Order of St. Ignatius News

On October 23, 2011, His Grace Bishop Joseph inducted Fadwa Samara into the Order of St. Ignatius. Ms. Samara was sponsored by Najat Nicola.

Photo by Judy BraunAt the Order of St. Ignatius Banquet during the summer convention, outgoing Chair Dan Abraham addressed Order members, reflecting upon his four years of leadership and service. He challenged his listeners to give out of a heart of faith, thanked the people who had shouldered the Chair responsibilities alongside him, and introduced his family members. The following is the text of Dan's speech:

When one assumes the role of the Chair of an organization one must pledge that at the end of his term to leave the organization at least no worse than when he started.

Today The Order has inducted 4,486 members since inception and with a little bit of help from my friends we can cross the 4,500 threshold on Sunday; among them are 353 Life Members. I am also honored that 196 Clergy and/or spouses are members. Mary, I transfer to you an organization that is strong, viable, and ready to welcome new members.

It is however with much sadness, but no regret that I stand here tonight completing my four years as Chair of this wonderful organization – The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch – and ready to pass on the gavel and responsibility to my successor.  

Download the Order of St. Ignatius' Report to the General Assembly at the 2011 Archdiocese Convention in Chicago (PDF)

On June 19, 2011, at the Parish Life Conference for the Diocese of Worcester and New England, several new inductees joined the Order of St. Ignatius. The following new members and their sponsors are pictured, along with His Grace Bishop Thomas:

Christopher Bradley, Laurie Bradley, Kathleen Tawa, Don Khouri II, Bishop Thomas, Don Khouri, Fr. Christopher Nerreau, Jimmy Chalhub, Timothy Gwinn, Jamil Samara, and Dennis Rawan.

Correction to a statement in an article by Fr. Peter Gillquist in the May 2011 issue of The Word magazine: The Order of St. Ignatius does not provide financial aid to students, including students of the St. Stephen's Course. It does provide aid, however, for children to attend sessions at Antiochian camps each summer.

Did you know that members of the Governing Council of The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch for each Diocese are elected at the Parish Life Conferences?  The Order is always looking for people with fresh energy  who can share their time, talent and energy with The Order.  To become more involved, contact your current Diocesan Chair or Vice Chair and let your willingness to serve be known. Call the Archdiocese office at 201-871-1355 for more information.

Not ready for a commitment to the Governing Council? Your attendance at your Diocese Parish Life Conference offers a chance to share your knowledge and belief in The Order with those in your Diocese who may be new to our philanthropic organization. Please invite a friend who is not currently a member to attend a social event with the Order of St. Ignatius at this year's PLC. Combine socializing and The Order  luncheon or dinner, or another social event, such as a reception or lecture. Go to the vendor area of the hotel hosting your Parish Life Conference where information is available. Enjoy refreshments in the lobby cafe and discuss the benefits of joining The Order.

Iraqi refugees and disadvantaged Syrian children receive health and school kits at a public school in Syria. Many of the kits were assembled by Orthodox Christians and delivered by IOCC through its kit program. (Photo credit: IOCC Syria)A massacre at one of Iraq's largest churches in October, 2010 and continued attacks in predominantly Christian areas of central Baghdad highlight the continued danger for Iraq's Christian community. Many of Iraq's million and a half Christians wonder if they can continue to remain in their homeland.

In 2010, with support from the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch and others, IOCC provided more than 1,500 Iraqi families in Baghdad with food and personal hygiene items and is currently seeking new ways to assist vulnerable families in the country.

An estimated 7,500 people received critical assistance in areas that have been the target of some of the greatest violence since 2003. Some of the families receiving assistance have been displaced by violence within Iraq and are unable to return back to their homes – some of which have since been destroyed.

Click here for more pictures.

The Order of St. Ignatius Camping Scholarship Forms have been mailed to every parish of the Antiochian Archdiocese.  Each parish is provided the opportunity to assign $700 in camping scholarships to the young people of their respective parish.  The Order of St. Ignatius commits $175,000 annually to camp scholarships.  More than 700 young people received scholarships from the Order of St. Ignatius in 2010.  The scholarships may be used at any of the eight camping programs in the Antiochian Archdiocese.  For more information regarding the Order of St. Ignatius Camping Scholarships, please speak with your parish priest.

30th Sunday after Pentecost
December 19, 2010

Order of St. Ignatius awards $3000 grant renewal for continued Chinese translation of Lives of Saints

The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, at its governing council meeting held in Jacksonville, Florida on October 22, 2010, approved a $3,000 grant renewal to the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China.

This grant comes with the archpastoral blessing of Metropolitan Philip at a critical juncture after the inaugural publication of the Chinese translation of the January volume of the Prologue from Ohrid by St. Nikolai of Zica, supplemented with additional lives of selected saints from other synaxaria.

The grant will make possible the uninterrupted translation and publication of subsequent monthly volumes of this invaluable work for the daily spiritual nourishment of the Chinese speaking Faithful and inquirers into the Faith from other confessions, in and outside of China.

As a supplement to the grant, consider sponsoring for a specific daily reading of the Prologue from Ohrid, for the good health or in memory of loved one, for a names day, wedding anniversary, day of repose, or any other special occasion, which will be noted on the bottom of each sponsored entry of the Prologue, and those reading the daily devotion for that day can pray for your loved ones. Check feast days available for sponsorship at http://prologue.orthodox.cn/prayers.html.

Over the weekend of December 4-5, His grace Bishop Thomas inducted new members into the Order of St. Ignatius at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York, on the occasion of their patronal feast.

Click here for more pictures.

from the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader:

An induction ceremony for the Order of Saint Ignatius was recently conducted at St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, Wilkes-Barre. Eileen Attar was inducted by Bishop Thomas Joseph. Members of the Order, first row, are Nancy Tenneriello, Suanne Moses, Eileen Attar; George Morrash, Anne Fautrakis, Joanne Tenneriello, and Simon Saba. Second row: Anne Hester, John Moses, Jacqueline Mazzatosta, Marion Obeid, Dan Norman, and Peter Attar. Third row: Todd Mokhiber, Bishop [Thomas] Joseph, and the Very Rev. Dr. David Hester, pastor.