Nineteenth Annual Healthcare Day in Carmichaels

The Nineteenth Annual Healthcare Day for St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania was held on Sunday August 13, 2017. Healthcare Day is held in conjunction with the Parish Nurse’s Office Slava.

St. Panteleimon is the patronal saint for the celebration. On August 9, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated. The celebration continued with the Divine Liturgy on August 13 with the blessing of the Slava Kolach and Koljivo.

On August 13, living and departed members of the parish having been employed in healthcare were remembered in the Divine Liturgy. The St. George Kolo prepared a dinner followed by the program in the church hall.

Parishioner Dr. Scott Michael Newton served as program facilitator. Program speakers included Executive Board members Stan Brozik and John and Felecia Williamson. Board member Andrea Janson read the life of St. Panteleimon.

Sonia Janson spoke for the Choir and Kolo. Parishioners read from writings of St. Nicholai and Holy Scriptures. The readings referenced doctors, nurses and pharmacists. References to healing mentioned in the Psalms were also cited.

Readers included Registered Nurses Paulette Radock and Mary Jo Krivitsky and Pharmacist Mildred Bezjak. Additional participants were: Richard Porter, Djelosh Milosevich, Eric Labons, and Lt. Col.Willie Spens.

Dr. Newton has thirty years of experience in healthcare. He has worked at all levels and has presented at international conferences. Dr. Newton was an administrator at John Hopkins Hospital and his doctorate is from John Hopkins.

Dr. Newton gave an inspiring talk focusing on parish life and healing. He provided a national perspective on healthcare issues. He spoke of drawing strength from the prayers and example of St. Panteleimon.

Since 1999 the St. George Church has celebrated the contributions of healthcare workers. Millicent Mitzie Hunchuck, Nurse Practitioner took the initiative to have the Parish Nurse’s Office formally established.

At the time, His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan granted the Archpastoral blessing for the establishment of the Parish Nurse’s Office. His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan regularly participated in parish healthcare seminars.

His Grace Bishop Irinej, current hierarch of the Eastern American Diocese spoke appreciatively of the work of emergency medical providers when blessing an ambulance and fire truck on Diocesan Day. 

Dean of the Pittsburgh Deanery, Prota-Stavrofor Rade Merick’s parish in Steubenville, Ohio has the distinction of having the first Parish Nurse’s Office in his parish in Steubenville, Ohio.

Healthcare workers have been formally recognized at St. George Church for their service since 1999. Area ambulances were blessed in eighteen of the past years. Nine full day seminars were held.

St. George Church has been blessed with a large number of parishioners employed in various capacities in healthcare. Each year parishioners benefit from healthcare services as part of the healing process.

Thank God for the healthcare provided for parishioners and members of the community. Thank God for hierarchal blessings and the St. George parishioners and friends of the parish celebrating Healthcare Day through the years.

Source: Eastern American Diocese