Visit the Parish...

397 Melvin Avenue (at Woodward Avenue)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
tel. (905) 318-6436

How to find us? Directions in HTML text and PDF formats.

When to find us? Schedule of Services in HTML text and PDF formats.

What will you find? Parish newsletter available in PDF format.

Viewing the parish schedule of services and newsletter requires the use of the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which may be obtained by clicking on the "Get Adobe Reader" link graphic.

All Services are in English. We follow the Julian Calendar.

Saturday Evening
6:00 PM Vespers

Sunday Morning
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy (Hours begin at 9:45 AM)

Saturday Vespers, Sunday Liturgies, and all classes/catechisms are held at the church location at 397 Melvin Avenue, in Hamilton.

Weekdays
Some midweek services are held at the domestic chapel. Please call (905) 318-6436 for information.

All Saints of North America Orthodox Community was born in 2001 as an informal meeting of several English-speaking Orthodox faithful who assembled for regular Vespers and Typica services with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa. The community has fluctuated in size over its short life, and has been blessed to receive several new converts to Orthodoxy in the last year. Since May 2003, with the ordination of Father Geoffrey Korz to the priesthood, we have enjoyed regular Liturgies. From September 2003 to December 2005, we moved for Sunday morning Liturgy into the lower level of the St. Stephen's Anglican hall.

In January of 2006, the parish moved to a commercial space above a dental office at 117 Queenston Road in Hamilton. This church location allowed easy access from the local highways, as well as roomy facilities for services, luncheons, and the Desert Wisdom Bookroom, an Orthodox book and supply shop run by the parish.

In January of 2009, a new church building was purchased at 397 Melvin Avenue at Woodward Avenue, in the heart of Hamilton's East End. With the help of many donors, friends, volunteers, and an excellent crew, renovations on the new building took many months of careful labour on the former bank building. The parish moved into the new church in January 2010, now enjoying an accessible building, worthily appointed for the worship of God, with meeting and fellowship space for the faithful. A newly expanded Desert Wisdom Bookroom is scheduled to open around Pascha 2010.

Our small community continues to grow, and we remain deeply convinced of the need for an Orthodoxy mission in the English language in this hub of the "Golden Horseshoe" region of southern Ontario, and prayerfully look to Our Lord's Holy Mother and all the saints of North America for their prayers to send to us those who are truly willing to labour in this field.

All Services are in English. We follow the Julian Calendar.

HONOURING THE MEMORY OF THE SAINTS IN HOLY ICONS

Join us in Honoring a Patron Saint of North America by supporting the writing of our parish icon of: St Peter the Aleut

As a joint effort of the faithful and friends of our parish, we are working to acquire each year one icon of a patron saint of our parish.

This year, we are commissioning an icon of Saint Peter the Aleut, one of the first martyrs of North America, who at 16 years old refused to renounce his Orthodox baptism when tortured by Roman Catholic soldiers on the west coast.

This icon of Saint Peter will stand as a reminder of the martyr's intercessions for our own youth, that they remain faithful to their Orthodox Christian faith, in everyday life here in North America.

This full-sized icon is to be written by the sisterhood of the St. Elizabeth Convent in Minsk, Belarus. To contribute to the acquisition of the icon, please use the enclosed envelope, or mail donations to the parish address, indicating "Icon - St Peter" on the cheque.

May God bless your generosity through the prayers of His saints.


SECURITY REPORT

Over the last two years, our parish has experienced a number of ongoing security issues, hate-motivated attacks, and vandalism. These include:
- Graffiti on the front and west parking-lot walls (3 incidents);
- Vandalism of Trash Bin;
- Anti-Christian Vandalism (2 incidents);
- Dangerous Debris including metal and glass;
- Anti-Christian remarks from passing vehicles (4 incidents);

What the Parish is ALREADY doing, thanks to your support:
- Planned installation of handrails and fencing to discourage skateboarders, loiterers, and trespasses;
- Meetings with Hamilton police to arrange surveillance and received recommendations
- Installation of outdoor music speaker to deter loitering

What You Can Do as an Individual:
- Pick up Garbage and debris in the parking lot, on the front grass and steps, and along the Woodward Avenue (east) side of the building. A litter-free building dissuades vandals,
- Cheerfully Greet Passers-by, including those using our parking lot. A human presence on the property helps move the problems out of our area.
- Report and Suspicious Activity of Vandalism to the warden or priest; photograph any vandalism

ORTHODOX BROTHERHOOD OF HAMILTON

The next Brotherhood Breakfast will take place on Saturday, January 28th at 9:30am.

Brothers are asked to bring a breakfast food or dish to share. A speaker, discussion, and social hour will likely be part of this meeting of the Brotherhood.


PARISH ANNUAL MEETING

The Parish Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 following Liturgy & Lunch.

This is the main opportunity for the parish to meet together to plan for the year ahead.
Please make every effort to attend.

NATIVITY SERVICES: Eve of Nativity, Friday, January 6, 2012: Vespers 5pm - Potluck Dinner 6pm Christmas Eve Concert - Great Compline 8pm. Musicians, singers, and poets - both children and adults - are invited to be part of the informal Christmas Eve Concert following dinner.

Nativity of Our Lord, Saturday, January 7, 2012: Divine Liturgy - 10am (Followed by Luncheon at Karolina's). Please RSVP for Luncheon in advance to: korzg@hotmail.com

ORTHODOX CHURCH SCHOOL (ages 4-10) and ORTHODOX CIRCLE (for teens) will take place most Sundays following the Potluck Luncheon. These programs are designed to help our younger members integrate their faith into their daily lives.

For most of our kids, this is the only time in their week they will spend being educated together with other Orthodox youth: please make every effort to allow them to attend each week.

A CHARITABLE WORKS COLLECTIONS will be take up on Sunday, January 22nd and February 12th, in support of those in need in our parish and community.

QUESTION HOUR will take place following the Sunday Liturgy on January 15th and February 19th.

PRAYING FOR OUR PARISH FAMILY - Please remember those in need in your daily in your prayers. You can e-mail korzg@hotmail.com to forward requests for prayer to our Orthodox Prayer Circle, a circle of faithful sisters who will pray daily for any needs requested. Our prayers for each other are important - please pray daily for each member of the parish.

ALL ARE WELCOME to come forward after Liturgy for prayers for their own health, for travel, for those seeking or starting employment or projects, and for women who are expecting a child. Please feel free to speak to the priest privately for these prayers, if this is preferred.

MANY YEARS! - We wish many blessed years to Diaconissa Judy C., Joshua C. (Namesdays, Sunday before Nativity (Namesday), Melanie P. (Dec 31/Jan 13 Namesday), Zeina N. (Dec 24 / Jan 6 Namesday, Martyr Eugenia of Rome), Vicki R., Vasili (Bill) H.. Vasoulla N. (Jan 1/14 Nday), Joshua C. (Jan 10 Bday), Bethany (Juliana) R. (Jan 2/15 Nday - St Juliana of Lazarevo), John L (Jan 15 Bday), Aleksandar (Aleks) M. (Jan 15) Anthony O. Sr. & Jr. (Jan 4/17 Nday), Sophia H. (Jan 17 Birthday), John D., Reader John F., John (Praneet) P., John L. (Jan 7/20 Nday), Sophia K. (Jan 21 Bday), Kristen (Kristina) L. (Jan 30 Bday), Claudia A. (Feb 2 Bday), Maraym (Viva) Nsair (Feb 6 Bday), Branislav (Bob) M. (Feb 14). Please advise the priest of any other occasion.

EMAIL LIST: If you would like to add or remove a name from the parish email list, please contact Father Geoffrey at korzg@hotmail.com.

Parish Telephone
(905) 318-6436

Parish Priest
Rev. Geoffrey Korz, Priest-in-Charge
(905) 387-6907
korzg@hotmail.com