Diocesan Day in Shadeland

The 2011 St. Sava Camp season came to a close on Sunday, August 7, 2011 with the traditional Shadeland Picnic in conjunction with Diocesan Day.

As is the case each year and upon directive of the diocesan bishop, His Grace Mitrophan of Eastern America, all neighboring churches were closed that day and all clergy were invited to join their diocesan hierarch before the Holy Altar in concelebrating with him as he officiated at the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. The campers sang the responses. Concelebrating with the bishop were twenty priests and three deacons and an additional eight priests were in attendance who did not serve.

In his homily the bishop related a story told by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco which, though intended for children, is just as beneficial for adults. The story, among other things, tells of how we are to watch our souls, our thoughts, guard our hearts. It was a message the bishop wanted to tell the children as this year the theme of the camp was "The Body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit" and his fatherly and archpastoral advice to all of them was to watch their young souls, to guard their young bodies for, in the words of the Apostle Paul, you belong to Christ.

The traditional children's program and picnic with all the folk festivities followed. 

Source: Eastern American Diocese