Hats Off to Our Penn State OCF, Again!
Last month, you heard about our Orthodox Christian Fellowship sponsoring its first ever dance team at THON. In March, our chapter returned to the Jersey Shore where they had helped clean up after Hurricane Sandy last year. This time, they worked with a team from Covenant House, a nationally renowned organ-ization that helps the homeless, the runaway, and victims of sex trafficking. Our students spent the last Saturday in March sorting thousands of donated can-ned goods, household items, and pieces of clothing in preparation for the shelter’s busy tourist season.
Also From Father’s Desk…
A Joyful Visit. During the second week of Lent, Fr. Alexey Petrides (PSU Civil Eng.’09), his wife, Pres. Stephanie, and their two children, Niko and Christopher surprised Dn. Alex and me, stopping by for lunch en route to a clergy family conference at Antiochian Village. His parents, Fr. Theodore and Pres. Cristen were with them. Fr. Alexey serves as assistant priest at St. Nicholas Church (GOA) in Bethlehem, PA. What a joy-filled family and what an unexpected joy for me!
The Chapel of the Holy Spirit continues to make significant progress, one sign being its hosting of Deanery (Mission) Vespers on March 30 at the Beaver Springs Fire Hall. More than 60 people attended the service and the lenten supper that followed. In April, the Archdiocesan Council is scheduled to approve the Chapel’s request for financing its building project.
Speaking of financing the Chapel: The Parish Council has called for a special parish assembly to authorize the Chapel’s indebtedness. The meeting is scheduled to take place Sunday, May 4 following liturgy. A super-quorum of two-thirds majority of the parish is required; voting on the measure will take place in both State College and Beavertown. Details will be forthcoming.
Sunday School kids, staff and parents prepared another Soup-er Sunday to raise $802 for Bridge of Hope. Bridge of Hope is a ministry partner with Holy Trinity, providing guidance and support for single mothers. In related news, our first mom was “matched” with the mentor team from our parish on March 16. Maria Stevens is the ministry coordinator. Contact her as to how you can help.
Vacation Bible School. Get the kids ready for VBS. It will take place the week of June 16-20 in the evening. Dinner will be served each night. Look for more information in next month’s issue of The Trisagion.
