Youth Retreats Held in Arizona, California

AZ Group Pix 1: His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco with GOYAns from Arizona attending the Survivor: Escape the iLAND Lenten retreat on April 4-5 at Camp Wamatochick in Prescott, AZ.  Forty-eight teenagers were in attendance from various parishes of the Arizona region. 

Discussion with Pete: Arizona participants involved in a lively discussion on how Lent can help them in their daily challenges.

The Metropolis of San Francisco Youth and Family Ministries Office held two regional Lenten Retreats for those in middle school and high school.  The theme for both retreats was "Survivor: Escape the iLAND."  The first was held for the Arizona region in Prescott, AZ from April 4-6, at Camp Wamatochick.  The second was for the Southern California region in Castaic, CA from April 11-13.  Held from Friday through Sunday, the retreats were designed to help our youth escape the dangers of individualism and self-centeredness (the iLAND) which has as its fruit the negative consequences of isolation from God and from others, inauthentic and unhealthy relationships, and loneliness.  Participants were encouraged to use the tools of the Church, specifically those offered during the Lenten period, to traverse the challenging waters of teenage life and to get aboard "the ship" of the Church. Participants were given the wisdom our Orthodox tradition to deal with issues such as relationships, friendships, school and peer pressure.  Each retreat center offered activities that were meant to enhance the theme, such as ropes course challenges, a zip line, a climbing wall, archery and hiking.

His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco was present and addressed the participants of the Arizona Lenten Retreat.  Fr. Andrew Barakos of the Assumption Church in Scottsdale, AZ and Pete Sotiras, Youth and Family Ministries Director of the Metropolis of San Francisco coordinated the event. Sotiras led the two discussions based on the theme.  Forty eight teenagers were in attendance, representing the following parishes from Arizona: St. Demetrios of Tucscon, St. Katherine of Chandler, Holy Trinity Cathedral of Phoenix, the Greek Orthodox Mission of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, and St. Haralambos of Peoria.  One participant came from Nevada, representing the parish of St. John the Baptist of Las Vegas.

 The Southern California Lenten Retreat had twenty eight participants, representing the following parishes: St. Nicholas of Northridge, St. Prophet Elias of San Bernardino, St. Spyridon of San Diego, St. Demetrios of Camarillo, St. Katherine of Redondo Beach and the Assumption Church of Long Beach.  The retreat and the discussions were coordinated and led by Fr. Haralambos (Bob) Fox, Assistant Priest at St. Nicholas Church in Northridge and Mr. Sotiras.

Greg Floor, Assistant to the Director of Admissions at Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, attended both retreats.  Floor offered a presentation of both schools to participants and encouraged them to consider the schools when the time came to choose the location for their higher education.  Mr. Floor also helped with leading discussions in both retreats.

Greg on the ropes: GOYAns on the low ropes course at the Valley Trails Camp in Castaic , CA, during the Survivor: Escape the iLAND Lenten retreat for parishes in southern California.  

Archery: Arizona GOYAns participate in the archery session at Camp Wamatochick in Prescott, AZ.

SoCal Lenten Retreat: Fr. Haralambos (Bob) Fox, Assistant Priest in St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Northridge , CA leads the GOYAns in prayer during the Akathist Service on Friday night.