About

This is my personal blog focused on Christian Spirituality and occasionally on other topics as I see them through the lens of the Christian Church.

I write on a variety of topics that do not always fit into neat little categories. You might find sermons, recipes, pictures and stories about my garden, or anything else that might strike me as worthy to write about.

My goal is to form, inform, and transform you, the reader, as I try and make a difference from my little corner of the world. I believe that if we transform our inner lives and the way we think about things, we can truly make a difference in the world. The Spirituality of the Christian Church is a way in which can make this change, and deep, abiding spirituality is what the we have to offer the world.

I recently published a new book by Regina Orthodox Press: Listening to the Heartbeat of God. This book is about having a conversation with God, a divine and holy experience that all Christians are called to enjoy. I try and weave together the Ancient monastic and Celtic traditions of Spirituality. This book is designed as a “beginners guide” to prayer but with a catch—we are all beginners as we come to God. So there is something true and good here for the youngest child or the oldest holy monk or nun and for each person who desires to pray.

In addition to my pastoral responsibilities, I serve as Chaplain for the Dudley Fire Department and Deputy Chief Chaplain of the Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains. After the retirement of the Fire Chief, I was asked by the Dudley Board of Selectman to serve as the interim Chief of Administration for the Fire Department. The position was only supposed to be for a few months while they searched for a new chief. I served in the position for eight months.  I also have the honor of serving as Chaplain with the National Lancers, the oldest organized military unit in the United States, where I hold the rank of Major.

I received an Associates Degree in religious Studies and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts. I have a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and have been on the Faculty at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts in the Psychology Department teaching classes in Psychology, Sociology and Ethics as well as Quincy College in Quincy, Massachusetts. I hold a Diplomat Credential from the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and several certifications from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

I am an honorably discharged Veteran of the United States Army serving 12 years. The first three of those years with the 84th Chemical Company located at Fort Polk, Louisiana and the following years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard with the 215th Army Band, the Headquarters Battery and the Division Artillery of the 24th Infantry Division.

I am available to speak on a wide range of topics including but not limited to: Orthodox Ethics, Social Justice, Celtic Spirituality, American Church History, Crisis Ministry, Leadership, and Ministry and the New Media.

After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, I was dispatched along with other clergy and laity to the area as part of the Emergency Response Team of the International Orthodox Christian Charities. I was also part of the Critical Stress Incident team deployed to Virginia Tech after the campus shootings. An area of interest and research is the Theology of Crisis and Suffering as it applies to ministry in our world today.

I have written for the Romanian Archdiocese Magazine Credinta on the topics of American Orthodox Church History and North American Saints. I am a contributor to the American Orthodox Institute Blog as well as Orthodoxy Today.

I am a convert from Roman Catholicism with a deep respect and understanding of Celtic and Orthodox Spirituality and how the two very different but similar forms of Spirituality can work together.

I was one of the first Orthodox Priests to use the new media in my pastoral ministry where I try to bridge the gap between the historic ancient orthodox faith and the wired generation by use of Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites.

Contact Information

You may contact me via email, follow me on Twitter and Facebook and on my Facebook Fan Site.

Disclaimer

This is my personal blog. The opinions I express here do not necessarily represent those of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas or St. Michael Orthodox Christian Church. The information I provide is on an as-is basis. I make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use.