Over the years since the Columbine shooting and with the recent shootings at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech it has become increasingly apparent that such tragic events may happen at any university or high school at any time. These events serve to remind us that being away at university is a very challenging time in a student's life. Balancing the new found freedom of being away from home with all the responsibilities both domestic and academic that come along with that freedom can be totally overwhelming. Keeping our students connected to their faith in a very active way may just be the thing that helps them deal in a christian way with the many temptations of life away from home.
Please find below a brief list of ways we can keep our students connected to the Church.
Connections...
You've Got Mail!
The one thing that is universal to all college students is their desire for mail, especially mail from home. There is nothing more important to a student than getting the 'out-of-the-blue' postcard, phone call or e-mail reminding them that they are part of a community which prays for and remembers them. Create a database of the names, addresses, e-mails, phone numbers, birthdays, and names days of all parish young adults who are away at college. Then match the students up with parishoners who will pray for them, send them parish bullitens, The Orthodox Church magazine, birthday and names day cards, occasional notes etc...
Coffee Hour in a Box !
What student doesn't like to get fresh baked chocolate cookies from parents or grandparents? Consider sending random care packages to your students filled with the baked goods and treats we typically enjoy at coffee hour and maybe a pound of coffee to assist them in their late night cram sessions. But even beyond the traditional care package goodies consider other possible gifts:
- Icon (Christ, Theotokos, Patron Saint, or parish feast)
- Prayer book
- Bible: The Orthodox Study Bible is possibly the best for students as it has many short articles about our Orthodox faith, as well as a short rule of prayer and lectionary.
- Church Calendar: Send a Church wall calendar with the daily scripture readings, feasts, and fast periods.
- Add a book on or about Orthodoxy. Ask you parish priest about books which college students might be interested in. Think about the interest of the student or their major when choosing books. A student who is a history major might like something dealing with the history of the Orthodox Church. A student of medicine or the scinences might be interested in titles dealing with bioethics. Students of literature might be interested in works of theological poetry. A few titles for consideration are:
From the Holy Mountain: A Journery Among the Christians of the Middle East William Dalrymple
Stages on Life's Way: Orthodox Thinking on Bioethics Fr John and Matushka Lyn Breck
Orthodox Christians in America Fr John Erickson
Franny and Zooey J.D. Salinger
Hymns of Paradise St Epharim the Syrian
The Inner Kingdom Bishop Kallistos (Ware)
A Tiny Step Away from Deepest Faith Marjorie Corbman
(Check back often for updated list)Orthodox Christian Fellowship - OCF
Find out if the schools your students attend have an OCF chapter and help your students connect to it. If the school does not have an OCF contact the Orthodox parish closest to their college and provide the priest with the name, address, phone number and email of your studnet. Click here for the directory of OCF chapters.
Studying Abroad?
Every year thousands of students study abroad and the vast majority of those study in Europe. A semester or a year abroad can be a rewarding academic experience. It can also be a rewarding spiritual expreience if properly directed. If studying in Europe, the ability and possibility to meet and develop friendship with Orthodox Christian students from other cultures is a powerful tool in strengthening ones connection to our Church. If you know of a student studying abroad and you would like for them to get in touch with an Orthodox community or students in their program country please contact Deacon Joseph Matusiak in the youth department. We have a network of student contacts in more than 130 countries which will not only help keep our students connected to the Church but might also provide them with expereinces above and beyond those of their univeristy program. Your parish might also consider reaching out to Orthodox students from abroad who might me studying in your area. Contact the study abroad program at local colleges and universities for this information.