College Ministry

Welcome to the Department of College Ministry! College Ministry keeps young Antiochian Orthodox students close to the life of the Church after they leave their home parish to attend college. In support of pan-Orthodoxy, much departmental energy is channeled into the more overarching Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)—a campus group for Orthodox college students from all jurisdictions. Nevertheless, the College Ministry believes in staying personally connected to students who come from Antiochian Orthodox parishes. It is therefore crucial for our ministry for each parish to kindly send us the contact information for all of their young parishioners who enroll in college each year. Only by keeping our database complete and up-to-date can College Ministry effectively promote OCF events and keep in touch with students through care packages and e-newsletters.

College Student Database

The Antiochian Archdiocese Department of College Ministry in cooperation with the Department of Internet Ministry is pleased to announce that we now have an easy access online form to submit contact information for college students. The Department of College Ministry is charged with the ministry of keeping students connected to the Church. This is done in several different ways: a monthly e-newsletter entitled Word-Up, periodic emails from our diocesan student representatives regarding upcoming events for college students in the diocese, and a small gift from the NASB and the Fellowship of St John the Divine in December, among other things. We welcome students, parents, parish priests, youth directors, Teen SOYO advisors, Sunday School superintendents, godparents, etc to submit the contact information of Antiochian Orthodox college students by clicking here!

 

"Not the Typical Spring Break:" OCF's 2012 Real Break Report

The Orthodox Christian Fellowship's (OCF) Real Break program provides an alternative spring break for Orthodox college students across North America. This year, more than 50 students from 36 universities participated in the six service projects around the world in locations such as Constantinople, Mexico, Guatemala, Romania and Texas. This following OCF report summarizes the impact of Real Break, 2012.

As the week was coming to an end and all sat in the dining hall eating the typical meal of beans and tortillas, University of Illinois freshman, Anthony Jonas, notices Brayan with a sad face and not touching his food. Jesus Brayan is one of the 31 young boys living at the St. Innocent Orphanage in Rosarito, Mexico. Anthony says to him,

“¿Qué paso Brayan?” (What’s wrong Brayan?)

OCF Opens Search for North American Chaplain

Brookline, MA – May 2, 2012

The Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) announced today that applications are being received for the position of North American Chaplain. The position is being increased to half-time, and will be held by an Orthodox clergyman who will also have the ability to continue to serve a parish or other ministry.

Fr. Michael Nasser, OCF’s current North American Chaplain, shared his thoughts on this development: “With OCF’s new leadership and with a fast-growing awareness among parents and clergy of how vital this ministry to our students really is, I couldn’t be happier that the next North American Chaplain will have more time to be dedicated to this great work.”

OCF is currently restructuring to better guide and support the hundreds of OCF chapters spread out across North America. The new North American Chaplain will work across all Orthodox jurisdictions, providing resources and assistance to the chaplains who work directly with the students on campus.

Eastern Dioceses College Scholarship Application Due June 1st

The Eastern Dioceses 2012 College Scholarship Application is now available for download. This scholarship application is intended only for parishioners from churches that are within the Eastern Dioceses. If you wish to participate in the application process, please complete the application and be sure to include all required materials. All information must be accurately completed and returned by June 1, 2012.

Download scholarship application.

Spotlight on Student Scholarships: Deadlines are Approaching!

With the 2012-2013 academic year not far off, deadlines are approaching for scholarships for Antiochian students.

The following is a list of scholarships and deadlines:

2012 Harry & Florence Kouri Scholarship for a DOWAMA Graduating High School Senior: May 1

2012 Bill Cohlmia & Joan Cohlmia-Razook Memorial Scholarship for the Continuing Education of DOWAMA Clergy: May 1

Francis Maria Scholarship: May 15

Antiochian Women's Scholarship: June 1

Fellowship of St. John Eastern Dioceses Scholarship: June 1

Fellowship of St. John Diocese of Toledo Scholarship: June 1

OCF Encourages Students to Celebrate a "Real St. Patrick's Day"

This year for St. Patrick's Day, instead of drowning your sorrows in green beer and gorging yourself with cookies shaped like four-leafed clovers, learn a lesson from a three-leafed clover and take a step on the right direction!

Real Saint Patrick’s Day is a program of Orthodox Christian Fellowship aimed at bringing the focus of St. Patrick’s day back to St. Patrick and away from the traditional excessive partying that typically takes place. St. Patrick was a slave in Ireland who escaped and later returned as a bishop to teach the people of Ireland about the true faith. Chapters should do all that they can to use St. Patrick as an example to learn, teach, and serve others. Below are some approaches your chapter can take, based on the life of the Saint, to dedicate the day to prayer, serving and learning. These suggested activities would encourage your OCF and possibly those on your campus to spend the day in more appropriate pursuits given the celebration of a Saint’s feast and being in the midst of Great Lent.


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College Ministry News Archive