We congratulate our Pastoral School student, Theodotus Conrad, with his ordination to the deaconate on October 9/22, 2022 by Metropolitan Nicholas! A full account of the day, with photographs, can be found at the the link below from the Eastern American Diocese web site.
On Sunday, September 25, and Tuesday, September 27 (the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross) two students of the Pastoral School were ordained to the deaconate by Bishop Theodosy of Seattle.
On September 25, Ruslan Kroshko was ordained a Deacon, with Alexei MacDougall also ordained to the diaconate on September 27. Both were ordained at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle, WA and will serve at that same altar.
May the Lord grant them many years of service in His Vineyard!
We regret to inform our Pastoral School family that the founder of our school, Archpriest Martin Swanson, reposed in teh Lord early in the morning of September 7/20, 2022. We ask your prayers for the newly reposed and his family, especially during these 40 days. His 40th day will be October 16/29. May his memory be eternal!
Fr. Gregory Joyce, Dean
Students Beginning this Semester
The Pastoral School Spring semester began on September 5, 2022. We are pleased to announce that the following students have been accepted for this semester:
Andrews, Reader Timothy
Haggard, Demetrius
Karabinas, Nikolaos
Miskovic, Serge
O’Brien, John
Ponomarenko, Reader Jacob
Sharrett, Micah
Tobal, Reader Gabriel
We congratulate these students on their acceptance to the Pastoral School! Most will be studying in the Pastoral Theology Program, others in our other programs.
The next application deadline for the Pastoral School is February 1, 2023. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so those who would like to apply are welcome to do so at any time for the next semester. The application form can be found here:
We welcome your application! If you have questions, please contact me.
Fr. Gregory Joyce, Dean
fr.gregory.joyce@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org
Cell/SMS/What's App/Viber/Telegram/etc.: +1-734-649-5746
Dear Pastoral School Faculty and Students,
I would like to welcome everyone to our Pastoral School for this academic year! If you have not yet registered please do so as soon as reasonably possible – you'll want to get involved in the discussions in your classes right away!
If you have technical questions please reach out to our IT Lead, Deacon Joseph Appling:
joseph.appling@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org
We are very grateful for Fr. Joseph for his diligent work for our school – please remember him and his family in your prayers!
If you have any other questions please reach out to me – my contact information is below. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions whatsoever, or if I can be of any help to you whatsoever! Your feedback is always welcome.
Please find the Academic Calendar for 2022-23 at this link:
Faculty and students are asked to review the calendar and put the information from this calendar onto their own calendars so that important deadlines are not missed.
With Love in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Fr. Gregory Joyce, Dean
fr.gregory.joyce@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org
Cell/SMS/Viber/What’s App: +1-734-649-5746
P.S. Please connect with us via Facebook (@orthodoxtheologicalschool), Instagram (@orthodox_theological_school), or the Dean’s List blog (http://psdcma.blogspot.com/). And please share the word about the Pastoral School – you are our best way to inform others about our programs!
The Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America is committed to making high quality Orthodox theological education as accessible to all interested students as possible.
Applications for admission for the spring semester are due September 1, 2022. Classes begin September 5, 2022. Applications and further information on the Pastoral School programs can be found at our web site.
Questions should be directed to the Dean of the Pastoral School, Priest Gregory Joyce:
fr.gregory.joyce@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org
Subdeacon Michael Fiocca, student of the Pastoral School, was ordained by Bishop Nicholas to the deaconate at St. Elizabeth the New Martyr parish in Rocky Hill, NJ. A full article with many pictures can be found on the web site of the Eastern American Diocese. Congratulations to Deacon Michael and his family!
With the blessing of Archbishop Peter, the Pastoral School is pleased to announce a new opportunity for present and future clergymen. The Liturgical Practicum aims to teach the practical application of the liturgics that is studied in the classroom. Participants will learn how to serve according to the traditional practices of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. The topics covered will range from how a clergyman interacts with the choir during the Divine Services, to how to appropriately use the censer, to how to serve the Hierarchal Divine Services, and all else that every Deacon and Priest need to know. In addition, all participants will receive voice coaching to allow for the proper use of the voice in chanting and singing. The Liturgical Practicum is designed and highly recommended for new clergymen in the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America, but ALL ARE WELCOME. Limited space is available so please register as soon as possible. Registration deadline is June 26, 2022. The dates of the practicum are July 10-13, 2022. Cost for instruction, instructional materials, and meals is $500.
For more information and to register: fr.gregory.joyce@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org ~ 734-649-5746
Each summer, the Pastoral School, in cooperation with the Synodal School of Liturgical Music, provides an in-person option to fulfill the Pastoral School's Liturgics and Church Slavonic requirements for Pastoral Theology and Deaconate Program students. This Pastoral Bridge program is an opportunity for our students to live and study for several weeks at the Dormition Convent near New York City, and is the recommended option for our students. Because we understand that this is not possible for all students, especially international students, we offer these same courses on line during the summer semester for those who cannot travel to New York.
For those who are able, we encourage you to register for the Pastoral Bridge program now. The dates of the 2022 program are July 17-30, and the registration information can be found below.
On Palm Sunday, 2022, Deacon Boris Levashev, third year student in the Pastoral School, was ordained a priest by Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America at the New Martyrs of Russia parish in Mulino, Oregon. A more detailed article, with additional pictures, can be found at the HOME PAGE OF THE WESTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE.
Many years to Priest Boris and his family!
In the Risen Christ,
Fr. Gregory
Those planning to graduate need to do several things which have dates attached:
Not later than May 1, 2022: Confirmation of Intent to Graduate on July 10, 2022. Email to me at fr.gregory.joyce@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org. YOU MUST DO THIS EVEN IF YOU HAVE CONFIRMED THIS WITH ME PREVIOUSLY OR VIA SOME OTHER COMMUNICATION.
Not later than May 15, 2022: Submission of final thesis, including mentor approval sheet. Best to do this also via email – even if you have uploaded via Populi.
PLEASE NOTE: thesis defense and final exams were previously set for an earlier date. That date was tentative and will no longer be utilized.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Ask earlier rather than later to assure that all problems can be solved long before July 9.
Fr. Gregory Joyce
Dean
Recently several of our Pastoral School students have been ordained. We congratulate you all and ask your prayers as you serve at the Lord’s altar on behalf of your fellow students, alumni, instructors, and staff!
We encourage our students to alert us to their ordinations so that we can share these with the Pastoral School family.
Fr. Gregory Joyce, Dean
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| Andrew Allen being ordained a Subdeacon |
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| Andrew Shauver being ordained a Deacon |
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| Job Considine being ordained a Subdeacon (he was ordained a Deacon later at the same Liturgy) |
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| Michael Fiocca after his ordination to Subdeacon |
With Love in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Fr. Gregory
The Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America is committed to making high quality Orthodox theological education as accessible to as many interested students as possible. Based on this commitment we have made it possible for students to study either full time or part time in our school, have instituted summer courses, and accept applicants in both the fall and spring semesters.
Applications for admission for the spring semester are due February 1, 2022. Classes begin February 14, 2022. Applications and further information on the Pastoral School programs can be found at our web site.
Questions should be directed to the Dean of the Pastoral School, Priest Gregory Joyce:
fr.gregory.joyce@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org
