“For more than a decade, I have watched priests and clergy wives in the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania discover something essential through Thriving in Ministry: those who serve the Church need trusted companions along the way. Ministry brings profound joy, but it also carries responsibilities and burdens that are difficult to understand from the outside. Thriving in Ministry gives priests and clergy wives a place to gather regularly with peers for prayer, honest conversation, friendship, and practical wisdom. Over time, these gatherings become genuine communities of trust. This ministry began in the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania with the support and financial commitment of the diocese and the willingness of our clergy and clergy wives to invest in one another. The response has been remarkable. Half of our active parish-assigned priests and approximately one-third of our clergy wives have participated in Thriving in Ministry. I have witnessed the fruit of these relationships firsthand. They strengthen those who serve, encourage clergy households, and contribute to healthier and more faithful parish life. With generous support from Lilly Endowment, Thriving in Ministry was able to grow beyond Eastern Pennsylvania and serve clergy and clergy wives throughout the Orthodox Church. Today, 28 active peer groups bring together approximately 156 participants in trusted communities of mutual support. This growth is something for which we should give thanks. It also presents us with an opportunity and a responsibility. A ministry that has demonstrated its value and now serves the wider Church must increasingly be sustained by the Church itself. From August 15 through October 15, the Office of Pastoral Life is seeking to raise an additional $60,000 for Thriving in Ministry. Approximately $5,000 sustains one peer group for an entire year. Every gift—from an individual, parish, diocese, or foundation—helps make these relationships available to those who serve Christ and His Church. The well-being of our clergy and clergy families is not a concern separate from the life of our parishes. When those entrusted with ministry are strengthened, our parishes are strengthened. When clergy are connected rather than isolated, the whole Church benefits. I invite our hierarchs, dioceses, parishes, clergy, and faithful to help carry Thriving in Ministry forward. Together, we can ensure that priests and clergy wives throughout the Church continue to find the trusted companionship, encouragement, and wisdom they need for faithful and sustainable ministry.
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