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!
Real Break Inserts Available
Camera-ready bulletin inserts regarding the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Real Break Program are available for download here.
The Real Break program provides alternatives to the “traditional ” Spring Break for college students. It exists to provide students with the most authentic experience possible, and is modeled as a full Christian lifestyle, which includes fellowship, prayer within community, witness and service. Now is the time for college students across the US and Canada to sign up for Real Break, as the first program begins February 25 and subsequent service weeks are available through March 24.
Real Break Registration Opens
Brookline, Mass. - Dec. 21, 2011
Registration for Orthodox Christian Fellowship's (OCF) 2012 Real Break trips opens today HERE!
Entering its 11th year, OCF's Real Break continues to offer transformative, priest-led trips, both domestically and internationally. This year, trips have been organized throughout the months of February and March 2012 to the following locations: Constantinople, Romania, Guatemala, Toronto, Project Mexico, and Houston.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of college students in North America travel during their spring break for, oftentimes, empty experiences. OCF offers annual Real Break trips as spring break alternatives that provide life-changing and spiritually edifying opportunities to do "something real."
"Caring for orphaned infants in Guatemala, building homes for the homeless in Mexico and the hurricane devastated Gulf Coast, and restoring Churches in the Holy City of Constantinople -- it doesn't get more real than this. Students are provided an opportunity to encounter Christ and His love through serving those in need," said John Mahfouz, OCF Director of North American Programs.
Since its inception in 2001, more than 1,000 college students have taken advantage of the opportunity to spend their week long break serving others and growing in their Orthodox Christian faith.
For more details regarding OCF Real Break 2012, a fundraising guide, and to register, please visit Real Break's web page.
OCF Board of Directors Holds Fall Meetings
Brookline, MA - December 11, 2011
The Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Board of Directors held its fall meeting Dec. 1-2 at the new North American Office, headquartered at Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts.
A major focus of the meeting was a proposed restructuring of the chaplain and student leadership structure of OCF. OCF's North American Chaplain, Fr. Michael Nasser explained,
"Recognizing a need for enhanced communication and support between the local chapters of OCF and the North American Office, we are developing a new tiered structure that will facilitate a more effective ministry to college students. The new vision utilizes students, clergy chaplains, lay coordinators, and college faculty on district and regional levels to implement OCF resources and programs, which in turn will strengthen the efforts of the local chapters."
IOCC Internship Program Offers Opportunities to Students
Since 1998, IOCC has offered an internship program to undergraduates and recent college graduates interested in careers in international relief and development. In 2012 we are investigating the possibility of also placing a student or graduate from an advanced degree program. The IOCC Internship Program provides a unique opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to the operations of an Orthodox Christian international humanitarian aid and development organization.
IOCC internships typically require a 10 to 12 week full-time commitment during the months of May – September. There is also a possibility of a longer placement for a graduate from an advanced degree program. IOCC anticipates offering internship opportunities in, but not limited to, the following offices:
Jerusalem/West Bank
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
United States (Baltimore HQ and/or Minneapolis field office)
A detailed plan for each intern will be developed based on the educational objectives of the intern and the needs of each field office prior to placement. However, the typical responsibilities of an intern will include: participating in field visits to project beneficiaries; working with IOCC staff to continually enhance the effectiveness, impact and implementation progress of ongoing projects; assisting in the production of project reports, success stories and other written communications; and conducting research on various projects and new initiatives.
Scholarships Are Still Available for 2011 College Conference
Scholarships are still available for the 2011 College Conferences. Interested students are urged to apply during the on-line registration process at events.ocf.net. Please note that the deadline for the early-bird discount rate is Dec 15, 2011. The conferences will be held during Christmas Break in the following three locations. Each will center on Orthodox Christian Fellowship's (OCF) theme - "Raise Me Above This World's Confusion."
College Conference West
St. Nicholas Ranch - Dunlap, Calif.
December 27-30, 2011
Earlybird rate until Dec. 15: $215 - Regular: $240
Keynote speaker - Fr. Josiah Trenham, Pastor of St. Andrew Orthodox Church, Riverside, Calif.
College Conference East
Antiochian Village - Bolivar, Pa.
December 28-31, 2011
Earlybird rate until Dec. 15: $240 - Regular: $265
Keynote speaker - His Grace Bishop Michael Dahulich, Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York & New Jersey in the Orthodox Church in America
College Conference South
Diakonia Center - Salem, S.C.
December 28-31, 2011
Earlybird rate until Dec. 15: $210 - Regular: $235
Keynote speaker - Fr. Michael Nasser, Pastor of Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission in Bowling Green, Ky.
