Summer 2001 Orthodox Vision Newsletter, Diocese of the West

8/8/2019 Summer 2001 Orthodox Vision Newsletter, Diocese of the West

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Summer 2001


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The Official Publication of the

Diocese of the West of the

Orthodox Church in America

Diocese of the West650 Micheltorena StreetLos Angeles, CA 90026

PublisherHis Grace Bishop TIKHON

Bishop of San Francisco andthe Diocese of the West650 Micheltorena Street

Los Angeles, CA 90026-3612

Phone: (323)666-4977

Fax: (323)913-0316

Address all stories, editorial

comments and circulation to:Editor-in-ChiefPriest Eric George Tosi

5400 Annie Oakley Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89120

Phone: (702)898-4800

Fax: (702)898-0303

Email: [email protected]

The Orthodox Vision is published three times

a year by the Diocese of the West. It is free toall parish members and outreach within the Diocese. Subscriptions outside the Diocese

is available for $10 per year in the UnitedStates and $15 per year in Canada.

The articles contained herein do not neces-sarily reflect the views or policies of the Dio-cese or the editors. The advertisements con-

tained herein are not necessarily endorsedby the Diocese or Editorial Staff.

In This IssueVolume 6, Number 2

WWW.OCADOW.ORG

For the latest information on the Diocese of the WestInformation on all parishes, institutions and departments

Archived issues ofThe Orthodox VisionComplete letters of instruction from His Grace

And much, much more

From His Grace...................................................................................1

Raphael House in San Francisco:

Thirty Years of Serving the Community............................................2

Consecration of St. Seraphim in Santa Rosa...................................4

St. Innocent Hosts Nun from Guatemala.........................................5

Old Meets New in Reno.....................................................................5

St. Panteleimon: A Healing Story.....................................................6

News Around the Diocese..................................................................7

Book Review: Elder Cleopa...............................................................8

Clergy Wives Gather for Retreat........................................................9

Southwest Deanery Holds Summer Camp......................................10

Diocesan Teen Weekend Planned....................................................12

From the Fathers:

Fr. Alexander Men on Christianity.................................................13

Editors Note: There were some letters to the editor on gram-matical errors in the last issue, specifically in the reprint of

the diary of Fr. Alexander Kukulevsky. It is common editorialpractice to reprint diaries and quotes exactly as given, errors

and all. This allows the exact context of the passage to be

read and maintains the historical integrity of the text.


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From His Grace Bishop TIKHON

The Orthodox Vision

The holy Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans: For we know that

the whole creation groaneth and travaileth together until now.(Rom. VII:22). This verse always comes to my mind at the

consecration of a new Orthodox Church. Recently we conse-

crated a new temple named after St. Seraphim of Sarov in Santa

Rosa, California, a little over an hours drive north of San Fran-

cisco, where Father Lawrence Margitich is the Rector and his

father, Father Michael Margitich the Rector Emeritus. Once again,

that verse about the suffering of creation until the coming of

Christ was in my thoughts. The consecration of a Church is

called, in the language of the services themselves, a renewal, a

renovation, or even a restoration. It means that just as there is

salvation or damnation for us mortals, just as there are the Re-

deemed and the damned among us, an old Adam and a NewAdam, an old Man and a new Man, the same prospects and

hopes may be part of the course of life for every part of cre-

ation, not only men, but trees, streams, animals, flowers, even

minerals!

The pieces of wood that have been consecrated into a Holy

Altar table during the consecration of a Church are different

from the wood of a tree in the forest, different from the wood

used in a cocktail bar. The minerals that are mixed into the tem-

pera in order to provide coloring for our Holy Icons are differ-

ent from the minerals that lie unmined or used for the decora-

tion of the vain or even put to good use, for the wood, theminerals in the pigment of the icons, the flower of the cotton

plants that went into the making of the white cloth that was

wrapped around the Altar Tablein short, every item that went

into what some people call (often with a misleading sense of

disparagement) a man-made Church, is different, is made

anew, from what it was: it is renewed, renovated, restored.

Everything in the service of consecration, or, rather, renewal,

points out and underlines this transformation. Many of the ac-

coutrements of a mans Baptism are employed in the consecra-

tion, or, rather, renewal of created material into a Church, and

rightly so: a pure white garment, like a Baptismal Stikharion, iswrapped around as an undercloth, the Altar Table and the table

itself has been blessed with Holy Water, washed, bathed in wine

and water, censed. But to me, like most human beings, affected

most powerfully by language that is one of the main qualities

that differentiates us from the rest of the animal world, the very

prayers of the service make plain in the most vivid way this

renewal. These prayers make it very plain why those well-mean-

ing, perhaps sentimental, persons that excuse themselves from

prayer and worship with the Body of the Church in a conse-

crated temple in order to pray in Gods creation by the seaside

or on a mountaintop or in the woods, are on the wrong track, so

to speak.

Much of the service takes

place within the closedAltar: in fact, in earlier

times, the part of the ser-

vice where the people

were first allowed to par-

ticipate was only at the

time of the procession bearing the relics from an already conse

crated, or, rather, renewed Church to the new One. But even in

that first part of the service, the Holy Doors are opened, and the

Bishop comes out and kneels on a rug and cushion before them

and prays in a very loud voice in the hearing of all, so that all

may participate in that prayer, that the Church being conse

crated and the Altar in It would be filled with everlasting Lightmade into the habitation of Gods own Glory, and that Gods

eyes would be open on it day and night, that it would be

preserved unto to the end of time, and that the holy Altar table

would be glorified above the Mercy Seat of the Law, andfinally, that the sacred actions performed on that Altar would

ascend to Gods holy, super-celestial and notic Altar, where

upon the Grace of Gods own over-shadowing (Heb

Shekinah) would be brought down upon us.

Sometimes the phrase awe-inspiring is over used. It seems to me

that when an entire Community, an entire Orthodox Church, the Faith

ful and their Bishop, are gathered together and making supplication tothe Holy Trinity in full consciousness, fervor, hope, love and Faith, the

content of such prayers is truly awe-inspiring.

Lets all give thanks that another part of Creation has left off its

groaning and travailing together with us until now, and has

been blessed by Gods Grace to participate in His work, His

Renewal of His Own Creation. Lets give thanks that another

place on this planet has become HOLY. And lets give thanks

that we are members of Christs Church Whose characteristic

is Holiness!

In our time, many of the so-called faith-communities that canonly aspire to the Church, even those that may confess our

Creed in an altered form, have lost all sense of the word Holy

in the phrase, in one, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,

so that it means for them perhaps only religious or ethical

if it is thought at all.

We deserve nothing of what God has given us, but He has given

us Everything! And not only to us!

+TIKHONBishop of San Francisco and the West

Renovation, Renewal, Reform, Restoration


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The Orthodox Vision

Raphael House in San Francisco: Thirty Years of Serving the CommunityBy Priest David Lowell

There are two Raphael Houses in the Diocese of the West the

Raphael House of Portland that serves victims of domestic vio-

lence, and the Raphael House of San Francisco which serves home-less families.

San Franciscos First Shelter for Families

This year, the Raphael House of San Francisco is celebrating its

30th Anniversary. Our shelter has 17 bedrooms for homeless fami-

lies. Our AfterCare program serves 788 former residents who are

now successfully housed, but are still very much struggling to make

ends meet.

I live here with my wife Elaine, and our two children, Victoria (11) and

Gregory (13). Another dozen Orthodox staff live here as well, and it

makes a huge difference. We have a little Chapel. When we are offduty, we still go to the kitchen for coffee and join in at meals and

celebrations. It all adds up to something very important a con-

tinuous, stable presence in the household that keeps Raphael House

safe, orderly and peaceful. We invite homeless families to live with

us for a time, generally about six months. They eat dinner with us in

our dining rooms; they join in the daily chores; and we have a very

organized program of activities that keeps everyone active and

most especially the children!

Elaine, I and some of our older staff were mentored by Ella Rigney

who re-organized Raphael House in 1977 and expanded its services.

Mrs. Rigney brought a lifetime of organizational experience to Raphae

House. She created the American Cancer Societys education and

fundraising campaigns, starting in 1927 and continuing into the1950s. In the late 1960s, she served in Vista (the domestic Peace

Corps) which led to her meeting Raphael House in 1971. It was he

sensibility which built Raphael House into the kind of shelter she

would be willing to live in herself, and live here she did - for more

that 15 years.

Ella Rigney was nearly 100 years old when she died here peacefully

in 1992. The programs which we have been expanding since he

repose (Follow-up services, Day Care training, and our future plan-

ning for a larger Raphael House Village) are all ideas which she

championed. Deacon Mark Story, who is now the Executive Direc

tor of the Portland Raphael House, was the Director here in the late

1980s. He and his wife, Anne, share the same experience as Elaineand I and many others who were lastingly touched by Ella Rigney

integrity, commitment, and vision. Although the Portland and San

Francisco Raphael Houses are organizationally independent of one

another, they share a common origin: they were both started by the

volunteer labors of the members of Christ the Savior Brotherhood

prior to our entry into the Orthodox Church.

In 1991, Christ the Savior Brotherhood asked Raphael House of San

Francisco to incorporate separately and recruit a Board of Trustees

from the local community. As you might imagine, most of our trust

ees, donors and families are not Orthodox, and only about half of


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The Orthodox Vision

our 40 member paid staff are Orthodox Christians. We place no

religious obligations on any of the families who stay with us. They

are welcome to attend services in the Chapel, but never required.

Our cooks prepare both fasting and non-fasting meals throughout

the year so that everyones needs are met at every meal.

For those of us who live here year in and year out, the Chapel is the

peaceful center of our household. We gather for prayer and a mid-

week liturgy in addition to our responsibilities in our local parish.

His Grace Bishop TIKHON visited a number of years ago, and last

Fall I was ordained by His Grace. I am attached to Holy Trinity

Cathedral only a few blocks away and serve there regularly

under the pastoral leadership of the Rector, Archpriest Victor

Sokolov. The Chapel community at Raphael House is (since No-

vember, 2000) a metochian of Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Many of our live-in staff are also members of the parish at Holy

Trinity, but not all. Staff from other Orthodox jurisdictions usually

attend their own local parishes on Sundays. Raphael House, as an

agency, in not a substitute for the Church, even though the life of

the Church is visible in Raphael House. We have several native

Russians who attend the Moscow Patriarchate Church; we also

have an erstwhile Serbian and one Antiochian. In past years, we

have had Greek Orthodox staff as well.

Who Do We Serve?

Raphael House of San Francisco serves families. Eighty-six percent

of the families we serve are headed by single parent mothers. In

most cases, the fathers of these families have abandoned all respon-

sibility for caring for the children. Some were married. Some were

not. Nearly a third of the families have case histories with Child

Protective Services. Substance abuse is a background factor in

about a third of the families either in the case of the now absent

father or with the mother as well. Domestic violence is a factor inabout 25% of the families who stay with us. And, of course, all of

them are poor. By

the time they come

to Raphael House

they have usually

exhausted what-

ever hospitality may

have been available

through members of

their own families.

Raphael House is a

clean and soberprogram. Parents

with substance

abuse issues must

be in an outpatient

treatment program.

Fortunately, we

have plenty of such

treatment programs

in San Francisco.

No mother is de-

prived of this help if

she is willing to accept

it. And if a mother goes

back to drugs? The

family is asked to leave.

You can imagine how

hard this is all the way

around. Hard, yes, but

worth it. Some of our

most rewarding suc-

cesses have been with

mothers who finally

stayed in their treat-

ment program as a con-

dition for being re-

ceived back into

Raphael House.

During the past two

years we had 66

unduplicated families

stay at Raphael House.

Of these 66 families, 46

families moved into a stable living environment which means their

own house or apartment (33 families), a shared rental (7 families) or

a long term transitional program (6 families). Over the years, we

have seen a statistical correlation between active participation in

our adult education programs and a familys ability to find and hold

onto housing after leaving Raphael House. Ninety-five percent of

the families who participate in our AfterCare program have remained

stably housed.

What about those families who dont have stable outcomes? Wha

happens to them? Sometimes we dont know, but usually they

reappear in other shelters. Returning to alcohol or drug use is a

fairly common occurrence among a minority of our families. Mentahealth issues are also a factor.

Although Raphael House was created to keep families together in

times of crisis, interventions are sometimes necessary (and man-

dated by law) which result in children going into foster care. Two

examples: a mother abandons her children at Raphael House and

disappears into a transient hotel world of crack cocaine. The chil

dren must go into foster care, and the decision (by law) must be

timely. Another case: a mother is in serious depression, neglecting

her new born infant. After talking with her and seeing no change

we take her to a psychiatric emergency room where she is admitted

immediately. Later on she tells us she might have thrown the baby

away and thanks us for taking her to the hospital.

So, what is it like to live and work at Raphael House? Stressful

Intense? Overwhelming? Sometimes. But most of the time our work

is actually a lot of fun. We look forward to each new day. Approxi

mately 2/3 of the population we serve are children and this is what

keeps the shelter upbeat. Instead of having television, we provide

art activities, outings, supervised play and special events for the

children, as well as tutoring and educational support. These chil

dren have their whole lives ahead of them, and this helps us to be

creative in the present moment and in planning for the future.

Cont. on p. 10


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The Orthodox Vision

Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of

ages. With these traditional words on Friday evening, July 27, Fr.Lawrence Margitich, Rector at St. Seraphim Church in Santa Rosa,

California, introduced the reading of the Ninth Hour and Vespers,

touching off a weekend that those present will never forget. It was

the Consecration Weekend at St. Seraphim Orthodox Church, the

new temple on the grounds of Protection of the Holy Virgin Parish.

Many of those present had never before participated in such an

event. Before things got back to normal with Vespers on Saturday

evening, and Divine Liturgy on Sunday, they had experienced some-

thing almost beyond description.

Following Fr. Lawrences sonorous call to worship, the weekend

produced highlights almost too numerous to mention. By the endof the actual Consecration Service and Divine Liturgy on Saturday,

many things were etched into the minds of those attending. There

were glorious antiphonal responses from choirs on both sides of

the church. Singers from other Orthodox communities augmented

the St. Seraphim choir directed by Macrina Lewis. Most notably, a

choir from Ben Lomond, led by Alice Hughes. There were, of course,

the dulcet benedictions of His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, both during

the services, and between Saturdays Consecration and Liturgy

There was the deep, protracted resonance of Protodeacon Vsevolod

Borzakovsky of Washington, DC. Fr. David Brum, Secretary to

Metropolitan THEODOSIUS and Ecclesiarch for the OCA, made

sure the services progressed in an organized manner. OCA Chan-

cellor, Fr. Robert Kondratick, provided invaluable help behind the

scenes, as he and a local parishioner, Reader John Vandeventer

made sure the various ecclesiastical accoutrements were prepared

and available as required.

Reader Vandeventer was one of two parishioners with particular

reason to celebrate as the altar was given its final assembly amid

considerable loud banging (a truely joyful noise unto the Lord)

The wine used in finishing the altar was a bottle of his homemade

wine. It was, in fact, the first bottle of the first vintage from a smal

vineyard on the church property that Reader Vandeventer planted

three years ago and now tends. The altar itself was built, and pre

pared for final assembly, by Serge Anderson, also a parishioner and

a former chairman of the parish council.

All told, 16 priests, two deacons, and three sub-deacons served a

the altar with Bishop TIKHON. At least another dozen priests from

several jurisdictions were in attendance. After communion, there

was a catered luncheon sponsored by the St. Seraphim Sisterhood

This celebration lasted until Saturday evening, when it was time for

Vespers. Eventually Vespers ended in a cacophony of borrowed

bells, a set brought in for the occasion from St. Nicholas Church in

San Anselmo, and rung throughout the weekend. Finally, everyone

headed for home with a profound sense that something rare, remark-

able, and profoundly sacred, had taken place that day. Holy St

Seraphim, pray to God for us!

St. Seraphim in Santa Rosa is Consecrated

By Paul Burch


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The Orthodox Vision

On Sunday July 9/22 we were blessed to have visit our mission of StJohn of Kronstadt in Reno, Nevada, Fr. John Dunlop, his wife

Matushka Beth and son John from Kodiak, Alaska, and with them

Fr. Johns mother Olga from the San Francisco Bay area. Fr. John is

the priest-in-charge at Holy Resurrection Church on Kodiak. Fr.John

and his family were vacationing at nearby Lake Tahoe, and at Bishop

NIKOLAIs suggestion, Fr. John gave me a call indicating that he

and his family would like to visit us. I asked him if he would like to

concelebrate the Divine Liturgy on the upcoming Sunday of their

visit and he thought it would be a wonderful thing. It was indeed

glorious serving together in our humble little home chapel. Our

mission has begun to grow so it is truly wonderful to have these

opportunities to bring the many dimensions of Orthodoxy to the

faithful in the Reno area.

We followed the Liturgy with a simple agape meal and had a chance

to visit a bit when Fr. Johns mother noted that here was the oldes

Orthodox mission in America (Kodiak, founded in 1794) serving

and celebrating with one of the newest (Reno, founded in 2000)

Both missions were founded on the spirit and foundation of taking

the Gospel to the ends of the earth. God pours His grace uponblessed gatherings such as these, and it is with such that we Ortho

dox Christians increase and are woven more surely together in love

and unity of true brotherhood, friendship, and family in our Lord

vineyard. Glory to God for all Things!

On May 20, 2001 (the Sunday of the Blind Man), St. Innocent of

Alaska Orthodox Mission in Fremont, California, was privileged to

welcome Mother Maria (and friends) from the Hogar Rafael Ayau

Orthodox Orphanage in Guatemala.

The Hogar Rafael Ayau is an orphanage in Guatemala City that

houses an average of 150 children at any time. Some children are in

the process of being adopted, others have been abandoned on the

streets and are waiting to see if they will be reclaimed by their fami-

lies. The youngest child ever to be placed in the Hogar was one day

old. The oldest children are elementary age girls up to 12 years.

The Hogar is run by 5 Orthodox nuns, including Mother Maria and

her superior Mother Ines, who live at the Monasterio Ortodoxo

Lavra Mambre in Guatemala. The orphanage was founded by Rafael

Ayau, the great-great-grandfather of Mother Ines in 1857, and was

the first home for abandoned children in the area. Because Guate-

mala is a very poor country, the orphanage continuously receivesbabies and children brought to its doorsas soon as one child is

adopted, another takes the place. Mother Maria and Mother Ines

are doing their best to find real family homes for adoptable children,

and to provide a loving Orthodox Christian home at the orphanage

for the other poor children. Mother Maria told us a moving story

about one little girl who is in the process of being adopted by a

Greek Orthodox family. This little girl already speaks Maya and

Spanish, she has been learning English at the orphanage, and now

she is learning Greek as well. When she talks to the family who is in

the process of adopting her, she runs out of Greek things to say

after a little while, but she doesnt want to hang up the phone so she

sings Khristos AnestiChrist is Risen!, as long as she is able.

The parishioners of St. Innocent of Alaska Orthodox Mission in

Fremont, California were grateful for the opportunity they had to

listen to Mother Maria and to learn about the Hogar Rafael Ayau

Orthodox Orphanage in Guatemala. For more information about

the orphanage and about the Orthodox Church in Guatemala,

look at www.hogarrafaelayau.org or contact Hogar Rafael Ayau

Orphanage, Section 2619 GUA, P.O. Box 02-5339, Miami, FL

33102-5339; telephone 502-232-8916

St. Innocent Mission Welcomes

Nun from Guatemala

Old Meets NewBy Priest Hilarion Frakes


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The Orthodox Vision

St. Panteleimon: A Healing Story For TodayBy Jonathan D. Lewis

Recently I have had to deal with doctors and physicians of all kinds.

Twins born two and a half months early, by the grace of God and the

hard work of many who cared for them, are beautiful. The firstborn

twin, Theophan, had an interventricular hemorrhage at birth. This

caused the flow of ventricular fluid to malfunction, resulting in

hydrocephelas. Not too many years ago this condition would haveresulted in enormous enlargement of his head, severe pain, and

early death. Now they can put a tube into the ventricles of the brain

and shunt the excess fluid to another part of his body. I am in awe of

the neorosurgeons bravery and skill in dealing with this great mys-

tery.

This great mystery.

Walking down his usual route from

school to home one day, came a young

medical student. He was the brightest

and most talented of his generation.

Beautiful to look upon. Graceful in con-

versation. As for bedside manner, they

would have called him an angel. He was

studying under the greatest physician in

the Roman world, who told him that if

he studied well there would be no illness

he could not cure. The emperor himself

had already singled out this young man

to be his personal doctor, even before he

had finished his education.

This road was in the city of Nicomedia,

during the time of the persecutions ofMaximianos, and it passed by the house

of an elderly priest, Fr. Ermolaos. The

priest had been watching this young man

for some time, and this day he invited

him in to ask him about his faith. The

young mans father was a pagan, but his mother had taught him

about Christ before her death, when he was still young. Although

he liked Christianity best, he knew little about it and had been

forced by his father to worship the idols and to devote himself

entirely to the dream of curing all illness through his medical

education.

Fr. Ermolaos told him, The Lord Jesus Christ is the only trueGod. If you believe in Him, you will be able, through His grace, to

cure all kinds of illnesses without medicine or herbs. Jesus cleansed

lepers, gave sight to the blind, freed persons from evil spirits, and

raised the dead as well. You, too, can do all that and much more if

you believe in Him with all your heart.

The young man learned what he could of Christianity from Fr.

Ermolaos that day, and went his way. One day, again on the road

home from school, he came upon a boy who had been fatally

wounded by the bite of a snake. He thought that if Christ were to

hear his prayer, raise this boy from the dead, and kill the snake,

then he would need no more proof about Christ; he would become

a Christian. He knelt next to the boy and prayed with tears. The

boy got up and the snake fell over dead. Our young friend gave

thanks to God and ran to the old priest to be baptized.

Because the twins, and especially young Theophan, were doing sowell, I forgot about gratitude. When a surgeon operates, the pain is

temporary and the cutting with the knife is in order to heal. When

God has some surgery to perform on my sinfulness, it is never com

fortable. It is especially difficult when the cutting takes place through

my childrens pain.

In November, Theophan had a seizure

that left him temporarily paralyzed on one

side of his body. The doctors could no

figure out why. Some doctors wanted to

put him on seizure medicine. His neuro

surgeon felt that it was due to shunt fail

ure and operated, clearing the tubing in

his ventricles. Two weeks later he had

another seizure. Three weeks more and

he had another, even more severe. Then

came EEGs, shuntogrammes, nuclear medi

cine, and two more neurosurgical shun

revisions - all in a painfully slow and seem

ingly un- scientific process. Theophan

rode the CAT scan machine as routinely

and excitedly, as many three year olds ride

the pony outside the grocery store.

Portland, where Addisons hospital ishas many wonderful, God-fearing priests

Two of them in particular are very dear to

our family; they come whenever we are a

the hospital to chat with the children and

pray for our little patient. He loves them

The nurses all talk of the men in black that accompany his crib to

the surgical waiting room. Before this last surgery, we asked one o

these priests if he could think of an icon that might be appropriate to

give to our neurosurgeon. He suggested a saint we had not yet met

St. Panteleimon, holy unmercenary physician of the late third cen

tury. We bought a book and two icons. And we are very excited to

have a new saint in our home.

Our young medical student and new convert, Panteleimon, stayed

with the aged priest for a week to learn the mysteries of the faith

He then returned to his father and quietly saw to the conversion of

his fathers soul, by the grace of God. It became well known tha

this young man was a skilled physician and even those whom al

the other doctors had failed to cure, Panteleimon would cure in

the name of Christ. He sold all of his possessions and would care

for, and heal, all who asked, for no money. Many were converted

to the faith.

The other physicians in the city became jealous of Panteleimon


9/167

The Orthodox Vision

success and popularity with the people. They plotted to betray

him to the emperor. They were successful. Panteleimon bore wit-

ness to Christ, enduring many tortures. He was saved from

scourgings, boiling tar, the wild beasts, and even the sword. Many

were converted to Christ by his acts of bravery and the power of

God. He was finally put to death tied to an olive tree, with milk

running from his wound. The tree bloomed and bore fruit instantly.

The icon we gave to Theophans neurosurgeon shows young

Panteleimon holding a scalpel in one hand and a box of herbs in the

other. The scalpel has a cross on one end of it. This neurosurgeon

was very pleased and has spoken of it since. Theophan took the

other icon to church so that it could be blessed. He was very anx-

ious during Liturgy, and as soon as the service was over he asked

for his icon back and thanked Fr. Stephen for splashing it. St.

Panteleimon now has a special place in our bright corner and a very

special place in our hearts.

To the glory of God and by the prayers of St. Panteleimon and the

hard work of many doctors, Theophan is doing very well. He prays

and chants prayers and Psalms to God, swinging his little censer,

many times during the day. He struggles with his temper by making

the sign of the cross. And whenever anyone is not feeling well, he

will call for a special icon to be brought down from the wall so that

he might bless them with the venerable image of his most holy St.

Panteleimon.

In a world of doubt and lack of faith, I stand as the chief among

sinners. Every day I turn my heart from God and put my faith in the

answers and pleasures of this world. Most holy Panteleimon, pray

to God for me that I might share the faith you bore witness to, in the

eternal healing power of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jonathan Lewis is an extension student at St. Tikhons Seminary in

South Canaan, Pennsylvania and a member of St. Annes Missionin Albany, Oregon.

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News Around the Diocese

June 1 - Priest Eric G. Tosi is assigned and appointed rector ofSt. Paul the Apostle Church in Las Vegas, NV

Priest Joseph OBrien is assigned and appointed rector of St.

Nicholas of South Canaan Church in Billings, MT & priest-in-charge of Helena Mission

Priest Peter Tobias is assigned and appointed rector of St. An-thony the Great Mission in Bozeman, MT

July 4 - Fort Ross pilgramage and celebration

July 27 - St. Seraphim Church in Santa Rosa, CA consecrated

August 3 - Archpriest Basil Rhodes appointed Dean of the Pa-cific Central Deanery

September 15 - 25th Anniversary & Feast Day forElevation of

Cross in Sacramento, CA

September 22 - 25th Anniversary & Blessing of the new Iconosta-sis at St. John of Damascus Church in Poway, CA

October 10-12 - Diocesan Assembly in San Francisco, CA

October 13-14 - Retreat with Bishop KALLISTOS at St. Pauls inLas Vegas, NV

October 27-28 - Diocesan Teen Weekend at St. Pauls in LasVegas, NV

November 9-10 - 50th Anniversary Celebration at Sts Peter &Paul Church in Phoenix, AZ


10/168

The Orthodox Vision

I remember, nearly twenty years back, a friend called and told me of

a new book that had been published about a recent Saint of our

times. At the time I was very busy, the times were hectic, and I

thought with skepticism, Oh great, another life of a Saint to read,that is just what I need! A few years later I looked back and realized

genuinely, yes, that was just what I needed. That life of another

saint to read, was in a small way a salivific intrusion into my busy

world. Just what was needed. - I can think of no better way to

introduce this book: Elder Cleopa of Girastria. Another Saint to

read. Just what is needed! An intrusion into the busy world we

mostly live in. Better described: an-introduction, a little journey into

that other heavenly world we all so much desire.

The book contains an informative Preface by the translator, Mother

Cassiana, who makes the historical and spiritual connection be-

tween Saint Paisius Velichkovsky and our present day Father Cleopa.

There is an eloquent foreword by Father Roman Braga that paintsthe historical and modern day picture of Romania in which we meet

Father Cleopa as spiritual father. The main body of the book is a

translation of the life of Elder Cleopa from the Romanian edition by

Father loanichie Balan with much additional information included

from Father Cleopas teachings and from the personal experience of

the translator who met Father Cleopa and received Father Ioanichies

blessing for the work of translation into English.

The text covers the span of life of Elder Cleopa from 1912 to 1998.

There are beautiful sketches of his early chi1dhood wherein one

sees the Orthodox worldview that shaped him into the holy elder he

became. His early years certainly portray startling asceticism, no

monastic, simply the asceticism of everyday life in Romania. The

picture of those years conveyed, even in their austerity, is joyfully

expressed and uplifting. There follows his introduction into the

monastic life and his subsequent education that he received while

living in the mountainous woods and meadows while tending the

sheep. One might be reminded of Saint Anthony the Great or other

holy fathers who while never having a formal education were taughtdirectly by the Holy Spirit. Father Cleopa was remarkably well-read

and experienced in the Orthodox tradition and in secular disciplines

He was astonishingly knowledgeable about earthly and heavenly

mysteries. The life continues with his surprising recognition and

election as Abbot of a great historic monastery, years of solitude

and his growth and service as a renowned spiritual father. Following

are the subsequent years wherein he is instrumental in rebuilding

and strengthening the spiritual life of Romania through the last

difficult years of communism and finally its fall and the influx of the

modern world into Romania. And then his repose in the Lord.

I especially liked the way the book conveyed the spiritual teaching

of Father Cleopa, his counsels, not as something separate from hislife but intertwined in his daily activities and duties. The conten

and the easy flowing translation contribute to a sense to what in

America might be called meeting just folks But while meeting

just folks, we in fact meet a holy elder, great spiritual father, a simple

shepherd, yet a master of Orthodox spiritual teaching. It is compel-

ling in its simplicity. It is an encounter with a person who lives

Christ, follows Christ in the hardship and reality of day to day life

One meets a Christ-like figure. Not that direct comparisons can be

made but in that respect the book Father Arseny comes to mind, and

there are other books too that somehow convey not only profound

Orthodox Christian teaching, but life more abundant. It cheers

you up to read it.

Do not think that because Father Cleopa was a monastic father the

book is best left for monks and nuns to read. To paraphrase the

introduction to the book, the life and teachings of Father Cleopa

amply spills over to people in the world who are just living. His life

and words of wisdom address some of the most contemporary ques

tions, even problems, that face Christians individually and the Church

at large. But in an unimposing manner. It is easy to understand, clear

to read and encouraging.

It has been said that the Saints are the keys to our theology, they are

Orthodox theology in action, theology in life, incarnate. In that sense

this book is alive. Another life of a saint to read? Yes, and it is jus

what is needed. The door to heaven has been left ajar if anyone is

interested.

The book may be ordered directly from the

Publisher: The Holy-Protection Monastery for

$19.95 plus $2.50 for postage and handling

P.O. Box 416, Lake George, Colorado, 80827.

2001 Diocesan Assembly

To be held October 10-12 at Holy Trinity

Cathedral in San Francisco.

This years guest speaker will be

Bishop KALLISTOS (Ware)

Detailed information has been sent to each parish or

can be found at the Diocesan Website

For more information on the Assembly call

the Diocesan Office at (323)666-4977

Elder Cleopa of Girastria: In the Tra-

dition of Saint Paisius VelichkovskyReviewed By Priest Daniel Jones


11/169

The Orthodox Visio

t Icons

t Hand-made Rugs

t Worship Items

t Prayer Ropes

t Cdst Books and more Books

Protection of the Holy Virgin Monastery Releases Catalog

To recieve the catalog call

(719)748-3999

or write

Protection of the Holy Virgin Monastery

2343 County Road 403P.O. Box 416

Lake George, CO 80827

Clergy Wives Gather for Retreat at

Life-Giving Spring Center

During the days of May 17th through 20th, sixteen Matushki from

throughout the Diocese of the West gathered at The Life Giving

Spring Retreat Center in Boulder City, Nevada for their annual re-

treat. This years topic was Myrrh Bearing Women: An Orthodox

Perspective on Death and Dying. The speakers were Mother

Gabriella, Abbess of the Holy Dormition Monastery and Ruxy

Sheldon, from Rives Junction, Michigan.

The retreat began on Thursday, which was scheduled as a free day

to arrive, sightsee, and spend time catching up on each others

news. On Friday, Ruxy Sheldon shared her personal experience of

dealing with her husband, Donalds cancer diagnosis and his death.She explained the importance of making Orthodox choices about life

sustaining treatment in accordance with the teachings of the Church;

the importance of having a Living Will, a Durable Power of Attor-

ney and Advanced Directives; the need to be aware of patients

rights; and what to expect from doctors, hospital staff and others in

the medical field during stressful and confusing medical situations

Mother Gabriella presented the spiritual aspect of death and dying

She stressed that life on earth is merely our preparation for eternity

In the Orthodox Church, death and dying is presented in its iconog

raphy, hymnography and the writings of the Holy Fathers. Satur

day included a brief wrap-up session followed by a wonderful gour

met lunch, courtesy of Chef Eric (Subdeacon Euphrosynos)

Patterson. Saturday concluded with Vigil and Confession at St

Paul the Apostle Church in Las Vegas. Retreat participants joined

St. Pauls for Sunday Divine Liturgy and departed following brunch

and good-byes. Retreat coordinators were Matushki Julia Erickson

Ann OBrien and Makrina Patterson.

The Matushka Retreat for 2002 has been scheduled for May 16, 17

18 & 19 at The Life Giving Spring Retreat Center. Coordinators forthe upcoming retreat are Matushki Susanne Senyo, Debra

Spainhoward, Deborah Tomasi and Judy Waisanen.

See Our New Items!

Bishop KALLISTOS (Ware) will beleading a two day retreat at St.Pauls Orthodox Church in Las

Vegas on October 13 to 14.

Confession and Communion

Cost is $25

Call (702)898-4800 for more details


12/1610

The Orthodox Vision

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST DEANERY SUMMER CAMP 2001

Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral and the Pacific Southwest Deanery of

the Diocese of the West sponsored the annual Summer Camp at

Camp Edwards in the San Bernardino National Forest from July 22 to

July 27, 2000. This year, there were over seventy campers and staff

in attendance.

Owned and operated by the Redlands YMCA, the camp is located

about a quarter mile from Jenks Lake, which has facilities for canoe-

ing, swimming, and fishing. The YMCA staff provided our group

with its expert help in archery, hiking, nature walks, wall climbing,

rappelling, trail-biking and swimming, as well as wonderful meals.Our own staff served as counselors and cabin leaders, who coordi-

nated special evening activities including a carnival and a Mexican

Fiesta dance.

Being a church camp, there were divine services and religious in-

struction within the regular program. Morning prayers, vespers and

evening prayers were served each day. The Divine Liturgy was

served on Tuesday in celebration of the Feast of Ss. Boris and Gleb.

Archpriest Michael Senyo served as Camp Director. Priest Paul

Waisanen served as our instructor in the Religious Education ses-

sions, once more doing an outstanding job. Additional assistance

was provided by Seminarian Nicholas Finley, an intern from theOCA Department of Youth. Hundreds of hours of administrative

support were provided by Matushka Susanne Senyo, secretary, at

Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral.

Many campers are provided with financial aid from their home par-

ishes. Major financial support for our camp is provided by Holy

Virgin Mary Cathedral; the Cathedral Sisterhood and O Club; and

the Russian Childrens Welfare Society.

Next years camp will, once again, be held at Camp Edwards. 2002

camp dates will be announced in the Fall.

Over the years weve kept in contact with families and watched the

children grow to adulthood. Three of our current staff stayed at

Raphael House when they were children. Last Spring, we held a

high school graduation party for a girl who stayed here when she

was three years old. She and her mother have been volunteers ever

since. She has always been a wonderful artist and will be going tocollege this Fall at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Another family we see regularly stayed here five years ago. We

asked the mother, Rozelle, to leave because she dropped out of her

drug treatment program, but Peter Wright, our Program Director,

told her firmly that if she called him every day until she was able toget back into her program we mighttake her back. She did, andRozelle went on to become a successful peer counselor here and in

another program where she is now working.

Last year we had a single parent father taking care of his three year

old son, and doing it well, as far as I could tell. Marcus was working

full time. We had his boy in Day Care; they were always on time for

dinner; the little boy seemed happy and clean. Marcus was working

hard, but you could see fear in his eyes. How was he going to do al

this? He was really looking forward to re-uniting with his wife when

she got out of jail. We accepted her when she was released, but she

left after only a few days, throwing Marcus and his little boy into

tears and turmoil. But, Marcus kept going. I was a little worried

because he was pushing himself so hard. I wondered if he would

snap, but the predictability of Raphael House gave him patterns tosettle into, and after several months he made the successful move

into an apartment, juggling all his responsibilities and holding onto

his job.

Now that we have a web site, former residents who live in other

cities occasionally find us and send us a note. A young man con

tacted us recently:

I accidentally crossed your web-site this evening and just want toshare my experience about your facility.

I once stayed at the house probably about 22 years ago. I wa

about 4 or 5 years old then and lived there with my father andsister for a short period of time.

It was a time of crisis for us because my father was unemployed andrecently divorced from our mother. Supporting two young children was very difficult, if not, impossible for him. I really can

recall too much now at 27 years old; however, I did remember thename of the house, the good food I ate - my first meal was a tuna

sandwich, and especially celebrating my 5th birthday there. Eventhough it was a very simple little celebration, I remember receiv

ing a birthday cake, a couple of toys, and having some of the otherchildren who lived at the house celebrate this occasion.

In addition, I remember going to the beach, the park and playingbaseball. It was a lot of fun especially for such a young child who

didnt have very much to start with. But the small things in life likethose are very important to children especially during critica

stages of development.

Inevitably, our stay was short lived and we finally moved on. After

many years since this childhood experience, I still remember thewonderful staff that accommodated us.

Unfortunately, my dad passed away 2 years ago from pancreatic

cancer so we couldnt make a family visit like we someday had

planned to. My sister and I ended up graduating from high schooin California. She is now part of the management staff in a hotel in

Hawaii and is moving to New York shortly. I myself will be gradu-ating for the University of Southern Californias School of Medi-

cine in the fall. Unfortunately, I cant make a donation at this timebut promised myself to help out in any way after my educational

endeavors.

Once again, thank you for your hospitality through our familysdifficult time.

Many former residents from fifteen and twenty years back have

come by for a visit. One mother wanted to show her grown daugh

Raphael Housecont. from p. 5


13/16

The Orthodox Visio

ter where they stayed when the girl was three years old. The daugh-

ter had no memory of being homeless. A more recent resident told

me that if it hadnt been for Raphael House she wouldhave beenhomeless. For her, Raphael House was home, not homelessness.

My own children have lived at Raphael House all their lives. They

enter into art activities, go on field trips, and generally enjoy living

in a huge house with lots of other children. Elaine and I are often

asked if living at Raphael House has made our children more sensi-

tive, aware, and altruistic. Our answer: not that weve noticed. Buttheyre good kids, and gradually they are making the transition from

playing to helping. In fact it was our preference to have our children

unselfconsciously join in the activities and daily life of Raphael

House. For them, this isnt charity it is normal life. Their par-

ticipation has helped Elaine and me and other staff to broaden our

Childrens Program in ways that we felt were healthy all the way

around - more cultural activities, more outings into nature, and more

educational support. Its tough enough being a two-parent family.

How do these single parents do it?! We were able to draw volun-

teers and staff from the nearby private school our children attend,

strengthening our Childrens Program considerably. The experi-

ence of living here all these years has been good for our family and

good for Raphael House.

Residential Internships for Orthodox Women

Raphael House in San Francisco offers residential internships for

Orthodox Christian women who are interested in learning more about

serving families in crisis. The live-in staff have one floor of the

shelter, so we do have some privacy. Space is limited, however,

which is why we can only accept women interns or, occasionally, a

married couple. Over the past decade we have had more than thirty-

five live-in volunteers who came for internships as short as six weeks

or as long as nine months. Some students arrange in advance to

have their internship approved for credit as part of graduate orundergraduate course work. Non-academic internships are some-

times of interest to women who are changing their academic or ca-

reer path. More simply still, learning to serve families in crisis at

Raphael House is the way some of us feel called by God to serve

others. It may in fact have nothing whatsoever to do with academia

or a lucrative career path.

We frequently host international visitors who are interested in non-

profit administration generally from Russia, 2 or 3 at a time, in

cooperation with the Fund for International Non-Profit Develop-

ment. These mature visitors are struggling to build a new volunteer

service sector in Russia under incredibly difficult conditions. Elena

Novikova, in addition to her full time work with the families, is ourprimary hostess and translator for our Russian guests. In the years

to come, we hope to have more interns who come to us directly

through relationships within the Church. We would like to see a

network for Orthodox Christian internships that begins to compare

favorably with the already existing channels for secular and aca-

demic internships.

Ralitza Doynova oversees our Live-In Training Program. Anyone

applying for our residential training will be speaking with Ralitza.

We will also have Randa Aoun returning from St. Vladimirs Semi-

nary where she recently received her Masters Degree in Theology.

Randa began working at Raphael House nine years ago and has a

passion for training and outreach. While working for Raphael House

she has organized the sorting of thousands of pounds of good

clothing for container shipments to Russia (through the Diocesan

Outreach to Refugees), and also remains active in her Antiochian

Church.

Hundreds of Volunteers and No Government Funds

Raphael House of San Francisco does not accept government money

Our support comes from individual donors, foundations, corpora-

tions and revenues from our Thrift Store and special events

Fundraising turns out to be more enjoyable than any of us imagined

before we started doing it. We get to meet a lot of people who are

looking for ways to help, and our many volunteers from the corpo-

rate community have been a welcome result.

We have 300 regular volunteers at all levels within the agency. When

we add all of the corporate groups who come in for one time specia

projects, we have as many as 1200 volunteers in a typical year

Many of these groups cook and serve dinner on Monday and Thurs-

day nights. Some of these are Church groups, but most are corpo

rate volunteers from San Franciscos nearby financial district, such

as the Charles Schwab Company, Price Waterhouse Coopers and

the local hotel industry. There is a lot of talent and creativity al

around us, and it is most efficiently harnessed when a vision for

helping people is in place, and volunteer opportunities are well or

ganized.

We are fortunate to have Priest Thomas Alessandroni on our staff

He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who provides some of the

case management for our families and who has helped oversee the

residential program for the past five years. Matushka Angela

Alessandroni also works here as our personnel manager and corpo-

rate secretary.

You can learn more about our programs by visiting raphaelhouse.orgwhich is in turn linked to Holy Trinity Cathedrals website. Im

hoping that everyone who is reading this article will come by for a

visit the next time you are in San Francisco. Some of you will be here

this October for our Diocesan Assembly and we will be arranging

tours. As for the rest of you, youll likely visit San Francisco sooner

or later. When you do, give us a call. Wed love to show you

Raphael House and the work we do with families.

For more informa-

tion on Raphael

House in San

Francisco see their

website at www.

Raphaelhouse.org

If you are inter-ested in the in-

ternship pro-

gram or volun-

teering to help,

contact t

staff at Raphael

House.

11


14/16

Facing the World

Diocesan Teen Weekend 2001For youth in grades 9-12

The 2001 Diocesan Teen Weekend will again be held in Las Vegas at St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church

This years presentation and discussion will be led by Fr. Eric Tosi

The Retreat begins on Friday evening, October 26 through Sunday afternoon, October 28

This year we will go on hike through the beautiful Red Rock Canyon

Items to Bring:Sleeping Bag Pillow, towel, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, sneakers, hiking shoes, sweatshirt/sweaters/

jackets, Church clothes and shoes, Bible and prayer book

12

The Orthodox Vision

Please return the bottom portion of this form together with your Medical Information/Permission Form and Registration Fee

Diocesan Teen Weekend 2001October 26 -28, 2001

St Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church

5400 Annie Oakley Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89120 Telephone: (702) 898-4800Registration Fee: $20.00 per person

Please make checks payable to: St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church

And send to: 5400 Annie Oakley Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89120

Attn: Diocesan Teen Weekend 2001

Name: _________________________________ Age: _____________ Present Grade: ______

Address: _________________________________ Telephone: _____________

City: _________________________________ State: _____________ Zip: _________

AdditionalNames: _________________________________ Age: _____________ Present Grade: _____

_________________________________ Age: _____________ Present Grade: _____

_________________________________ Age: _____________ Present Grade: _____

Home Parish: ____________________________ City/State: ___________________________________

For Office Use Only:Amount Paid: ___________ Medical Information/

Cash/Check: #___________ Permission Form: ___


15/1613

The Orthodox Visio

From the Fathers

Saturday evening September 8, 1990, Fr Alexander Men delivered atalk on Christianity as part of a series of talks on world faiths. His

audience were citizens of the Soviet Union who had grown up underan atheistic society and whose knowledge of Christ was rudimen-

tary. Some who knew Fr Alexander felt he talked differently thisnight, almost as if giving his last testament. Fr Alexander would bemurdered early the following morning, leaving his home en route to

serve the Divine Liturgy.

What does it mean, however, to have faith in Jesus Christ? Does it

mean to believe that such a man lived on earth? That would not be

faith, but knowledge. The fact that he lived was recorded by his con-

temporaries, and the gospel writers left reliable evidence. Todays his-

torian will agree that such a man was a real historical figure. Attempts

to assert that Christ was a mere myth have long

been refuted, except, of course, in our country,where the notion has been upheld as in a won-

der preserve. So what does it mean to believe in

Him? Does it mean to believe that he came from

the world beyond? This is also true, but only

theory all the same. Here we must recall that

faith which was declared in the Old Testament:

faith as trust in being. When Abraham said yes

to God, he probably uttered nothing, but in si-

lence submitted to His call, giving birth to faith.

In ancient Hebrew the word for faith is emuna,

from the word aman, or faithfulness. Faith is

therefore closely related to faithfulness: While

God was true to His promise, man was to be

faithful to God, weak and sinful as he was.

But if the God to whom man was then faithful

was a secret and awesome, sometimes remote

Creator God, Christ revealed through himself a

new dimension of God. He hardly ever used the word God, but

instead addressed Him as his Father. And in his earthly life he used

the tender and affectionate (but untranslatable) word that children in

the East use when addressing their father. Christ reveals God as our

heavenly Father, and in so doing he creates brothers and sisters, for

brothers and sisters are possible only where there is a common father.

So our common spiritual Father is God. And the mystery of the Gospelis this: an openness of the heart to the news of Jesus Christ. This is

because each of us knows very well how weak and confused we are,

and how every manner of sin and disorder has built its nest inside us.

Of course there is a strength which Christ gives freely. In Russian it is

called blagodat: a blessing which is given, not earned. We must make

the effort, as well as struggle with sin and strive for self-perfection, as

long as we remember that we can only do the preparatory work. Herein

lies the fundamental difference between Christianity and Yoga, which

maintains that man can reach God and become part of Him of his own

accord, so to speak. Christianity teaches, on the contrary, that while

man can perfect himself, it is impossible to reach God as long as He

himself does not come to man.

So grace surpasses the Law. The Law is the first stage of religion

which begins with childhood, where dos and donts are necessary

until grace comes through an internal encounter with God. That en-counter is like love, rejoicing, victory, and the music of the spheres

Grace is new life. St. Paul tells us of the dispute which arose between

those who wished to keep the ancient Old Testament rites and those

who did not. The only thing that was ultimately important was a new

creation, and faith, which acts in love. And in fact the only thing tha

was ultimately important was a new creation, and faith, which acts in

love. This is authentic Christianity. All else (everything associated

with culture) is historical wrapping, frame, and environment.

I am speaking of the very essence of Christian faith: the limitless value

of human individuality, the victory over death and decay, and a new

covenant which grows like a little acorn into a

tree, or which does to history that which leavendoes to dough. And today Gods kingdom mys-

teriously manifests itself among us as we do

good, show love, contemplate beauty, or fee

the fullness of life. Jesus taught that the King-

dom is not only in the distant future or in futur

istic contemplation: it exists here and now. The

Kingdom of Heaven will come, but has already

come. The world will be judged, but is already

being judged. Now is the judgment of this

world, said Christ when he proclaimed the gos-

pel for the first time. Elsewhere he said, And

this is the judgment, that the light has come into

the world, and men loved darkness rather than

light... The judgment began during Jesus min-

istry in Galilee, and spread to Jerusalem

Golgotha, the Roman Empire, Europe in the

middle ages, Russia, and into this century and

beyond. The judgment will continue through

out human history because history is Christian as the world keep

step with the Son of Man.

Finally, the essence of Christianity is found in God-manhood, or the

joining of the organic and temporal human spirit with that of the Eter-

nal and Divine. It is found in the sanctification of the flesh, for the

world and nature, which is the birthplace of the Son of Man as bothman and God-man, was not cast away or degraded, but elevated to a

new level and sanctified ever since the Son of Man took upon himself

our joys and sufferings, our creation, our love and labor. In Christian

ity the world is sanctified, while evil, sin and death are conquered. Bu

the victory is Gods. It began on Resurrection morning, and will con

tinue as long as the world remains. With that I shall end, and next time

address the way in which this mystery of Godmanhood was worked

out in specific Christian churches. Thank you.

Translation 1994 Steve Griffin. The entirety of this lecture is on the Fr Alexander Men Web Site (http:// home.earthlink.net/~amenpage), which contains other material by and aboput Fr. Alexander. This was reprinted with thei

permission.

Excerpts from Christianity by Fr Alexander Men

(September 8, 1990) on the eve of his assassination

In Christianity the world is sanctified, while evil, sin and death are conquered. But the victory is Gods. It began on Resurrection

morning, and will continue as long as the world remains. Fr. Alexander Men


16/16

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Summer 2001 Orthodox Vision Newsletter, Diocese of the West