Palm Sunday Appeal for Donations to the ROCA Fund for Assistance

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, In keeping with a tradition established many years ago, on the occasion of the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, or Palm Sunday, all parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad are asked to collect donations for the ROCA Fund for Assistance. I take this opportunity to remind everyone that our Assistance Fund is not dedicated to a parish nor even to a diocese but rather serves our entire Church.  The Fund provides to all – not only to the North American and Canadian Diocese, but to our St. Petersburg and Australian Dioceses as well.  The Fund helps monasteries in France, England, and Chile in South America, offers assistance to churches that have suffered fires, churches that are in need of repairs, and those that are newly rebuilt.  The Fund underwrites our spiritual and educational conferences and related church events, as well as offers help to clerics who find themselves in difficult circumstances. My dear ones, who among us participates in this benevolent cause? Unfortunately, not many. As a result of the pandemic that has beset us, many have lost their jobs, and we have all suddenly found our whole financial world turned upside down. Essential goods have disappeared from store shelves. The Lord has permitted all of this because of our carelessness and focus on the earthly rather than on the Church. On this day, the start of one of the Twelve Great Feasts, the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem, let us not forget to donate not only to our individual parish or to our diocese but also to our common ROCA Fund for Assistance, which unites us all in one goal – to do good deeds for our Church, “from east to west, from small to great, from the northern reaches to the seas” – that is to say, to address all of our Church’s needs. Whether your donation is great or small, it is welcome as long as it comes from the soul.  As our forefathers have done, let us contribute regularly, each according to his means, and remembering that regular donation to the Church is most important and beneficial. May the Lord God safeguard you for your generosity and mercy. Andronik Archbishop of New York and North America, and of Canada Donations may be made payable to the “ROCA Assistance Fund” and sent to: ROCA Assistance Fund PO B0X 591 Valley Cottage, NY 10989