AN UPDATE FROM THE ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE |
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This month, we will be hearing from Fr. Noah Bushelli. Fr. Noah is one of our session priests during summer camp. He is currently the parish priest at Saint Philip Orthodox Church in Souderton, PA. Watch the video above for some spiritual wisdom from Fr. Noah. |
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MEET THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN ARCHDIOCESE CFO
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Being born into an Orthodox Christian family is something that can easily be taken for granted. I appreciate the difference growing up as part of the Antiochian Archdiocese in Lebanon during many war torn years, compared to being part of our Archdiocese here in North America. To serve others through such an Archdiocese is what I feel I have been called to do.
Growing up in Lebanon, we lived in the Achrafieh area of Beirut. I studied at an Orthodox Christian boy’s school, “College Orthodox De L’Annonciation” and went on to graduate from The American University of Beirut. From there, I followed the footsteps of my father, who was a banker for over 55 years of his life; I worked in the Head Office for Bank Audi in the Credit department. In 1988, I moved to New York and began working for Interaudi Bank. I started in the general branch and now serve as President of the New York and Miami offices. I met my
wife Julie, from St. George Cleveland, Ohio, who has been an active and lifelong member of our Archdiocese. She was a Village Pioneer (started as a camper in 1979), CIT, Counselor and continues to serve as a volunteer in the Health Center as a session nurse. She has always felt that she is who she is because of what AV has given her. We have been blessed with two children, Albert and Annaliese who also consider AV home. Albert has been a camper, CIT and a member of the Virtual AV Staff of 2020, and will serve as a counselor this summer, while Annaliese continues to be a camper. My family and I are active members of St. George in Little Falls, New Jersey.
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I was first appointed to the Archdiocese Board of Trustees by Metropolitan PHILIP, of Thrice- Blessed memory. When I joined, I was asked to serve as an Assistant Treasurer, working with Mr. Robert Laham and Mr. George Nassor who dedicated so much of their love and work to establishing the Antiochian Village. I have served Metropolitan JOSEPH and the faithful of our Archdiocese as Chief Financial Officer since 2014. As CFO, I am responsible for all financial aspects of our Archdiocese. Along with a dedicated team of people, we work together to oversee the finances of eight chanceries, the Antiochian Village, camping programs, and almost 40 Archdiocesan departments. One of our most treasured departments and ministries is that of the Antiochian Village. Having full faith in the work that Mrs. Amy Stifler does in running our Center with her exceptional staff, along with the dedication of our maintenance team lead by Tom, has filled my work with AV with great joy and humility. Like so many amazing directors who served before him, I look forward to working with Fr. Chris Shadid. His vision for the future of expanding the ministry of the Antiochian Village is aligned with that of our beloved Metropolitan JOSEPH’s vision for our God-protected Archdiocese. Together with our Vice Chairman, Mr. Fawaz El Khoury, our Board of Trustees, including Mr. Dimitri Zeidan, Chairman of our Village Council, we look forward to the continued improvements that enable us to serve through Antiochian Village’s ministry.
Yes, “it takes a village”, our Antiochian Village, to make such an impactful difference in the lives of others. Gratitude is owed to each of you reading this for being a part of our Village.
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HELP SUPPORT SUMMER CAMP! |
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Summer Camp is only a few weeks away, and we have many items on our Amazon wishlists that we need to make camp possible! Click on the buttons to access each wishlist, and make a donation. Your donations help us to provide the best camping experience possible for our wonderful campers! If you are able to make a donation, please include a gift receipt so that we can thank you for your generous donation. |
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We also appreciate your support for the Village while shopping on Amazon! Choose "Antiochian Village Camp" on Amazon Smile. This will donate a portion of each purchase to Camp! We appreciate your continued support!
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We still have a limited number of Summer Camp spots available! For girls, there are available spots during sessions 1A, 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B. We also have availability for boys in sessions during sessions 2B and 4B. If your preferred session is full, you can always sign up on a waitlist. To register, click here. To see the most updated availability for each session, click here.
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We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our campers back at the Village! Each day, we are working to get camp ready for a fun-filled summer. Most recently, we have begun to get our outdoor dining hall ready! |
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Adult Camp will be taking place from September 17-20, 2021 at the Village. It is open to anyone ages 21 and older. Our guest speaker will be Father Nick Belcher.
Registration is now open! This is going to be a wonderful time to reunite with old friends, meet new Orthodox Christian adults, and grow spiritually! To register, click here.
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Alumni Weekend will be taking place from November 5-7, 2021 at the Village, on the 20th anniversary of our first Camp Director, Fr. John Namie. Families are welcome! Our guest speaker will be Uncle Paul Finley.
Registration is now open! Don't miss out on this opportunity full of activities, fellowship, and spiritual discussions! To register, click here.
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We look forward to our Alumni Virtual Hangouts each month! Over the summer, we will be taking a break from these hangouts so that we can devote our attention to Summer Camp and our campers.
We look forward to reuniting with you all in the fall, and being joined by some wonderful guests!
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The meaning of the Antiochian Village has changed as I’ve gotten older and entered into new chapters of my life. But as these pages turn, I realize more how my experiences at camp have come full circle. The Village was a staple in my summer-life from my first year as a camper in 2010 to my last year on staff in 2019. Going to camp anchored my beliefs; these values have followed me throughout my teenage years and into early adulthood. Camp went from being a summer tradition to a yearlong lifestyle, and these full circle moments became most obvious to me during my years on staff (2017-2019).
Much of my time on staff can be attributed to lessons learned from those before me. Laran cured my homesickness when I was 10, and I used her techniques on my own homesick campers 8 years later. Callie told us to “make God your first domino and all else will remain standing behind it.” These words inspired lessons I taught in Morning Program. Natalie stood by me while I applied to college and through every curveball. Six years later, I stood by her as a bridesmaid in her wedding and could not imagine my life without her. Olivia showed me how to smile through every challenge. Three years later we laughed while cleaning cabins on the last day of each session, shaking off moments of stress as we remembered how blessed we were to be on staff together. Witnessing Fr. Anthony’s commitment to the Special Olympics ministry inspired an activity I wrote as the Morning Program Coordinator, making a welcome banner for Special Olympics athletes. It was his idea to then hang the banner on the outside of the dining hall at the end of the summer, so that the athletes could sign it too. These moments are ones that will always be precious to me.
It’s perhaps these bonds, these lessons, these memories are why the “alumni” chapter in my Village story is so joyful. From weekly zoom calls with fellow female staff alumni to discuss our spiritual health, to meeting friends from camp in Italy while studying abroad, to going to church with the #BostonCrew, the love of the Village is still present in my life. The Antiochian Village is the foundation on which I now have to build upon. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with my Village Family.
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Zeina Fayad began her time at the Village as a camper in 2010. Zeina served on staff as a counselor in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, Zeina served as our Morning Program Coordinator. Zeina graduated from Boston University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health and Dance. She is currently working towards her Occupational Therapy Doctorate at Massachusetts General Hospital
Institute of Health Professionals.
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