5th Annual Intl. Winter Service Retreat in Pharr, TX

[PHARR] The 5th Annual International Winter Service Retreat, sponsored by St. George Orthodox Church and PRO-ORB (Orthodox Rio Bridges) Outreach Ministries in Pharr, Texas concluded with a Divine Liturgy in Spanish on Saturday morning, January 2nd. This year's week-long event was attended by 45 teens, college students and young adult participants from throughout the USA. The Spiritual Sessions Retreat Master for this retreat was Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Chancellor of St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, NY.

This year's retreat chaplains included Father Antonio Perdomo, Pastor of St. George's and Director of the annual retreat, joined by Priest Seraphim Holland, from St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in McKinney, Texas, as well as Fr. Chad Hatfield. Three Theological Seminaries were represented during the week, including St. Tikhon's Seminary, St. Vladimir's Seminary and Holy Cross. Participants represented various Orthodox Jurisdictions and Diocese in North America, including the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), the Antiochian Archdiocese, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOA) and the Russian Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) who traveled from North Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Louisiana and Mexico.

Participants and our guest speaker arrived on Monday afternoon and early evening. Activities began with our traditional borderlands green chile posole dinner, followed by introductions, welcomes and an overview of this region shared by Reader Stephen Shepherd. Archpriest Chad Hatfield then gave his opening, introductory talk during an event open to the Parish and Public. After settling in guests at their lodgings at the Valley Baptist Retreat Center and blessing the retreat center facilities, the first evening's events concluded.

The week started off unusually chilly, unlike the normal season's weather pattern in the Rio Grande Valley. On that cold and drizzly Tuesday, after the morning's spiritual session talk, continuing the theme on Alaskan Saints, participant's spirits remained undaunted as they spent the remainder of the day sorting donated clothing and other items, barely sheltered under a canopy tent, on the church porch and in the church hall.

Because of the cold, wet weather and recent uncertainties across the border in Mexico, Madre Natividad, Abbess of a Roman Catholic Monastery in Reynosa, Mexico and Director of the Casa Amparo Orphanage for Girls which the monastic community administers, came to visit us at St. George's. Madre Natividad spoke to the participants and thanked them for their generosity and efforts serving others. Donations collected for the orphanage were then loaded in her vehicle and she took them back across the border to distribute personally.

On Wednesday morning, the day began early as some vehicles and participants joined Father Antonio as he picked up large amounts of food, diapers and more at the area's Rio Grande Valley Food Bank. While Father and his crew were off picking up food, the remaining participants set up tents, tables and more then brought out and arranged all of the blankets, coats and jackets, shoes, clothing items and toys which had been donated and sorted the day before. About 50 hand-made quilts and comforters were made and donated by the local Zion Mission Quilters from Zion Lutheran Church in nearby Alamo, Texas. Another hundred blankets were donated through fundraising efforts done by last year's Orthodox "Winter Texans" from Canada, Trevor and Rhonda Hammons, as well as through donations made by others both local and national. By what seemed to be a miracle, every family received one blanket and as many clothing items as they desired, in addition to a generous box of food. Handicapped items for the elderly, such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, handicapped toilets and more were gladly received by the many elderly participants who receive no government assistance with those items. Both mothers of infants and those caring for the elderly were very happy with the children's and adult-sized "diapers" distributed that day. It was a full and rewarding day and by the day's end, over 150 families had been served.

After the Vespers for the Circumcision of Our Lord, participants, plus some local guests, went back to the Valley Baptist Retreat Center for a New Year's Eve Celebration which included a tamale, nachos and more dinner, plus our annual talent show. The night ended with watching local fireworks before heading for bed.

In year's past, we have taken donations and done work projects across the border in Reynosa, Mexico at the Casa Amparo Orphanage for girls. Since, as mentioned below, at the last minute this activities was not to occur this year, instead, after a lovely and meditative spiritual session led by Fr. Chad, a work day at St. George's filled out our day on Thursday. New paving stones replaced the old, broken ones which led to the church sidewalk, trees and shrubbery were trimmed, native species plants, donated by the church's neighbor, Alan Williams of Williams Wildscapes, were planted along with other native species plants at the back of the church property. In addition, ornamental plantings along the back of the old church hall were moved and replanted in a safe place, to make way for the building of a new church hall,

Friday, January 1st was beach day at South Padre Island. All week, weather reports promised a warm and sunny day, but instead, it was a chilly, grey and windy day. Our dauntless participants nonetheless enjoyed the day, including the traditional soccer game on the beach and the obligatory stop at the sand dunes to watch the sunset. After a stop at Ci-Ci's Pizza on the way back to the Church, we had Vespers together before retiring for the night. .

The climax of the week was the Divine Liturgy, in Spanish, which along with a goodbye brunch, ended this year's Winter Service Retreat. Many thanks to all who assisted, all who came and all who supported this year's event. Hope to see many more of you - same time, same place - next year! See more photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8135007@N03/sets/72157623237013898/