CrossRoad June 2011

Day 11

After our last chapel service and breakfast together, we had our closing activities and said goodbye as participants left campus and traveled home.

Day 10

The Last full day of CrossRoad began with Orthros and a session on "Life Giving Relationships." Then, we left for some fun in the sun at a beach on the North Shore of Massachusetts. CrossRoaders and Staff spent the afternoon playing and relaxing before returning for the closing activities.

Day 9

Following Orthros and Divine Liturgy, students joined Dr. Rossi for "Prayer and Purity" Part II. After lunch, CrossRoaders visited two different nursing homes, where they spent time talking and dancing to lively music with the residents. In the late afternoon, participants attended a Vespers service in the Holy Cross Chapel, followed by Vocation and Missions with Fr. Luke Veronis.

Day 8

Today, The CrossRoad participants were up early to embark on a “Breakfast Search” (unable to be photographed). In small groups with CrossRoad staff, we invited some of the homeless population to have breakfast and share their personal journey with us. Afterward, all the groups gathered together in Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church to share their experiences. Since we had risen so early in the morning, CrossRoaders were given “Be Still Time.” This is a time to reflect on their experiences thus far, write in their journals, read, or nap. In the evening the participants attended Vespers at St. Mary’s Antiochian Churh and had a session on “Prayer and Purity” from our guest speaker, Dr. Albert Rossi.

Day 7

Today, after their last day of classes, The CrossRoad participants took some free time to play basketball, read, and play board games together. They enjoyed a visit to Annunciation Cathedral in the afternoon. In the evening, the participants wrapped up Stage 2 and had and introduction to Stage 3, “Vocation & Christ in the Face of the Neighbor.”

Day 6

Today, the CrossRoad participants attended a third day of classes. Afterward, they went to the historic Quincy Market in Faneuil Hall. There, they enjoyed some free time to shop, eat, and spend time together. The participants visited Holy Ressurection Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Allston where they had dinner and attended Vespers. In the evening, they participated in the staff-led “Apologia” session.

Day 5

Today, the CrossRoad participants attended their second day of classes. After lunch, they enjoyed some time in the Holy Cross bookstore followed by a session on “Faith and Science.”After a visit to St. George Albanian Church, the participants shared a “Night with the Saints,” where they learned about the lives of some of the Saints of the Church and venerated some of the Saints’ relics in the Holy Cross Chapel

Day 4

Today, the Crossroad participants began classes in Scripture and Theology with our esteemed guest professors, Fr. Thomas Hopko and Dr. John Barnet. After classes, the participants went on a Duck Tour of beautiful Boston and traveled to the park across the street from Holy Trinity OCA Cathedral. Here, they enjoyed games and a picnic before attending Vespers at Holy Trinity. In the evening, the participants were visited by Gerondissa Photini of All Saints Monastery in New York.

Day 3

Today, after Orthros and Breakfast, the participants walked to the nearby Larz Anderson Park. Here, they explored Orthodoxy and Beauty and enjoyed a beautiful day – sunny and eighty degrees. In the afternoon, they visited St. Mark’s Coptic Church and nearby Natick Square. This evening we had a session on the Sanctification of Time followed by a reflection by CrossRoad Participants on the first stage of CrossRoad, “Wrestling with Vocation.”

Day 2

Today we began our first full day of CrossRoad with a Divine Liturgy in the Holy Cross Chapel. After brunch our group boarded a bus to Project Adventure for team building activities. We returned to campus in the evening to discuss the afternoon's activities and for a session about the Orthodox Christian understanding of vocation.

Day 1

All CrossRoad participants arrived safely today. After getting settled in the dorms, they attended a Vespers service in the beautiful campus Chapel and enjoyed a delicious meal together. After staff introductions, the participants played icebreaker games and performed skits about the signature themes they learned about through the StrengthsFinder assessment. They are so excited for their first full day of learning and activities tomorrow!