Another Look at Repentance - Melkite Eparchy of Newton

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News from Around the EparchyNot Only Our FutureBut Also Our PresentArchimandrite John AzarFor so long, we have heardexpressions related to the youththat express the thought that theyare the future. It seems as if we arelimiting their presence, their talents,their involvement until theymature...in the future.The reality, I feel, is that they aremore so our present...the time inwhich we live. All of us need toencourage, to welcome, to include, toprovide places for them. Parents, asfirst teachers, need to do more to motivatetheir young to initially be close totheir church. The adults are the parents, not the children. Thelatter should not be making decisions to leave the church atyoung ages. Children need continual guidance, direction,focus and a strong but gentle attachment to their parish. Theyoung need to view their parents as lovingly, closely anddeeply committed to the parish, not only on Sundays, butthroughout the various aspects of parish life and involvement.The youth need to hear their parents say good thingsabout the parish church.The parish, through its clergy and lay leaders, should bewelcoming the innocence, vitality, creativity and youthfulspirit of the younger generations. Whether they have theinclination, patience and understanding for working withyouth or not, the parish priests should attempt to always tryand foster a welcoming, healthy and inviting relationshipwith the youth. The priests should make it a point that theyspeak with the youth at every chance that they can. Theyouth need to see the spiritual father of the community asone who is approachable.Lay leaders in the parish community also need to step inand, together with the clergy, find avenues and possibilitiesfor the youth to feel at home and welcome in the parishes.Doing everything that one can to keep the youth close andinviting them to become involved in various aspects of parishlife should be on everyone’s agenda. Their feelings of comfortin their parish will be the welcome mat for them to continuefrom a young age to remain and move with and for the parish.We cannot wait until they “grow up” to find a place forthem. Places for them should be found now before it’s toolate and they look for other avenues from other sources thatare more welcoming and less limited. Christ has alreadyopened the Kingdom to the little ones, welcoming them tocome close to Him, and has warned us that unless webecome like them, we will not enter heaven. Let us not closethe doors that He Himself has opened. †Archimandrite John Azar is pastor of St. John Chrysostom Melkite Church inAtlanta, GA, and serves as Vocations Director for the Eparchy of Newton.30 SOPHIA • Summer 2012
On April 21, 2012, at St. John of the Desert, the 4thChildren’s Retreat took place and it was a frontrunner!Under the direction of Jocelyn Abyad, who did anoutstanding job, for several weeks if not months, preparing forit, this retreat turned out to be the crown of retreats and themost-attended children’s event since 2006.The retreat was attended by about forty children. Besideslearning about our Saints, Tradition and Spirituality they hada great time. The theme was “Calling on our Saints.”There were three stations the children had to attendthroughout the day where they learned about a specific Saint’slife, then they had a craft to do which related to that specificsaint. They painted crosses in one station, planted a specialherb in another, made their own icon and put together a puppetof St. George slaying the dragon. That was a lot of fun!After the final prayer in church they all gathered in the backparking lot where they had a carnival, once again centered onthe saints. All booths and games were relating to specific saints.Many volunteers and parents, from setting up to cleaning up,preparing lunch, making snacks, and everything else in between,dedicated their time to this great event. It was a great day! †Children’s RetreatSt. John of the Desert – Phoenix, AZNews from Around the EparchyArticle and Photos submitted by Kh. Simone BoutrosOn February28, 2012, Br.Neven IvanPeša took his firstProfession of vows atSt. Basil’s SeminaryChapel for theBasilian SalvatorianOrder located inMethuen, MA. It wasa crisp, cool, sunnyNew England day – a fitting day forsuch a glorious occasion.After completing a novitiate yearunder the direction and guidance ofNovice Master, Fr. Clement Yousef, Br.Neven was accepted by the SalvatorianCommunity to profess his first vows ashe continues to prepare to answer theLord’s call to serve in the Church as apriest. He professed his vows before Rt.Rev. Exarch Gabriel Ghanoum, RegionalSuperior of the Basilian SalvatorianOrder and representative of their FatherGeneral, John Faraj.Br. Neven's profession was attendedby three bishops, Sayidna NicholasSamra, Bishop of the Eparchy, SayidnaIbrahim Ibrahim, Eparchial Bishop ofBrother Neven Pe˘saMakes First Profession of VowsCanada, and Sayidna John Elya, BishopEmeritus of Newton, as well as by Fr.Philip Raczka, Rector of AnnunciationCathedral in West Roxbury.Br. Neven shared, “it was such aspecial a day. It meant so much to meto reach this milestone and to have myparents present to see me take myvows. They watched me grow in myvocation for the past several yearsstarting from my college days when Ifirst responded to my vocational call.”Br. Neven’s Local Superior, Fr. MartinHyatt, added, “the ceremony was movingand joyous. It was a fitting ending andnew beginning for Neven Ivan as he continueson the path toward priesthood. Wesee great potential in this young man.”When asked about the attendance ofnot one, but three Melkite Bishops at theceremony, Neven gratefully responded,“It was such a great honor. Never wouldI have expected such a privilege as tohave three hierarchs present for my firstprofession. Their presence was a tripleblessing for us all.”Neven’s mother, Božica, who hasbeen struggling with cancer, found away to make the four-hour drive fromNew York City in order to witness herson's first religious Profession. “Nomother could be prouder,” she said.Neven added, “Yes, my mom is a fighter.She may be sick, but she is strong.She always had faith in God and hasbeen a heroic role model for me.”Neven Ivan’s parents both hail fromCroatia and he asks for prayer for hismother’s health.When asked about his religiousname, Br. Neven Ivan explained, “it’s aSlavic version of the name John,specifically, after the Beloved Disciplewho has always been important to me.”Bishop Nicholas gave a beautifulhomily in which he spoke on the originsand richness of monastic life andhow monastic vows are a renewal ofbaptismal vows. He elaborated thatmonastic life began as a lay movementin the church which, over time, andover the centuries, developed analmost clerical character.After receiving the kiss of peace fromhis Salvatorian brothers and his family,Neven was joined by his religiousCommunity and family and friends fordinner in the community refectory. †Summer 2012 • SOPHIA 31
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Another Look at Repentance - Melkite Eparchy of Newton

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