Recipient Chosen for 2006 "Tree of Blessings" Charity Project

At its meeting on December 9, the National A.R.O.Y. Board designated the charity which will be the recipient of the 2006 "Tree of Blessings" Charity Project.  The money raised and submitted to National A.R.O.Y. in this inaugural year will be sent to the Orthodox Christian Missions Center to be used specifically for the "Saint Dimitrie" Addiction Treatment Program in Romania.

The Saint Dimitrie Program was started and is continued through the efforts of Mr. Floyd Frantz, who became interested in serving as an Orthodox missionary in 1998 after attending a presentation that O.C.M.C missionaries Fr. James (Craig) and Victoria Goodwin presented at his church.  Their report about the high level of addiction among the young people in Romania interested Mr. Frantz, who happens to be an addictions counselor.  He has been working through the O.C.M.C. and the Romanian Orthodox Church since his return to Cluj in 2000.  Working under Christiana, a social action program of the Church, his alcohol and drug addiction programs are both well-known and accepted by the community and Church.  The overall goal of the program is to treat the whole person - physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

It has been difficult to establish such programs due to the general lack of awareness of the disease concept of alcoholism within Romanian society.  These obstacles are being overcome through a counselor training program, community education, 12-step oriented recovery treatment programs, training of doctors and clergy in addictions counseling, and other initiatives.  The Saint Dimitrie Program also sponsors Casa Maria, a spiritual renewal center near Cluj where people can seek treatment and which also serves as temporary shelter for homeless people involved in the treatment programs.

We are glad to do what we can to help such a worthy cause, and ask our members and supporters to help make this year's "Tree of Blessings" Project a success for the benefit of the good works of our fellow Orthodox Christians.

Click here to read more about the Saint Dimitrie Project and the O.C.M.C.

Chapters are halfway through the project, lasting through the month of December.  Trees such as the one pictured here (at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Dearborn Heights, Michigan) can be seen at parishes throughout our diocese where there is an A.R.O.Y. Chapter.  If you do not have an A.R.O.Y. chapter at your parish but would like to contribute to the "Tree of Blessings" Charity Project, please send your check (payable to National A.R.O.Y.) to: A.R.O.Y. "Tree of Blessings" Project, c/o 18405 W. Nine Mile Rd., Southfield MI 48075.