The Chancery has been notified that + EVA JOSEPH, mother of the Very Rev. Tony Joseph, passed to eternity at noon today. At the request of the deceased, there is no funeral home visitation.

Information pertaining to the 21st Diocesan Council/Sobor, which will be held July 12-15, 2009, has been sent out to all Diocesan parishes recently. This event will be hosted by the parishes of the New Jersey Deanery.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas has announced today, that plans are underway for the Annual Altarboy's Retreat which will take place from June 28-July 1, 2009 at Christ the Saviour Seminary and Cathedral. The Very Rev. David Cochran has been appointed director of this year's retreat.

Very Rev. Protopresbyter Stephen Dutko, Pastor Emeritus of St. Michael's Church, Binghamton, NY, peacefully Reposed in the Lord early this morning. Father Stephen was the eldest and still functioning Orthodox priest of the diocese, having marked his 92nd birthday on January 3.

Seminarians Joseph Gingrich, Gregory Robel and Marc Wisnosky were ordained to the sub-deaconate by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas at Christ the Saviour Cathedral, on Bright Monday, April 20, 2009.

This is the Morning after the long night and the long journey. For the past forty days and Holy Week, we have journeyed after Jesus in fasting, in confession, in the Liturgies of St. Basil and the Pre-Sanctified Gifts. We have prayed longer prayers and we have sought forgiveness. We have listened to the sweet Gospel words of our Saviour, and faithful songs of the Theotokos at the Cross.

As we began our journey into the Triodion a few weeks ago, we were reminded once again of the lessons that several parables had to teach us, especially the two parables of the Publican and the Pharisee and the Prodigal Son; these messages are repeated in the hymns of the Church during the third and the fourth weeks of the Great Fast.

With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, a Pilgrimage has been arranged for the Youth of the Chicago Deanery on Saturday May 9, 2009 to St. John Chrysostomos Women's Monastery in Kenosia, WI

NESQUEHONING, PA - The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Michael Sopoliga fell Asleep in the Lord on Friday January 23, 2009. Father Michael was the pastor Emeritus of St. John The Baptist Orthodox Church, Nesquehoning, PA.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The official website of the American Carpatho Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A. (www.acrod.org) will be undergoing a complete redesign during the coming months. The new website will communicate news and information more quickly and efficiently with diocesan clergy and faithful and the outside world through multiple digital mediums. It will also assist the various ministries and the apostolates of the diocese to provide needed resources.

STRATFORD, CT - The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Stephen Shutack fell asleep in the Lord on Friday June 6, 2008. Father Stephen, pastor Emeritus of St. John The Baptist Orthodox Church, Stratford, CT (Silver Lane), along with Pani Helen lived in retirement Bridgeport, CT.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The National Junior ACRY has announced plans for a special Lenten Youth Project to benefit our Diocesan St. John the Compassionate Mission in Toronto Ontario. While sponsored by the JR. ACRY all diocesan youth are encouraged to participate. The following is the text of a letter from Very Rev. Miles Zdinak, National Jr. ACRY Spiritual Advisor, which is being sent to all JR.ACRY chapters and all diocesan parishes regarding the project.

http://www.acrod.org/assets/docs/Misc/frdolhyobituary.pdf

http://www.acrod.org/assets/docs/Events PDFS/NewsReleaseforYouthSojourn.pdf

JOHNSTOWN, PA - A newly updated Diocesan Parish Travel Directory is now available for purchase. Cost of the Directory is $5 per copy (includes postage and handling).

On February 13, 2009 the Very Rev. Fr. Peter Paproski was interviewed on the SCOBA endorsed Come Receive the Light Radio Program. Fr. Peter spoke on the topic Daniel and the Three Holy Youths - A Model for Today's Youth.

NEW YORK, NY [SCOBA] -- His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gave an audience Tuesday, Oct. 27, to the Orthodox Primates of the USA

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The newly released academic catalog for Christ the Saviour Seminary is now available on-line.

So now that Thanksgiving has passed and we come to the end of the traditional “eating weekend”, it does us good to meditate on why we are thankful. Let’s not make this a difficult academic exercise. Here is how basic, simple and easy it is. look in the Old Testament Book of Psalms. In the very first verse of psalm 107, this is what we believers are reminded to do: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!”

Forming a Pilgrimage is both simple and rewarding. Each time we visit a Church or Monastery we open up the opportunity to experience growth and the strengthening of our Orthodox Faith. During visits to monasteries, it is not uncommon for relics of saints to be brought out for veneration or to have the opportunity to meet fellow pilgrims.