NINETEENTH ANNUAL PITTSBURGH DEANERY MEETING
ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Aliquippa, PA - His Grace Bishop Dr.MITROPHAN maintains a strong and continuing interest in the quality of Christian Education in the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
His Grace's commitment to improving Christian Education is evident by His consistent scheduling of and participation in Annual Deanery Meetings.
The Nineteenth Annual Pittsburgh Deanery Meeting was held on Saturday December 17, 2005 at St.Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania The featured speaker was host priest and Dean of the Pittsburgh Deanery, Protopresybter Stavrofor Stevan Stepanov. Proto Stepanov has served the St.Elijah Church since 1973. Throughout his priesthood in the parish, Proto Stevan has taken a strong and definite interest in the altar servers and epistle readers.
Proto Stepanov developed a book of procedures for use with altar servers.
His talk at this Deanery meeting drew heavily upon his personal experience with altar boys in the parish during these past thirty three years.
This was the first Deanery meeting and first Christian Education gathering in many, many years when +Steve Milos Klipa would not be in attendance. +Steve Klipa's departure from this life came two days following his participation in last year's Deanery meeting on December 18, 2004.
The Pittsburgh Deanery includes Pennsylvania parishes in Aliquippa, Carmichaels, Clairton, Johnstown, Monroeville, Mckeesport, Midland, Pittsburgh, and Youngwood. The Holy Resurrection Church in Steubenville, Ohio and the Holy Trinity Mission in Fairmont, West Virginia complete the Pittsburgh Deanery. Parish reports on the highlights of the educational programs were presented and discussed.
His Grace Bishop Dr.MITROPHAN questioned the meeting participants on what it takes to attract children to classes, to maintain their interest and to keep them for the future. His Grace encouraged the parishes to send the children to Shadeland Camp and to conduct local parish day camps.
Father Rodney Torbic