Articles about Father John Kowalczyk's work as a prison Chaplin and his students at St. Tikhon's who participate as part of their class work in Pastoral Theology.

On Friday, January 29, on ANCIENT FAITH RADIO, Fr. John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, hosted a Sanctity of Life Special live from St. Tikhon's Seminary: "Beneath Thy Compassion: A Sanctity of Life Special on Compassionate Ministry and the Mother of God."

Father Parker welcomed special guests from across the nation who shared profound words of encouragement, deep theological thought, and practical ministry successes to encourage all to celebrate with joy the Sanctity of Human Life.

Guests and Speakers included:

Archbishop Michael, Fr. Joel Wilson, Abbot Sergius, the nuns of Transfiguration Monastery, Frederica Mathewes-Green, Fr. Joseph Ciarciaglino, Fr. Robert Miclean, Fr. Maximos Constas, Fr. Matthew Tate, Emily Wilkinson, Fr. John Kowalczyk, Dr. David Ford, Fr. Chad Hatfield, and the St. Tikhon’s Seminary Choir.

The Parish Festival Committee of St. Michael's Orthodox Church in Jermyn announces our 10th annual Church Festival: "Christmas in September" which is scheduled for September 27, 28, and 29, 2019, at St. Michael's Center, 403 Delaware Street, Jermyn, PA.

St. Michael's Orthodox Church, in Jermyn, is blessed to have three summer interns: Seminarian James Latimer who is entering his third and final year in September at St. Tikhon's Seminary, and is working with the Choir with rehearsals, giving homilies, attending Church Committee Meetings and Parish Festival Meetings, participating weekly in Prison Ministry with Fr. John at SCI Waymart, and is keeping a journal of all his activities.

Peter Simko and Matthew McDonald are seminarians under Bishop Paul of Chicago and the Diocese of the Mid-West and are completing a head start mandated from Bishop Paul to get involved in active parish ministry during the summer.

Peter Simko has also been having weekly choir rehearsals, attending Church Committee Meetings, Parish Festival Meetings, reading in Church, chanting services during the week, assisting Fr. John in Funerals and special celebrations, participating in weekly visits with Fr. John to SCI Waymart and getting acclimated to prison ministry.

Matthew McDonald is serving in the Altar, reading in Church, participating in weekly services, attending meetings, and in August when he returns from vacation, will be involved in Weekly Prison Ministry.

We are grateful to Archbishop Mark for encouraging such programs for us, where Seminarians get parish experience during the summer and in return help ignite a real and fresh excitement for the local Church.

On Wednesday, November 29^th and Thursday, November 30, 2017, The Very Rev. John Kowalczyk was invited by the Drexel University College of Medicine to be a major presenter at the 25^th Annual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference. Fr. John gave his three hour presentation on Wednesday, November 29 on: "How to Minister and Navigate with the Religiously Fixated Mentally Ill Inmate" and explored the "Theology of the Ministry of Presence" and how to affirm and treat the whole person with the healing of Mind, Body and Soul.

St. Mary's Altar Society of St. Michael's Orthodox Church presents the 2017 Harvest Dance and Dinner Buffet: Saturday evening, November 4th, at St. Michael's Center, 403 Delaware Street, Jermyn, PA 18433. See below for details.

The 8th Annual Parish Festival “Christmas in September and Car Show” on September 22 through 24 at St. Michael's Center in Jermyn, Pennsylvania, was a tremendous success. Very Rev. John Kowalczyk and Protodeacon Gabriel Petorak accept a check on behalf of St. Michael's Orthodox Church from St. Michael's Council President and Festival Committee Chairman, George Petorak. We give thanks to the hard-working Committee members and to everyone who supported our Parish Festival as we embraced the greater community with our open hearts and hospitality.

St. Michael's Festival Committee announces the 2017 Christmas in September to be held Friday, September 22 from 4 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, September 23 from 11 am to 8 pm; and Sunday, September 24 from 9 am to 4 pm, which will include a car show. The event will be held at St. Michael's Center, 403 Delaware Street, Jermyn, PA 18433 and will include live bands, homemade ethnic foods, raffles, children's activities and much more.

On Thursday, August 17th and Friday, August 18, His Eminence, Archbishop Mark, Spiritual liaison, for the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry "OCPM" to the Assembly of Bishops of North America, and Archpriest John Kowalczyk, Secretary of the Board of Directors of OCPM recently traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the Bi-Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors. During the meeting, Archpriest John Kowalczyk was elected again for another three year term as Executive Secretery A full story will be made available of the trip and the relationship of OCPM Minnesota to the National organization.

The staff of the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) participated in the 53rd  Annual Antiochian Archdiocesan 

Assembly in Miami, Florida, from July 24th to July 28th, spreading the message of the Orthodox Prison Ministry. God's blessings to all the participants: Fr. John Kowalczyk (Secretary of the OCPM Board of Directors), Paul Politis (Director of OCPM Operations), Fr. Stephen Powley (Executive Director of OCPM), Matushka Katherine Kowalczyk, Vicki Haskopoulos, and Presbytera Ashley Powley.

Home Made Holiday Rolls for Sale: Nut, Poppy, Apricot, Lekvar, and Pineapple Coconut. $10.00 each. Advance orders Please call Ruth Ann at 570-876-1456. For your convenience, the Home Holiday Rolls are available weekly and on Sunday following services. They are  made by the bakers of St. Michael’s Center in Jermyn, Pennsylvania.