The Junior Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America originated as part of the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs. In 1927, a priest named Fr. Vladimir Prislopsky saw a need for an organization for Orthodox young people which would provide opportunities for them to build friendships with other Orthodox Christians their age by meeting socially, participating together in athletic events, and serving others while growing in faith. Originally consisting mostly of people aged 20-30, the former F.R.O.C. immediately took on an important role in the life of the Church here in North America establishing scholarships to assist seminarians and college students, assisting in the development of the very first Orthodox church school programs, sponsoring choir conferences, and providing opportunities for young people from through the Church to come together for fellowship, education, worship, and service.

In 1940, some 13 years after the F.R.O.C. was created, at the 14th National Convention in Bridgeport, CT the organization began to discuss the need to coordinate emerging local parish youth groups. In 1946, recognizing the need to foster a sense of solidarity among these groups, the National Convention established "junior members and issued charters to 15 'Junior Chapters." By 1949 the Junior Division of the F.R.O.C. included 39 junior chapters. Over the coming years it would grow to include over 82 parish groups and thousands of Orthodox youth.

With fewer and fewer members coming from Russian heritage, in 1998 the F.R.O.C. assembled at their 72nd National Convention in Las Vegas, NV and decided to change its name to the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America in the attempt to invite all Orthodox Christians, regardless of ethnic origin, into the Fellowship.

Based upon the inspiration of its founders, the Jr. F.O.C.A. has continued to follow the example of its adult leaders to be committed to serving the Church and to building relationships among Orthodox Christians through fellowship, education, worship, and service to others. Local and continent-wide activities are based upon the desire to help those in need and to support each other.

Juniors hold meetings several times a year, which includes a yearly Election of Officers. These officers take on added responsibility within the their chapter. This not only empowers the juniors, but also teaches them leadership and meeting skills, discipline, and gives them on outlet for their voice to be heard.

Some of the Church-wide programs in which members of the Junior FOCA participate include:

• Junior Olympics – a one-week summer program for youth ages 10-17 with fun competition in events including softball, basketball, soccer as well as more “wacky” ones.

• Celebrations of Faith creative arts contest for youth aged 18 and under to express their faith around a given theme in four areas: Literature, Musical Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.

• Essay Contest - Every spring a topic is chosen and members are given the ability to submit essays and compete in four categories.

• Sharing the Light of Orthodoxy Project - Each Spring, Jr. FOCA chapters decide on a way they as a group can witness to their Faith by helping others through projects including fundraising, cleaning up the yards of elderly parishioners, visiting mission communities and helping them plant flowers for the Spring-time, visiting and preparing small gifts for people in hospitals and/or nursing homes, etc. Groups all pray and light candles for those they are helping, and when sending monies often send those candles along with a picture to the community as a symbol of their prayerful support.

• Basketball Tournament - As one of its largest events gathering hundreds of participants, each spring after Pascha, the FOCA runs a Basketball tournament for all its members aged 10 through adult.

• Graduation Gift Packets - Each year the FOCA sends packets with items such as a small icon, prayer book, etc. to high school and college graduates whose name and addresses are submitted during the spring and summer.

• Scholarships - Every year the FOCA offers a number of $1,000 scholarships for high school graduates who are continuing their education beyond high school.

For more information on the Jr. FOCA visit http://www.orthodoxfellowship.org or email OrthodoxFellowship@yahoo.com.

Click here for Jr. FOCA Guidelines.