Dear Brother Deacons, Wives and Deacon Candidates,

We hope that all of you are well and are enjoying a wonderful summer.  Thank you for your positive response to last year’s Deacon Retreat and to the initial advertising for this year’s retreat.  This Retreat plays a critical role in the ongoing formation of our Deacons, and will be held again in the Jesuit Retreat Center in Parma near our Cathedral during the weekend of November 2-4, 2018.  Attached to this email is a Registration Packet which includes Retreat Master Bio and Retreat Description.

The theme of the Retreat is, “Liturgy in the Life of the Church”

The Retreat Master is Fr Deacon Dr Daniel Galadza, who is a lecturer at the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, in Canada, and at the Three Holy Hierarchs Seminary of the Kyiv Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He is excited to be with us.

The Retreat Spiritual Director is Fr Vsevelod “Sal” Shevchuk, Pastor of Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church, Akron, Ohio.

The Wives Retreat Director (Conference #4) is Pani Kate Loya.  She is the wife of Fr Deacon Greg Loya from Saint John the Baptist Byzantine Ruthenian Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, and the mother of eight children. The wives will love her message.

The Program will begin on Friday, November 2^nd at 7:30pm.  The Retreat will end on Sunday November 4^th with a 1:30 luncheon with Bishop Bohdan.  For more information, please see attached Registration/Program information. Deadline for registration is Monday, October 22^nd .  Late registrations can be made, but there will be no guarantee that all retreat materials will be available.  The cost per Deacon for two nights is $235.00,  (Cost per Wives is $185.00) which covers a double occupancy private room  with two twin beds, linens, towels, coffee and beverage, Saturday Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and Sunday Breakfast and Lunch. There will be NO Friday night dinner offered, so please make Friday dining arrangements on your own.  Deacon registration costs should be covered by the Deacon’s parish.  Wives’ registration costs are not covered by Deacon’s parish.

Each participant should bring a copy of:

• Bible
• Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
• Notepad or notebook; a pencil or pen.

Please remember to do the following:

• Provide your ordination date in the registration packet that you are returning, as serving assignments will be made according to seniority.
• Bring and wear cassock (Inner Riasa), and Rason as appropriate, especially at church services when not serving.
• Bring your own vestments.
• Disclose any special accommodation or dietary needs in regard to sleeping, mobility, food, etc.

We look forward to you and your wives attending.  Please pray for our diaconal ministry, our families, our parishes, our church, and the success of this Retreat and the coming together of so many Brother Deacons, Deacon Candidates and Wives in Christ our God. Let us all pray daily for one another. Please contact us if you have any questions about the Eparchial Deacon Retreat.

Co-Chairmen, 2018 Eparchial Deacon and Wives Retreat Committee

Fr. Deacon Trevor Fernandes                          Fr. Deacon Myron Spak

St. Michael the Archangel Parish                       Holy Trinity Parish
2646 Latonia Blvd.                                            326 Rockfield Rd
Toledo, Ohio 43606                                           Pittsburgh, PA 15243
419-206-0751                                                    412-303-9086
[email protected]                                      [email protected]