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Clergy and Sunday School Teachers Meeting - Saturday, March 14, 2015

First and foremost we thank our Lord Jesus Christ for gathering us in His name, and for His blessings. We ask our Lord to bless His Eminence Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, our Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, and all the teachers.

A Big Thank You to St. Elias Church and Rev. Fr. John Saif for hosting the meeting and a delicious Lenten Lunch. We thank you for everything and the delicious food. May God bless the Community of Mar Elias.

Truly we have grown as an Western Archdiocese (according to the increasing of the churches within the Western Archdiocese).

Below shows the growth we have seen and we pray this will continue:

2012:
Teachers - 30
Students - 350

2015:
Teachers - 50
Students - 600

Our Lord Jesus Christ has laid His loving hands and has blessed and called upon many to learn His Word. This is truly a blessing to see such growth!

The meeting began with prayers and welcoming words by His Eminence the Archbishop. A scripture was on II Corinthians 11:22-23 read by Sophia Shahin. His Eminence spoke about the importance of the meetings and the religious education the teachers receive.

Patricia Allaf then updated everyone on Archdiocese events such as the 2014 Suryoyo Children’s Day which was held at St. Ephraim Cathedral, the absence of this year’s Children’s Camp, and the progress on the Curriculum. Patricia presented an outline of topics the publishing company, Parables & Books and the Sunday School reps have drafted for the Junior High and High School books. The clergy and teachers were very pleased and happy with the topics that will address many social issues the children are facing in homes and schools.

Very Rev. Fr. George Touma presented a lecture on The Epistles of St. Paul. A very informative booklet that he prepared was given to each teacher and he read a summary of each Epistle along with famous quotes. At the end of the lecture teachers asked questions about the Epistles and religious topics in general.

After lunch the clergy held their own meeting as did the teachers who met and discussed the Jr. High and High School books which are in production. Teachers also shared different ways they teach and how to improve their program. These meetings are a great way for all to learn from one another as true brothers and sisters in Christ.

We thank everyone who attended and look forward to the next meeting which shall be announced soon!

*The 2015 Suryoyo Children’s Day in early October will be hosted by St. George Church (exact date to be determined)

* A possible Summer Diocese Activity (TBD)

By: Patricia Allaf

For more photos go to this link:
http://www.soc-wus.org/events/2015sundayteachersclergy/index.htm