Virginia Day 3

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Back from a full day at the Tech. Spent most of the day at the Newman center just talking to the students as they came in. I call this tail gate ministry and all we do is listen try to answer their questions. I did a radio interview for the Come Receive the Light program that should hit the Internet on Saturday if you want to listen.
Tonight we had diner with the students at one of their dining halls. I am glad I am not a student now or I would be bigger than I am now. Anyway great time and then back to the Newman Center for Vespers. I have to say again that they have been great at the Newman and deserve much praise and thanks from us for providing us a place to meet and worship it has been great.
Looks like we will be leaving tomorrow (Thursday) morning and heading back to the parish. It is going to take me a few days to process my feeling from this. I keep remembering the statement that I saw on campus, “32 are gone because one was lost” That will be my sermon on Sunday.

Virginia Day 2 Part 2

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Just back from a meeting with the students at the Tech. As I mentioned in the previous post, Bishop Thomas was there and we all went to the Memorial for the Trisagion service. It was beautiful as people came up and stood with us as we prayed for the dead and placed a cross among the other flowers there. We returned to a meeting room where we asked the students to describe their feelings. Most of them knew someone who was either killed or injured and the emotions are still raw. Confidentiality does not allow me to describe anything that they said but it was difficult to listen to and I am glad I am here.
We will meet one on one tomorrow and the rest of the week and tomorrow night we are having diner with them in one of the dining halls and then to the Newman center for vespers and more one on one. Please continue to pray. Below is a photo of the memorial. Fr. Kevin from OCF is taking pictures, I hope the one of Bishop Thomas in a “Hokie” hat comes out if it does I will post it here.

Virginia Day 2

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Right now I am blogging from the Newman Center at Virginia Tech. We have been welcomed in with open arms and given space to meet with students. We spent the morning walking around the campus and viewing all off the memorials that have sprung up. The most powerful of all the memorials is the one on the parade field in front of the main admin building. As I walked around the circle of all the names on the parade field was the name of the shooter. Not off by himself but right in the middle of all of them. What a powerful witness to what is going on here. We were stopped by people as we walked around. People just wanted to say thanks for coming and being with them in their time of need.
All around campus people have written different things here and there and the most powerful statement was the following: “32 are gone because one was lost” amazing what more can I say.
At the moment we are doing an interview for Ancient Faith Radio that should be airing soon. We will meet with the students tonight as well as with Bishop Thomas of the Antiochean Archdiocese. Please continue to pray for all of us.

Virginia Day 1

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Just a short post. We arrived about 8pm very long day but a very nice drive and I was able to get myself in the right spiritual space. Stopped off in Scranton, PA and had a nice visit with ,y classmate Fr. Christopher. He is a Melkite priest there and I have not seen him in a while so it was nice to see him and catch up.
Met with the rest of the team at diner and we will meet again tomorrow morning for another planning session. We meet with the students tomorrow night at 7pm for a trisagion service and then a needs assessment to see where we go from here.
Finally got on the Internet so that is why this post is so late. It is almost midnight here so I am off to get a few hours sleep before the day begins. Keep praying.

Off to Virginia

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I am all packed and waiting for my ride to arrive. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am off to Virginia Tech to meet with the Orthodox Christian Fellowship and try and help them begin the healing process. Although I have dine this kind of work before, and it seems to be my specialty, this will be the hardest one yet. The students return to school today after a few days off and what they really need is to just get back. As cold as that seems that is the best medicine. That is not to say that they should forget, never, but the best way to honor those slain is to continue classes and graduation and for them to be the best citizens that they can be.
I plan to blog while I am on this journey, more to be able to put words to my thoughts than anything else. I face a 10 hour drive so this maybe my last post today. Perhaps I will post again tonight before bed.
Keep me and my team in your prayers please that we can be used as God’s instrument. Fr. Mychal Judge late chaplain of the FDNY used this prayer often and I quote it here. This will be my prayer this week.

Lord, take me where you want me to go;
Let me meet who you want me to meet;
Tell me what you want me to say
And keep me out of your way.

Sunday of the Myrrbearers

Posted on by Fr. Peter

Acts 6:1-7
Mark 15:43-47

Well I recorded the homily for today right in the church and I think the sound quality is pretty good. I solicit your comments for sounds quality purposes only, I know the content is great so no need to comment on that. Sit back and enjoy.

Saturday

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Today is a beautiful day here in New England. I think Spring has finally arrived. Lot’s to do today. I will be going outside for a little while to do some work on the church grounds. Although we have someone who keeps the lawn cut, I like to do the work around the church, take care of the flower beds, and such things like that. It is a great time to meditate and think about things. Get your hands in the earth and participate in the process of growing stuff. I do not have a green thumb, but I manage to do okay.
Work needs to be done on my homily for tomorrow, and I am going to try to record it and post it so all can listen. This will be a trial recording and I will solicit comments on the quality of the sound and not necessarily on the content… Okay maybe.
I also need to go out to the campsite and check on any damage from the winter. Boy this will be a full day.
Off to pray!

Tag

Posted on by Fr. Peter

Huw has taged me with Six Wierd Things meme, so here they are:

1. I play the clarinette
2. I love bagpipe music
3. I wear a kilt
4. I used to collect elephants
5. My Favorite Author is WEB Giriffin
6. I own 2 trailers

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Message of His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae
regarding the tragedy at Virginia Tech University

Most Reverend Fathers,
Beloved Faithful,

Christ is Risen!

This past week we have witnessed the unspeakable tragedy taking place on the campus of Virginia Tech. The peace of this place was suddenly and violently changed forever. We mourn for those who have been taken away from us, and we share our compassion with their families and friends as they are trying to understand why this did happen. We keep in our prayers Professor Liviu Librescu, of Romanian origin, who voluntarily gave up his life for the love and the welfare of his students. During such difficult moments we often turn to God in prayer, and as we do, I ask each one of you to pray for the victims of this tragedy and for all of their families, as this will be a long process of recovery.

Please join me and the entire Archdiocese as we offer our prayer, and as we express our most sincere sympathy to the Virginia Tech Community. We pray during this time of the Resurrection that those whose life was taken away, may rest in a place of light, in a place of green pastures, in a place of rest from where pain, sorrow and sighing have been taken away.

Your brother in prayer to God,
† NICOLAE

Virginia Teach

Posted on by Fr. Peter
As reported on Fr. Greg’s Blog, I am off to Virginia on Monday to help with Crisis Counseling. I am being deployed by the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) as part of a frontline team. Three of us will be in Blackburgh along with the Executive Director of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) the Orthodox Church Campus Ministry Program.
The hope is to meet with the students at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Roanoke, Virginia each evening and then meet on campus with students during the day. I will be on the ground until Friday. I hope to be able to blog while on the road for both information and also to help me process some of the feelings that will come up during my time there.
Please pray for me and the rest of my team as we travel and minister.
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