Communiqué of the 2011 Great Lenten Clergy Retreat

Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America

Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

We, the clergy of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, gathered together in Des Plaines, Illinois, at the Cathedral of the Holy Protection for prayer and discussion of current pastoral concerns.

We offered our condolences to the Carpatho-Russian Diocese on the repose of Metropolitan Nicholas, and also to the parishioners of Holy Trinity Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana on the repose of Father Andrey Korolenko.

We noted the recent positive growth of the diocese, particularly the new temples in Austin, Spring, and McKinney, Texas dedicated to the Holy Protection, St. Jonah, and St. Nicholas, respectively. We discussed the need to commit ourselves and our parishioners to the missionary work of the St. John Kochurov Society.

We discussed the ongoing need for attention to our youth, specifically through continued support of the ORPR Camp. We thanked Father Andrei Sommer for his presentation on the work of the Synodal Youth Committee.

We expressed our support and offered prayers for our suffering brethren in Japan.

We reaffirmed our commitment to monastic life in the diocese and began making plans for the next monastic retreat in the diocese.

We discussed plans for the 2012 Diocesan Assembly.

We heard Father Martin Swanson’s report on the Diocesan Pastoral School. We discussed the need to identify candidates for the school from our parishes to strengthen the overall level of theological education in our diocese.

Having gathered together in prayer for the commemoration of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, we hope and pray that the unity of Christ’s Body we experienced here be manifested throughout the diocese.

Accepted unanimously by the assembled clergymen of the diocese.