Office of Vocation & Ministry

2013 CrossRoad Alumni Retreat

Fifty-seven smiling faces enlivened the Hellenic College Holy Cross campus on Friday, April 5, marking the beginning of a three-day alumni retreat for past participants of the CrossRoad Summer Institute. CrossRoad is a ten-day program for sixty Orthodox Christian high school juniors and seniors; it will celebrate its tenth anniversary this summer.

The retreat began with a combined session on campus, featuring all four past and present CrossRoad directors--Dr. Ann Bezzerides, Dn. Nick Belcher, Mary Long, and Mike Tishel--who presented on different aspects of the Office of Vocation & Ministry’s definition of vocation, “One’s unique and ongoing response to Christ’s call to love God with heart, soul, strength and mind and one’s neighbor as oneself. “ Young men and women traveled from as far as California and Tennessee to engage in a weekend of theological and vocational reflection, worship, quiet time, and communal recreation. Attendees were challenged to re-examine their understanding of vocation in relation to their faith and their call to love.

For the first time ever, post-college CrossRoad alumni had their own retreat track designed especially for emerging adults.

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Students discuss faith & science

The March Roundtable session took place at the home of Dn. Nick Belcher, who also generously provided a deligious Arabic dinner for the group as they discussed this month's topic, "Evolution and Creationism." The students delved into a dialogue which touched on how we tend to think about reason and faith, and what we can ultimately say about our place in Creation. The group is facilitated by students, and participants are given materials prior to the event to help prepare for an informed discussion. The next Roundtable discussion will be centered on "The Role of a Spiritual Father."

Hospice chaplain speaks to women students on campus

On a beautiful Saturday morning in March, a group of Hellenic College Holy Cross students gathered for the second installment of the Women in Leadership & Service Breakfast Series with Sarah Byrne-Martelli, a Board Certified Chaplain endorsed by the OCA. Fruitful discussion took place as Sarah shared her story as an Orthodox woman serving the Body of Christ. She spoke of her undergraduate experience studying abroad in Greece, graduate studies at Harvard Divinity School (enrolling in various Holy Cross courses through the Boston Theological Institute), and her current role as a chaplain. As a hospice chaplain, Sarah offers a compassionate presence to those nearing end of life and their families in hospital and home care settings. For her work, Sarah draws on Matthew 25, understanding these individuals as Christ, Himself. Students greatly appreciated Sarah's visit, which has introduced them to a new possibility for inspiring service in ministry. The Women in Leadership and Service group is led by Holy Cross graduate student Danielle Xanthos, who also serves on CrossRoad staff.