National FOCA President's Post-Convention Message
/Glory to God for all things!
What an inspiring 99th national convention of our Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America! We celebrated Faith, Family and Fellowship over the extended last weekend of July 2026 at Archangel Michael Orthodox Church and its Woodside Event Center in Broadview Heights, Ohio, suburban Cleveland. Sponsored by its Cleveland "R" Club, #4/6 - one of the original FROC chapters - we inaugurated our centennial year with well-attended business sessions, social events and liturgical services.
Our gratitude to Jennifer Pishko, convention chair, and her committee as well as Lara Herzak, president of the local chapter, and fellow members for a job well done. We also thank Father John Memorich, our host pastor and designated photographer, for his support and assistance, as well as the faithful parishioners of St. Michael's. And Paula Herzak prepared an excellent and informative program/ad book. Thanks to all!
Especially appreciated was the support and participation of three bishops of the Orthodox Church in America who were in attendance - Metropolitan Tikhon, our spiritual leader, Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest, and Bishop Gerasim of Port Worth, locum tenens of the Diocese of the South and nominee for its ruling hierarch. Each addressed the convention with words of encouragement and understanding. Many thanks. Eis polla eti despota!
After a golf outing on Friday afternoon and brief meeting of the national executive board, folks enjoyed an evening social under the stars at the Shanty where friendships were enjoyed and made. Saturday morning began with the traditional molieben and panikhida celebrated by Father Nicholas Wyslutsky, our national spiritual advisor. National President Basil Kochan then presided over a full day of convention sessions. We unanimously decided to name the national POCA golf tournament in memory of longtime sports director Anthony Schultz. Memory eternal. Along with routine business and reports, delegates addressed at length the new proposed constitution and bylaws where several revisions were suggested and made. A highlight was the "kids camp" program in which about 20 youngsters held their own event led by Deacon Daniel & Matushka Catrina Kovalak and then appeared before the convention body for a presentation. They are the future of the FOCA! Great vespers was led by Father Memorich who wore the vestments of Father Vladimir Prislopsky, the founder and first president of the FOCA and longtime pastor of St. Michael's. In the evening conventioneers enjoyed a visit to the Cleveland Zoo and its awesome Asian Lantern Festival where we had a special ice cream sundae social in our own jungle-style pavilion.
Sunday morning the hierarchal Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Tikhon and his fellow bishops together with clergy, including several current and past national spiritual advisors and several deacons, including past national president Deacon Dr. John Schultz, and a multitude of altar servers. An expanded choir conducted by Reader Ben Wharton sang the responses beautifully. At the end of liturgy, yours truly- on behalf of Matushka Theodora (Prislopsky) Ressetar and FOCA life member - presented Father John and the parish with Father Vladimir's gold pectoral cross in keeping with the remembrance of his life and legacy.
After liturgy the convention banquet was held at the hall where Michael Herzak, past national president and chair emeritus of St. Tikhon's Seminary, served as MC. He spoke movingly of Father Vladimir and the FROC/FOCA through the years. President Kochan delivered an inspiring message on the Fellowship's past and future, and then presented Mrs. Marge Cimbolic - a member of 75 years at age 95 - with the highest recognition of life membership as a superb example of what it means to be a FOCA member. Metropolitan Tikhon, after giving impromptu remarks until he was able to retrieve his prepared ones on his phone, acknowledged the many achievements of the Fellowship in its history and encouraged new members to join - and he endorsed the passage of the new constitution/bylaws - "pass them" he said just as the OCA adopted a new statute several years ago. The banquet concluded with the circle of hands, the recitation of the motto - pray, study, toil, be temperate - and the singing of "Faith of Our Fathers," our anthem.
The free afternoon and evening were spent sightseeing in the Cleveland area and at informal gatherings.
Near the end of Monday's final session, I was humbled to be elected as your new FOCA national president following in the footsteps of my grandfather who served as the first in 1927. Our gratitude to outgoing President Basil for his three years of service as national president and for doing an outstanding job in a sometimes difficult role (and to Lori for all her assistance). And many thanks as well to Allison Steffaro, IPP, who leaves the board after nearly a decade of service - but rest assured as she will continue her most important duty - the St. Nicholas stocking project. We welcome to the board Rebecca Kozak, vice president of the South River "R" Club and past junior director, as our new VP and our other officers will remain the same with Fr. Nick continuing to serve as national spiritual advisor - thank you Alexis Steffaro (Recording Secretary) and treasurer-for-life Michael Bowan for remaining on the board.
Although we are One Faith – One Fellowship and united in Jesus Christ and His Holy Orthodox Church, we are clearly a divided Fellowship when it comes to the path forward. Best evidence of this division was the nearly even vote on the proposed new governance document on Monday morning, causing it to be defeated. The much-needed reforms enshrined in this document have been discussed openly and candidly for several years now: Baltimore, Colonial Williamsburg, Akron, Phoenix and now Cleveland. There can be no dispute that the FOCA must reform, adapt and be flexible as we encounter many newcomers to the Orthodox Faith – we need to make it easier for our fellow Orthodox Christians (both new members and former) to belong to the Fellowship.
We painstakingly reviewed the new document section-by-section Saturday afternoon and delegates made numerous, positive suggestions which were incorporated into it; some sections were omitted in their entirety. But those who ended up voting “no” didn’t let the rest of us know why. Was it the elimination of national dues? Letting convention attendees be delegates? Or the expanded board of trustees? We can only guess, and that makes our work in the forthcoming centennial year all the more difficult.
I implore you – the members of the Fellowship – to work together and bridge our differences for the future of our organization depends on it – the status quo is simply unacceptable and ensures our eventual dissolution. The Orthodox Church needs a national social-service fellowship such as the FOCA which has demonstrated the ability to serve others and the Church for almost a full century. To this end, we are establishing a new by-laws committee under the chairmanship of Walter Alesevich, Esq. – members are encouraged to submit suggestions, concerns etc. directly to him by November 1st at walesevich@msn.com. Per convention action, the committee will complete a revised version by February 1st for submission to Metropolitan Tikhon, our spiritual leader, for review by OCA legal counsel.
As we prepare to celebrate our 100th anniversary next year in the Pittsburgh area (Canonsburg, PA) where the FROC was founded, let us first give thanks to Almighty God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon the Fellowship. Let us plan and hold special events to mark this auspicious occasion – services of thanksgiving, gatherings, concerts, charitable endeavors. Try to activate old chapters; invite family members to join or rejoin; Chapter #1 “Northside” at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral has pledged to reactivate. If the national dues of $30 are an issue, let me know and I will personally cover them. And finally, let us gather next July in person, united in Fellowship, to commemorate our centennial!
Fraternally yours in Orthodox Christian Fellowship, I am,
Nicholas “Nick” Ressetar
National FOCA President
