College Student Sunday 2024
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
College Student Sunday 2024
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
God bless you!
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America declared the fourth Sunday of August as College Student Sunday, running in conjunction with the back-to-school season for college students. This year the date falls on August 25th.
"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).
Heeding the words of the Apostle Paul, the Assembly of Bishops’ maintains an Agency responsible for ministering to college students, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF). The vision of OCF is to be the loving presence of Christ and the Orthodox Church on college campuses; to be an integral part of students’ spiritual formation by challenging them to explore the Faith; and to inspire students to commit to living an Orthodox Christian way of life daily.
As their sense of identity is being formed, their worldview is being challenged, and they are often away from the stability of their home communities, students need the active presence of the Church community consistently and personally. OCF responds to the needs of college students with over 250 on-campus chapters, student leadership formation, regional retreats, College Conference, Real Break, and their newest effort, the Campus Ministry Initiative.
May our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ who calls all of us to contribute our time, talent, and treasure to the ministry of His Church guide and strengthen our cherished and beloved college students.
Working in His Vineyard with much love,
+Metropolitan Gregory
Episcopal Liaison to OCF