men gathered for the annual deacons, sub-deacons and readers retreat which was hosted by Christ the Saviour Seminary. Recognizing the continual need for vocations to holy orders, several years ago His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, initiated this annual retreat in conjunction with the Diocesan Readers and Deacons Formation Program. Over the years, many vocations to the deaconate and the Holy Priesthood have been fostered through the paternal care and interest of His Eminence. As always, the retreat participants were humbled by the genuine concern and interest of Metropolitan Nicholas who made the spiritually uplifting weekend possible.

CLYMER, PA - The Very Rev. Robert Salley, longtime pastor of St. Michael's Church, reposed in the Lord at the age of 64. His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated the Funeral Service on Monday December 30. Fr. Robert was born on Jaunary 12, 1938 in Bridgeport, CT. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on May 24, 1964 by the late Metropolitan Orestes at St. Micheal's Church in McKeesport, PA. Fr. Robert is survived by his wife, Pani Magdaline (Laichak) Salley, whom he married in 1964, as well as four children, Mark Stephen, Jason and Jennifer.

At this special time of the Christian year, we thrill to hear the story of the birth of Christ. St. Luke's account of the Angel's announcement of this good news to the shepherds closes with these words:" And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men of good will" (Luke 2:14) This 'peace' was not a dream of the angels. It was a real message from God to man. It was the embodiment of a divine and providential plan for human life.

DANBURY, CT - The New England Deanery held its first annual Advent Retreat for High School students from Friday, November 22 to Saturday, November 23. Building on the firm foundation of the many friendships that have developed between the young adults of the New England Deanery from their common experience of Camp Nazareth, Fr. Luke Mihaly and Fr. Peter Paproski held a retreat to further cement the spiritual friendships of the New England Deanery youth. The retreat was held at St. Cuthbert's Retreat House in Brewster, New York.

DANBURY, CT - The New England Deanery held its first annual Advent Retreat for High School students from Friday, November 22 to Saturday, November 23. Building on the firm foundation of the many friendships that have developed between the young adults of the New England Deanery from their common experience of Camp Nazareth, Fr. Luke Mihaly and Fr. Peter Paproski held a retreat to further cement the spiritual friendships of the New England Deanery youth. The retreat was held at St. Cuthbert's Retreat House in Brewster, New York.

JACOBS CREEK, PA - Members of all parishes and all clergy are invited to join the parish family of St. Nicholas in Jacobs Creek, PA to celebrate the restoration of their church after a fire in January 2001. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas and pastor Rev. Father Daniel Montville have announced the following information for Saturday, May 10, 2003: Services begin at the church at 10 AM and include blessing of the church interior and icons and a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Immediately following, approximately 12:30 to 1 PM, a brunch will be served at the Holiday Inn in Belle Vernon, located on PA Route 51.

Truly, what is so good or what is so joyous as the unity that springs from the bond of love? For it is love that poured forth from the Tomb -a love that cannot be conquered by sin, by fear , or even by death. And that love -the love of the Risen Christ -abides forever. It remains with us through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which began on the Holy Day of Pentecost, and continues until the present through the Mysteries of the Church.

Truly, He is not there! He is risen from the dead, just as He foretold! Such were the words of the angelic herald to the Myrrh-bearing Women, as they came at the first light of dawn to the Tomb of the Sun of Righteousness. But they did not find Him. He was not there! He is risen from the dead, having trampled down death by death! He is not here! He is risen from the dead, granting everlasting life to those in the tombs!

Before one can take rest, one must first labor. Before the reward comes the sacrifice; before the feast, the fast. My beloved faithful: the Holy and great Fast draws near to us, and it is time for us to draw near to it. It is a season that the world cannot accept, because the world sees only the visible need and not the invisible promise. The world looks at our fasting, our intensified prayer life, our self-restraint, and says: "Why this waste?".

We must realize that without fasting, there is no Lent! To that end, the Fathers of the Church established in ancient times through their collective experience the guidelines for Lenten Fasting. Essentially, the rule of the Church for Lent is to "Strict Fast" -abstaining from meat and dairy products from the First Monday of Lent until Pascha. This time includes both Saturdays and Sundays, which in the Orthodox reckoning are considered apart of Lent, unlike the reckoning of the Western Churches. To those who are able, we wholeheartedly recommend that they partake of this practice as much as they are able.

FREELAND, PA - The Very Rev Protopresbyter Lawrence Barriger, Dean has announced the following Mission Services for the Pocono Deanery for the 2002 Lenten Season.

We greet you in the strength and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we begin the Lenten Season, knowing that He will guide you in prayer, fasting, and worship unto Pascha, the great and glorious celebration of salvation and life. In the Gospel of Matthew we read that as Christ traveled through the cities and villages teaching, preaching, and healing, “He saw the crowds, and He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:35-36). He saw the genuine physical and spiritual needs of people who were burdened and struggling in the midst of an altered world. He saw human beings, created in the image of God, who needed love, peace, and truth from above. He saw persons who needed acceptance, assurance, and guidance.

NEW YORK, NY - Every day tens of thousands of people pass through the magnificent Grand Central Station at 42nd Street and Park Ave in New York City- just as tens of thousands of people worked in or visited the World Trade Center every day until September 11, 2001. Today the World Trade Center is no more than a gaping hole in the ground that is now being made deeper and larger by the heavy machinery and huge trucks that continuously dig and remove over a million tons of ruble. The tragedy of the attack on the World Trade Center is now remembered very poignantly by an exhibit at Grand Central Station called "Faces at Ground Zero - A Tribute to America's Heroes" by Joe McNally-prominent Life Magazine photographer .It is presented by Time and sponsored by Morgan Stanley Inc. A few weeks ago, I was among the many people travelling through the station that took notice of this exhibit.

Christ is born indeed, but many, many children are not. Since the disastrous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling in 1973, literally millions of children are simply not born. Tuesday, January 22nd, will be the 29th anniversary of that tragic ruling. And as is our sad custom, I invite you to walk with me in Washington, D.C. on that day. There we will join thousands and thousands of other concerned participants in the National Right to Life March.