2023 ACM Summer Newsletter

Summer 2023

Dear Friends of Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry (ACM):

 

Glory to Jesus Christ! Another summer of ministry to this year’s entering class of plebes (freshmen students) has begun at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, following a most blessed Spring semester of ministry through ACM. Thank you so much for your ongoing and faithful support of this ministry that is making a real difference in the lives of these students.

FIRST Annapolis Pan-Orthodox College Ministry Mission Trip to the Pro Vita orphanage 

Many of you know that, prior to the Pandemic, I led an annual mission trip for National OCF to the Pro Vita orphanage in Romania. While I would usually have one or two of my own students from Annapolis (either the USNA or St. John’s College), the trip was usually comprised of Orthodox Christian college and university students from all over the United States. OCF having ended those mission trips, our students at the USNA asked me to lead them on our own mission trip to the Pro Vita orphanage during their Spring break. The remarkable aspect of this should not be missed: midshipmen often go to exotic destinations for their Spring breaks, but these mids decided to forego that and, instead, to spend their Spring break ministering to the children of the Pro Vita orphanage.

Seven students: Five midshipmen, the brother of one of the mids, and one St. John’s student signed up and fundraised for the mission trip. A generous $2,700 donation was made for the Pro Vita orphanage, which houses over 300 orphans, in addition to mothers (and fathers) with their children in crisis situations, as well as dozens of Ukrainian refugees. The students showed great love for the children, played with them, and encouraged them through their example of faith in Christ. 

The students also enjoyed a day trip to the Crasna Monastery, where they were able to partake of the Lenten Presanctified Liturgy and a fasting trapeza (lunch) with the abbot and monks following the service. After departing Pro Vita, we headed to the capital, Bucharest, where I led the students on two days of pilgrimage to many of the holy sites where they also venerated the relics of many of the Saints of the Church, asking their intercessions before the throne of God. The students also met with and received the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Varlaam, Vicar to Patriarch Daniel of Romania. Throughout, the students had the opportunity to make confession, grow in their faith in Christ, and take a step forward in loving “the least of these” Matt. 25).

Plebe Summer Ministry 2023

Plebe Summer ministry began 30 June at the U.S.N.A. I meet with the plebes (incoming class of freshmen) Fridays throughout the summer, offering them prayer, encouragement in bringing Christ God into the midst of their plebe summer ‘boot camp’ experience, and Bible study. Plebe Summer is grueling, but it is also, for that reason, an opportunity to grow in faith and reliance on God, to learn discipline in prayer and perseverance in the faith. Please pray for them that all may come to ‘own’ their faith in Christ God to a greater degree.

Sixth Hour Prayers and Bible Study

Sixth Hour prayers continued weekly at the USNA during the Spring Semester, affording the mids an opportunity to join together for prayer in the middle of the week. Additionally, we held a monthly Bible study for much of the semester, focused on topics of concern to the mids, including sexual purity and godly manhood. These studies and discussions were well attended.

March for Life 2023

Ten students participated in this year’s March for Life on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. For the second time in history, midshipmen were grudgingly allowed to participate. I say, ‘grudgingly,’ because there were forces at the USNA that did not want to allow the mids to participate. In the end, three midshipmen were allowed to join seven students from St. John’s College and hundreds of Orthodox Christians and tens of thousands of others to stand up for the sanctity of human life, a core teaching of our Orthodox Catholic Faith.

I want to thank all of you for your faithful and ongoing support for Annapolis Pan- Orthodox College Ministry (ACM). We count on that support to continue this ministry. Ninety-Four percent of our funding for this ministry, to be available week days and evenings, comes from your faithful and ongoing support. There is no salary provided by the USNA, St. John’s College, or OCF. So, please know how grateful we are to have you participating through your regular gifts and prayers for this ministry that is making a major difference in the faith of our midshipmen and the students at St. John’s College who participate.

The Lord Jesus Christ bless you!

 Fr. Robert Miclean+