DOMSE Fall Retreat 2020

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1

Under the leadership of His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS, the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast held its annual fall retreat, virtually, from October 2-4, 2020. With over 500 participants registered, the workshop format covered topics of spiritual growth, chanting, mentorship, book reviews, Orthodox art, and our perennial favorite (and never boring!) Clergy Trivia Game Night. The laity and clergy were able to gather over Zoom to listen to speakers on various topics meant to encourage and foster a sense of community in this unprecedented time of separation. Presenters for this retreat included clergy, laity, and professionals from DOMSE and beyond.

Our theme was explored by sessions with Fr. Stephen DeYoung as he spoke about unity in the church, around the bishop. Fr. Kosta Petrogeorge, a Psychologist spoke on dealing with the Orthodox view of the isolating pain of sexual addiction and how we can be a bridge to recovery. Our own director of Education, Anna-Sarah Farha, led our church school teachers in a workshop that helped them prepare for the upcoming season of Advent while Anne Marie McCollum, who is a leader with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, shared more about this amazing program with teachers from our parishes.

Several of our talented young adults led a chanting workshop which is a favorite of our SOYO members. Fr. Nathaniel Trembley and his wife Kh. Sarah led workshops on topics dealing with Cultivating Resilience when the world is falling apart.

We were blessed to have workshops led by such amazing speakers as Fr. Herman Lasseter of Hiram, GA, Fr. John Oliver of Murfreesboro, TN, and Fr. David Winn of Raleigh, NC. DOMSE is extremely blessed to have such a rich environment of speakers to draw from. DOMSE has been blessed this year with several new priests and their families moving to the diocese to serve in parishes. We were able to virtually meet and welcome these new faces over Zoom and enjoy their input in our workshops.

The retreat was kicked off by an address by His Grace, Sayidna NICHOLAS on Friday afternoon, calling all parishioners of all ages to fellowship and spiritual renewal. Each day the education department of DOMSE offered a virtual Kids Club which was a huge hit with our younger parishioners.

Each participant was encouraged to worship with their own parish on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, in person or online, and then we gathered virtually in the afternoon to close the retreat with encouraging words from our beloved bishop.
We have missed being able to be together in community over the last few months but it is always encouraging to see smiling faces on the screen and to know that, even though we are not together in person, we are one body in Christ and that we truly dwell together in unity.

Antiochian.org Web Article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/814

In light of the 2020 Parish Life Conference cancellations this summer, the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast (DOMSE) undertook to virtually keep parishes and parishioners spiritually and socially connected. Under the love and guidance of His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS, the DOMSE Virtual Life Conference (VLC) was established. Through the efforts of His Grace and the Executive Board, a very successful VLC began on Monday, June 8 and concluded on Saturday, June 13, 2020 with Divine Liturgy via Zoom. His Grace was in attendance at each virtual gathering and all organizational meetings and prayer groups were well attended each day!

The VLC theme was “There is no fear in Love but perfect Love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18. This was truly a beautiful and appropriate theme in light of the current pandemic. The guest speakers centered their presentations around this theme and brought various points of view to the forum, engaging in thoughtful conversations with participants via Zoom.

Bishop NICHOLAS officially opened the VLC after his weekly Live Streaming address on Sunday, June 7, 2020 and on Monday morning, a full schedule of events were put into motion. Each day began with a very successful Kids Club organized by Mrs. Anna-Sarah Farha, Diocese Christian Education Coordinator. Young and old alike enjoyed the online books, videos, stories and activities planned each morning. Each evening was dedicated to a different organization and began with a guest speaker followed by a business meeting.

Monday evening Teen SOYO welcomed speaker Rev. Fr. Joseph Abouid who spoke about the VLC theme. The video of Fr. Joseph can be viewed on the DOMSE YouTube channel. President Asa Keim and Spiritual Advisor V. Rev. Fr. Philip Rogers, planned a thoughtful spiritual evening conducting business and Teen SOYO Elections. Many thanks to Asa Keim for his love and dedicated service to SOYO as outgoing President and congratulations to incoming President Gabi Bleam.

Tuesday evening the Young Adult Fellowship welcomed Protodeacon David Keim who spoke about Orthodoxy in the workplace followed by a beautiful engaging question and answer session. The video of Protodeacon David can be viewed on the DOMSE YouTube channel at youtube.com/domsevideos. The Very Rev. Fr. David Bleam led the Young Adults in the Akathist for Saint Raphael. Chairlady Sueanna Keim Alter spent many fruitful hours organizing this beautiful event for the Young Adults.

Wednesday, The Antiochian Men began the day with “Books, Breakfast and Brotherhood.” Antiochian Men President Michael Baclig’s careful attentiveness to detail led to a very well attended evening beginning with guest speaker The Very Rev. Fr. Alexis Kouri, who spoke about the VLC theme, followed by the Antiochian Men business meeting. The video of Fr. Alexis can be viewed on the DOMSE Video page.

Thursday morning welcomed the Antiochian Women to “Books and Breakfast.” Later that evening the Antiochian Women welcomed speaker Kh. Lara Oliver. Her understandings on family and service were insightful to all in attendance. The video of Kh. Lara can be viewed on the DOMSE YouTube channel at youtube.com/domsevideos.? Antiochian Woman President Sh. Shell Keim’s never-ending energies in organizing this event was evident with 97 in attendance.?

Mrs. Anne Castrodale, Diocese Oratorical Coordinator, worked alongside the technical team to make possible the V-Oratorical Contest. Working hand-in-hand with Kh. Nora Bleam of Pensacola, Sh. Shell Keim, put together an entertaining Virtual Talent Show. Amazing and creative people were working behind the scenes! The Talent Show video is not public due to the fact that it includes children, their names, and their parishes.

All events were made accessible via Zoom and/or YouTube through the tireless efforts of Michael Baclig, Elias AbuGhazaleh and Bryce Kirk. Through various social media outlets, including email, the VLC marketing campaign was highly successful. A total of 629 individuals registered for the VLC.

Celebration of the Divine Liturgy was the culmination of the Virtual Parish Life Conference on Saturday morning, June 13, 2020 hosted via Zoom by The Very Rev. Fr. John Oliver at Saint Elizabeth Orthodox Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

DOMSE was fortunate to have talented technical and organizational people on the Executive Board: The Very Rev. Fr. Philip Rogers, Teen SOYO Advisor and Host Pastor of the 2021 PLC in Memphis, Tennessee; Elias AbuGhazaleh, DOMSE Treasurer; Noura Soufia, DOMSE Secretary; Sh. Shell Keim, Antiochian Women President; Michael Baclig, Antiochian Men President; Sueanna Keim Alter, YAF President; Asa Keim, Teen SOYO President, Anne Castrodale, Oratorical Coordinator; Anna-Sarah Farha, Christian Education Coordinator; Bryce Kirk, AMEN Social Media Director and Andrea M. Abu-Akel, DOMSE Parish Life Conference Coordinator.

While the Virtual Parish Life Conference was successful, it is with fervent prayers and hope that next year we will all be attending NON-Virtual Parish Life Conferences!

Antiochian.org Website Article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/700