THE EOCA OF MAHONING VALLEY
- WHAT WE DO -2011- 2012
#1 Witness to our Valley: The Youngstown Vindicator’s religious page informs people of our religious customs and traditions. We will once again place Paschal billboards this year, showing the “Greater Valley” our joy in the Risen Christ. We also do the ETC Orthodox Programming on CABLE-TV Thursdays evenings from 8:30-9:30 Pm.
#2 Our Web Site: Check us out at www.orthodoxyoungstown.org This is how we inform those who want to know what is current in the valley.
#3 Prison Ministry: We visit & have given books on Orthodoxy to the prison libraries, & Icon Cards, Bibles and Prayer Books, to those in prison.
#4 We try to solve problems: If a Priest is “out of town” or is unable to attend to a sick call or a religious service due to illness, or vacation,( with his Blessing) , we may be able to find an Orthodox Priest who can help out by networking other Orthodox Clergy.
#5 Ecumenical witnesses: Some of us are members of The Society of St. John Chrysostom, Warren-Youngstown Chapter. We act as a witness to our faith. We post their events and when asked to speak to them about Orthodoxy, we do.
#6 OCMC: We have donated $1200.00 in 2011 by placing coin canisters throughout our Valley. We support other Episcopal Assembly projects as well. Seminarians from our valley receive a paschal gift and graduates seminarians get a larger gift as well.
#7 Charities: We give annually to both the Salvation Army and the Rescue Mission. When a local parish priest asks for help for a member of his parish, we have been able to contribute, in confidence, to the extremely needy.
#8 EOMS & EOWS: They have helped us through the years. They encourage us to promote Orthodoxy in our culture, our faith, and our educational programs. We have a clergyman at all their events. Thank You.
#9 St. Basil Workers: We aid and support this organization in their works of charity to the sick and shut inns in our valley. We have a clergyman at their meetings and events. We happily give $150.00 each “XMAS” & “Easter”.
#10 Holy Trinity Orthodox Christian Academy and Preschool. We promote and support activities to raise awareness and funds for the education of our very young. We have committed $500.00/year-every year from our treasury. We have also raised another $2000.00 + per year, for the school.
#11 Youth Ministry: Sts Peter & Paul UOC host a LOCK-IN for teenagers. We hope that these activities keep the faith relevant to our young people. Teens are not self starters so clergy need to be the starter if this is going to really take off. We also have a youth page on our web site.
#12 OCF at YSU:
NO INFORMATION AT THIS TIME
#13 We serve you: If you want an Orthodox cemetery, the Ukrainian Church on Belle Vista has an excellent facility for all Orthodox Church members. If you’re interested, check into it. www.peterpauluoc.org
#14 We Pray Together: The Faithful of Our Valley come together for the Sunday of Orthodoxy Service. This past year we have handed out Icon Card bookmarkers as a way of saying THANK YOU. We also have The Blessing of the waters at Mill Creek Park, January 6th and Sunday Vespers during Great Lent at area Churches in the Valley.
There is so little we can do alone without the prayers and support of the faithful we serve. We have for many years, asked for money to aid us in our Christian Mission. We, the EOCA of Mahoning Valley, want to thank you for your past support. We were able to do more good deeds for our valley churches these past few years.
Now that the U.S. Economy and Wall Street had shaken-up the whole world, we still stand tall in our faith in Jesus Christ and His Holy Church. This is not the time to give up on our Faith, Hope, and Love for all the things of God. If we work together, as a Christian family in this Valley, Greater things could come to pass in the years to come.
