The FOrCE : An Initiative of Hellenic College Holy Cross and Leadership 100
An initiative of Project Mexico, in collaboration with Hellenic College Holy Cross, The FOrCE introduces the faithful to opportunities in Christian higher education.
The FOrCE (Forming Orthodox Christian Evangelists), offers a comprehensive understanding of the many opportunities available in pursuing vocations in the Church and higher education through the esteemed HCHC graduates, seminarians, and priests. Through this public webinar series, participants will continue their spiritual growth, deepen their faith and gain extensive knowledge of what it means to be true missionaries.
Project Mexico has welcomed Orthodox Christians and Parish groups to Tijuana, Mexico for over thirty-five years to participate in its Homebuilding Program. Over 400 homes have been constructed for unhoused families in need, while actively engaging more than 15,000 believers in works of mercy as interim missionaries.
One of the many fruits of Project Mexico’s Homebuilding Program is that it fosters a strong and healthy summer volunteer service season with an established internship program. By bringing young Orthodox faithful to live their faith in service, volunteers and interns selflessly give of their time and summers on behalf of their neighbors. The interns lead volunteers from around the world in homebuilding. Both interns and volunteers mature in all aspects of their personal and spiritual life.
Through our extensive experience, we have identified an aspect of post-service need that yet remains unfulfilled: to provide young Christians the means to continue their spiritual growth and deepen their faith and knowledge of the Church through education in support of a lifetime of service to the Church.
The FOrCE Leadership 100 Grant Fund for Homebuilding
FOrCE Speaker Series 2024
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Gabriel Fahling lived at Project Mexico for almost two years, doing everything from building homes to serving as a chauffeur to arranging accommodations for guests. In August of last year, Gabriel moved from Mexico to Hellenic College to do a Semester of Faith, which was a blessed experience. Gabriel is currently a student at Hellenic College, majoring in Psychology and Human Development in hopes of going into Clinical Psychology.
TOPIC: Service as a Way of Life
Thursday, March 21
5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Online
Free and Public
Lidya Abraham grew up singing her whole life starting in her home parish. This early exposure to music shaped her journey into the faith and current vocational pursuits. Lidya is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Music Education at Boston University. After graduation she hopes to teach the joy that can be found in music and its importance in praising God.
TOPIC: Music as Prayer
Thursday, March 28
5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Online
Free and Public
Ivy Gabriella Tesfay has a love for serving and loving the Lord, which drove her to serve as an intern at Project Mexico for two summers! From there, she obtained a Bachelor in Psychology from Hellenic College in ‘22 while also receiving a Certificate in Youth and Young Adult Ministry. She just completed her Masters in Theological Studies at Holy Cross and is now working as the Assistant Ministry Coordinator at Orthodox Christian Fellowship!
TOPIC: The Journey to Thanksgiving
Thursday, April 4
5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Online
Free and Public
Presvytera Sarah joyfully serves the community of Annunciation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband, Father Savvas, and two children. Sarah was educated as an elementary school teacher and served in public schools for five years. Her summers were spent either in Orthodox summer camps or mission trips to South Korea, Kenya, and Mexico. When she finally answered the Call she dropped her teaching profession to become a student again, this time at Holy Cross. From 2018-2021 Sarah earned her Masters of Divinity and married her beloved classmate. Pres. Sarah is honored to use her teaching skills to preach sermons, lead mom groups, and teach Greek School. Together Presvytera and Father remain united in their love of iced coffee, their husky (Dunkin’), and their mission-minded parish of believers!
TOPIC: Through the Laying on of Hands
Thursday, April 11
5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Online
Free and Public
Fr. George Parsenios is Professor of New Testament at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he has also served as Dean of the Faculty. Prior to coming to Holy Cross, he was Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary for 20 years, and has taught as an adjunct Professor at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and in the St. Athanasius Theological College in the University of Melbourne (Australia). His teaching and research explore the interaction of early Christianity with classical literature. He is the author of three books and several articles, with a particular focus on the Gospel and Letters of John. His current scholarly work includes translating the catechetical homilies of St. John Chrysostom. His education includes an MDiv from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and a PhD from Yale University. As a priest of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, he serves at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Lexington, MA. He and Presvytera Maureen have three children, including a daughter Julia who has served Project Mexico in a variety of capacities.
TOPIC: Behold the Bridegroom Comes
Thursday, April 18
5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Online
Free and Public
Dr Ann Mitsakos Bezzerides is Director of the Office of Vocation Ministry at Holy Cross, where she teaches Youth Ministry and runs the Certificate in Youth & Young Adult Ministry and Leadership; she is also Executive Director of CrossRoad Institute, which offers transformative education for youth, young adults, parents and parishes. She is editor and contributor to two volumes of collected essays, Christ at Work: Orthodox Christian Perspectives of Vocation and Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Higher Education, as well as co-author with Dr Jenny Haddad Mosher of the new book, Find Your Telos: Discover What Orthodox Young Adults & Parishes Can Create Together. She is a graduate of Middlebury College (BA), St. Vladimir's Seminary (MDiv), and Boston College (PhD).
TOPIC: TBD
Thursday, April 25
5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Online
Free and Public
Fr. Demetrios grew up in the Pacific Northwest in a small Antiochian Church in the countryside. He attended school at Hellenic College and in 2014 received a degree in religious studies with hopes of continuing on to seminary in the future. He met his wife Sophia at Hellenic College. Taking a break from their schooling, Fr. Demetrios and Pres. Sophia moved to St. Innocent Orphanage and worked together as the work trip coordinator from 2014 to 2016. With many tears, they left the orphanage. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, they studied at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology as a seminarian. Fr. Demetrios graduated with his Masters of Divinity in 2019. After college, he served for three years as the Pastoral Assistant and chanter at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox in Wheeling, West Virginia, and in 2022 moved back to the orphanage with the invitation of Fr. Nicholas Andruchow. After many conversations about the best path forward, he was ordained a priest by His Eminence Metropolitan Ignacio of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Mexico in November of 2022 and continues to serve as "Resident Priest" at the orphanage.
TOPIC: TBD
Thursday, May 9
5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time
Online
Free and Public