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Diocesan Altarboy Retreat 2004
The annual Altarboys Retreat took place at Christ the Saviour Seminary and Cathedral in Johnstown, PA. This year there were 63 participants. The retreat participants were given an opportunity to learn more about the priestly vocation and seminary. The posted photos show scenes from the well-balanced program of prayer, instruction and fellowship. This year's retreatmaster is the Very Rev. Protopresbyter David Smoley, Pastor of Sts Peter and Paul Church in Windber, PA. He was assisted by The Very Protopresbyter John Fedornock, the Very Rev. Fathers, Robert Buczak, David Cochran, Luke Mihaly, Peter Paproski and Michael Zak, the Rev. Fathers George Dursa, Stephen Loposky and Miles Zdinak and the Rev. Deacons Kenneth Ellis & Michael Ellis.
Fr. David Smoley, Retreat Master, bestows the "Altarboy of the Year" award upon Jonathan Bannon of St. John's Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Jonathan was presented with a small icon of the Holy Apostle Timothy, the Patron Saint of our Diocesan altarboys. A larger icon with the recipient's name engraved in the back will be enshrined in his home parish for the period of a year, at which time it will be transfered to the new recipient's parish.
Fr. David Cochran, of St. John's Church, Bridgeport, leads the first Plain Chant rehearsal. During the retreat the young men beautifully sang the responses to Divine Liturgy, the Panachida Service and the Moleben to St. Nectarios.
A Highlight of Tuesday was a visit to the Windber Coal Heritage Center.
A scene from Tuesday Evening's "Stump the Clergy" trivia game.
"Receive the Body of Christ..."
The altarboys from St. Michael's Church of Binghamton, NY, prepare for the journey home.
Group Photo of Retreat 2004 Staff and Participants
Saints Peter and Paul Church, Central City, PA, was the site of a Moleben to St. Nectarios, sung by the altarboys on Tuesday evening. The parish graciously provided a delicious spaghetti supper for the young men.
Metropolitan Nicholas poses with diocesan altarboys after Liturgy.
Clergy concelebrants of the Divine Liturgy
Altar servers line up for the procession to the Church prior to Tuesday Morning's Divine Liturgy.
Tuesday evening Iconographer Cheryl Pituch gave a presentation and demonstration on Orthodox Iconography in the Picnic Pavillion at Sts Peter and Paul Church, Windber, PA.
A Panachida, sung by the diocesan altarboys, was sung at the site of the 911 crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA