CR July 2016-Day 10

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Yesterday, the participants spent the day at the beach and upon their return, they were given an opportunity to reflect on all they learned in Stage 3. After, they participated in a closing session and then had an opportunity to share their talents with one another in a group talent show! Wow, you have some talented children!!!

We are sad to say goodbye to this amazing, smart, talented, and wise group of students. We have grown to love them dearly and have been so inspired to watch them “take the challenge” of CrossRoad. We do however look forward to returning them to you, their friends and family, spiritually refreshed, rejuvenated, and probably a little exhausted!

CrossRoad July 2016-Day 10

Day 9 – July 2016

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Yesterday, after celebrating Orthros on campus, the CrossRoaders heard part two of Dr. Rossi’s talk, “Prayer and Purity.” At lunch time they were joined by many of the senior administration from Hellenic College Holy Cross and supporters of CrossRoad!

In the afternoon they were given an opportunity to serve their elderly neighbor, another neighbor that is often marginalized. The participants went to two different nursing homes and spent time talking and engaging in activities with the elderly. It brought the residents much joy to have so many loving visitors!

In the evening we enjoyed a special visit from Fr. Luke Veronis who gave a talk on his experiences serving as a missionary in Africa and Albania.

Day 8 – July 2016

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Early yesterday morning, the participants woke up and went into Cambridge to break bread with the homeless. In small groups of one staff member with 3-4 students, the CrossRoaders approached people, bought them breakfast, and sat and ate with them, learning about their lives and getting to know them. It was an extremely moving experience for all. It is very profound to acknowledge Christ in the face of a neighbor that we often overlook.

After a naptime, the participants engaged in the staff-led session, “Sanctification of Time”. In the evening, we had the blessing of hearing a talk on Prayer & Purity by our beloved, Dr. Albert Rossi, who has been a CR guest speaker since the first program in 2004.

The participants have been busy learning how to take the information they have received over the past week and put it into action by serving Christ and neighbor!

Day 7 – July 2016

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Yesterday the participants engaged in their third day of Theology and Scripture courses! They are learning so much and are asking many wonderful questions. The staff has been really impressed with their participation in discussion groups.

Following the lectures, we took our second adventure into downtown Boston where we had lunch and walked around Faneuil Hall, one of the oldest, most historic sites in the country!

Last evening, we ventured into Boston to visit St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church where we celebrated Vespers.

Last evening was also the end of Stage 2, “Vocation and Christ.” The participants were again given the chance to journal and reflect on all they learned during Stage 2. Many of the CrossRoaders got up in front of their peers and shared their reflections. We closed the night by preparing for Stage 3, “Vocation and Christ in the Face of the Other.” They were challenged to answer the question, “who is my neighbor” and explored what it means to serve our neighbor. So much good learning, and we are thankful to be together in this wonderful community.

Day 6 – July 2016

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After starting their day with Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross Chapel, the participants engaged in their third day of theology and Scripture courses! The staff has been really impressed with their participation in discussion groups.

In the afternoon, they had a chance to visit the Hellenic College Holy Cross Bookstore. Many of them will return home with some great books and HCHC apparel!

Last evening we ventured into West Roxbury to visit St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church where we celebrated vespers and the parish priest spoke to us about the community at St. George. The CrossRoaders also participated in a staff-led session titled “Vocation & Suffering.” So much good learning, and we are thankful to be together in this wonderful community.

Day 5 – July 2016

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Yesterday, we had our second day of theology and scripture classes which was followed by an interactive staff-led session on Faith & Science. These lectures and sessions have sparked thoughtful and insightful questions and comments from the participants!

Last evening concluded with a parish visit to Holy Resurrection Bulgarian Orthodox Church and was followed by a very special staff-led session in the Holy Cross Chapel titled, “Night with the Saints.” In this session, the participants were divided into small groups to “meet” different Saints, venerate icons and relics in the Holy Cross Chapel, and learn what sainthood means. The takeaway of the evening was that every person has the opportunity and calling to be a Saint.

Day 4 – July 2016

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Yesterday the participants had their first day of theology and scripture classes with Dr. Bruce Beck (Assistant Professor of New Testament, Director of Pappas Patristic Institute, and Director of Religious Studies Program at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology) and Dr. James Skedros (Dean of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Michael G. and Anastasia Cantonis Professor of Byzantine Studies and Professor of Early Christianity at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology). Small staff-led break out discussion groups followed their theology and scripture lectures.

In the afternoon, we all went downtown and had a picnic on the Boston Common. We then took a tour at the Skywalk of the Prudential Center, the tallest building in Boston that offers a 360 degree view of the city.

Following our adventures in Boston, we visited St. George Cathedral, the Albanian Orthodox Church in America in South Boston for dinner and vespers. There, the parish priest and Archbishop Nikkon of the Albanian Orthodox Church spoke with us about the history of the Orthodox Church in Albania. In the evening, Deacon Mike (CrossRoad director) spoke with the participants about vocation and monasticism.

It was a full day of fun, learning, and growing close as a group!

Day 3 – July 2016

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Yesterday morning after Orthros, the participants explored the magnitude and beauty of God’s creation through the interactive session, Sanctification of Creation. In the afternoon, we had an engaging interactive session on popular culture. After, we took a tour and heard a talk at St. Mark’s Coptic Church. Yesterday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Gardner offered an engaging session on Orthodoxy and Public Activism based on their experience working with refugees in the Middle East. It was an eye opening session hearing their stories of their time in the Middle East and their experience of breaking down barriers to get to know the other.

Yesterday evening completed stage 1 of CrossRoad. All of the participants were invited to share their reflections on the first stage of CrossRoad, “Wrestling with Vocation.” It is very moving to hear how much they participants are learning already!

They are all really engaging with the content as well as growing close as a group. The laughter in the cafeteria and on the bus is such a joyful sound to hear! Please continue to keep us all in your prayers.

Day 2 – July 2016

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After starting their day with Orthros at Holy Cross Chapel, we participated in the second part of our StrengthsFinder reflection where the students were able to share their strengths by acting out skits!

We then headed up north to a ropes course run by Project Adventure where we engaged in some great team-building activities.

After the ropes course, we returned to HCHC and participated in a session run by CrossRoad Director, Deacon Mike Tishel, on vocation. The CrossRoaders are invited to consider vocation as “your unique and ongoing response to Christ’s call to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Day 1 – July 2016

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Greetings from the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross! We are excited to send you this update from the opening day of CrossRoad as participants arrived excited and ready to “take the challenge” of CrossRoad! They come from 15 states across the US and Canada – from California to Pennsylvania, Colorado to Alabama.

While half of our staff greeted participants at Logan Airport the other half of the team stayed on campus to assist the participants with getting settled in the dorm, taking tours of campus, and getting to know each other. We attended Vespers in the Holy Cross Chapel and then after dinner began icebreaker activities. With lots of laughter, the group started to get to know each other!

Following icebreakers we learned more about one another’s strengths utilizing the StrengthsFinder inventory that each participant took prior to coming to CrossRoad. The participants broke down into smaller groups to discuss the results of the StrengthsFinder activity and how they might develop these strengths in their daily lives.