Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

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The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America has designated September 28, 2025 as Youth & Young Adult Sunday. We are excited to introduce you to Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries (OYM), the official agency of the Assembly of Bishops dedicated to being a network of support for the Church’s ministry for youth and young adults.

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We believe in a world where young people are thriving in the Orthodox Faith—where they have deep relationships with Christ and their communities. While incredible Orthodox ministries already exist across jurisdictions, it’s often hard to find them. OYM exists to help make those connections. We don’t replace ministries—we strengthen them by connecting clergy, parents, and ministry workers to high-quality, accessible resources and opportunities.

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Have you ever struggled to find a local youth event or ministry? Or only recently discovered a powerful Orthodox resource that’s been around for years? You're not alone—and OYM is working to solve that. As the only national ministry that connects and equips existing Orthodox efforts across jurisdictions, we’re building a stronger, united Orthodox network for the next generation of youth and young adults.

For your convenience, we are providing this digital packet with several resources to help you introduce OYM to your parish:

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• An encyclical from His Grace Bishop Thomas, OYM Episcopal Liaison

• A flyer for your church bulletin board

• A brief insert for parish bulletins

 

We invite you to share these materials with your parish family. Together, we can help young people know they are not alone, they are deeply loved, and they have a place in Christ’s Church.

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With gratitude in Christ,

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Dr. Christopher Krampe
Executive Director
Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries