St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA

Outdoor Religious Program - August 11, 2002
by Fr. Rodney Torbic

as appeared in the Masontown Sentinel - August 29, 2002
and the American Srbrobran - September 4, 2002

Outdoor Religious Program - Carmichaels

The second outdoor religious program of the summer was held at the St.George Serbian Orthodox Church in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania on August ll, 2002. The focus was on the Mother of God due to the Dormition Fast beginning on August 14.

Parish Executive Board President Nick Yackovich was the first speaker of the afternoon. Mr. Yackovich, a doctoral candidate in Psychology at West Virginia University, has extensive experience in working with adult and juvenile offenders in correctional institutions and the community and is a Licensed Social Worker. His topic was "The Mother of God and Integrity."

The purity of the Mother of God was held up by Mr. Yackovich as an example for listeners to consider. He spoke of integrity as is written about in the Psalms. The words from Psalm 25:21 addressed to the Lord God are instructive: "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You."

The second speaker was Millient "Mitzie" Hunchuck, Parish Nurse Practioner. Mitzi is a military veteran with an established record of providing nursing services in a variety of settings. Currently, she is works full time with the elderly suffering mental and emotional problems. Mitzi is the first official Parish Nurse Practioner of the St. George Church and is working to develop the parish nursing program

Nurse Practioner Hunchuck spoke on "The Healthiness of Fasting" With the Dormition Fast as the framework for her talk, Mitzie spoke of the medical soundness of the Church’s teachings regarding the fast. She said there was no healthier food to eat than the food normally eaten during periods of fasting.

Father Rodney Torbic was the third speaker. His topic was "The Dormition Fast", a talk centering on the Mother of God as being honored and chosen by God from all women of all centuries. When we think of the Mother of God, we learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ.

An Akathist to the Mother of God concluded the afternoon religious program. The Akathist was served at the Cross in the St. George Cemetery. Sonia Janson, St. George Choir Director and Kolo President, coordinated the responses which included participation by Peter and Paige Shlosky.

This is the third year outdoor religious programs have been held at the St.George Serbian Orthodox Church in Carmichaels, They have become an integral part of the parish picnics.

A new sound system was installed by friend of the parish Tom Hunter especially for this program to improve listening capability. Mr.Hunter has extraordinary skills and interest in electronics, does considerable work for the St.George Church, and knows well the pioneer work of Nikola Tesla. It is important to use the knowledge and skills of Orthodox Christians working in the fields of health care and human services for the benefit of parish communities. This program was an effort toward that end.

Back to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Carmichaels - Home Page