From Tuesday, February 25th to Friday, February 28th, 2025, under the Auspices of His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak, the Annual Archdiocesan Clergy Retreat was hosted at the Mor Aphrem Center in Paramus, New Jersey.
On Tuesday evening Malphono George Kiraz presented the first session, reviewing the Antioch Bible and all the comments and remarks we thankfully received from our clergy and parishioners.
On Wednesday and Thursday the main focus was on the Dale Carnegie organization, which specializes in training for public speaking, and leadership. Their training provided techniques to improve on storytelling, on sermons, how to connect with the faithful, and communicating authentically, when delivering God’s message.
On Thursday evening, His Eminence Mor Andrawos Bahhi led a spiritual meditation night for all the clergy about Noah and the flood.
On Friday morning, two sessions were held, the first one was to discuss pastoral issues, how to strategize the future of our Archdiocese, and focusing mainly on our Youth. For the second session, the clergy retreat hosted Sub-Deacon Dr. Gabriel Aydin who gave an idea about his new Syriac hymnal app.
In conclusion of the Clergy Retreat, Their Eminence’s Mor Dionysius John Kawak and Mor Andrawos Bahhi celebrated the Holy Liturgy at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Paramus, New Jersey, assisted by V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Chamoun and Rev. Fr. Imad Al-Banna, and in the presence of all the Clergy of the Eastern Archdiocese, on the occasion of Shamosho Joseph Shammas’s ordination as priest youth minister for the Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church for the Eastern United States.
