An invitation to the community center dedication

Glory to Jesus Christ!

We hope you are able to join us on Saturday, April 4, 2009, starting at 10 am when we dedicate the Mor Gregorios Community Center at St. Mary the Protectress Orthodox Church. The center houses the programs offered to all the surrounding community including our employment and recovery programs.  The dedication will start will start with Morning Prayer with special prayers for the current economic crisis, those served by the community center, and for all who have provided us equipment and assistance getting the Mor Gregorios Community off the ground. Our bishop Mar John Cassian will also blessed the computers used by the employment program.  A reception will follow.

The Mor Gregorios Community Center is located in the A-Frame building on the corner of Oak Hill and Michigan Streets, at 1000 South Michigan Street, Plymouth, Indiana.  If you need directions, please call us at 574-540-2048.

The news release which was sent out is below.  It tell you more about the center.

We hope you are able to attend.  Please keep those served by the center in your prayers.

Yours in Christ,
Father Theodosius



Mor Gregorios Community Center Dedicated Saturday, April 4th

Center Serves Marshall, Starke and Fulton Counties With Employment and Recovery Programs

The Mor Gregorios Community Center at St. Mary the Protectress Syriac Orthodox Church, 1000 South Michigan Street, Plymouth, Indiana, will be dedicated on Saturday, April 4, 2009, by St. Mary’s bishop Mar John Cassian Lewis, starting at 10 am. Mar Cassian will also bless the computers used by the community center’s employment program.  The dedication will start with Morning Prayer at 10 am with special prayers for the current economic crisis, for those served by the center, and those who have provided the equipment and assistance to develop the center, followed by a reception in the community center. The public is invited to attend.

The mission of the Mor Gregorios Community Center is to promote personal and community healing and growth throughout Marshall, Starke and Fulton Counties by treating each person as the image of God, knowing that nothing we do draws us so close to God as in doing good to man. The center’s vision is to experience life together as a community where every person is treated as if he or she were Christ Himself. The founders believe that for far too long fear has divided us and too often we see others as different from us as the “other”, or as strangers. The center is an outgrowth of public programs offered at St. Mary’s.

The community center seeks to carry out her purpose and mission in a collaborative way with other agencies, institutions, faith-based organizations, and individuals, striving to restore a sense of integration between various systems for the good of individuals, families, and society.

Currently the Mor Gregorios Community Center provides the following:

1.     Employment Program: Help from trained volunteers to file unemployment claims and weekly reports.  Help with online job searches, preparing resumes, learning and practicing interview skills, and other employment related activities. Indiana Workforce Development trained the volunteers. Workforce Development, Ancilla College, and others within the surrounding communities provided the computers.

2.     Recovery Program: 12-Step classes and small groups for those with problems with addictions, hurts, hang-up, and other problems. Individual pastoral and spiritual guidance and direction are also available.

3.     Information & Referral:  Case management. Provide information and referral to emergency assistance and to other agencies and programs.

4.     Community Development: Help with community outreach, mentoring, and community development to individuals and other groups.

All of the community center’s programs seek to be supportive, respectful, and are always confidential.  Programs are for all people.  Participants can be of any faith or no faith.

The Mor Gregorios Community Center is open Sunday 12 noon until 4 pm; Monday 10 am until 4 pm; Tuesday 10 am until 7 pm; Wednesday 10 am until 7 pm; Thursday 10 am until 4 pm; and Friday 10 until 4 pm.

St. Mary’s is located at 1000 South Michigan Street, Plymouth, Indiana, in the A-Frame building on the corner of Oak Hill Avenue and Michigan Street across from Webster Elementary School.

For more information about the Mor Gregorios Community Center, please call Father Theodosius Walker at 574-540-2048, or email the church at monastery@synesius.com.

The community is under an allegiance to the Syriac Orthodox Church under His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.  Their bishop is Mar John Cassian Lewis, Columbus, Ohio.  The director of the community center is Father Theodosius Walker who also serves as pastor of St. Mary the Protectress Syriac Orthodox Church.