Meet the Team
We are anticipating being able to share some big news very soon, but that particular gift is still under wraps, so to speak. That seems fitting right now as we find ourselves in the Nativity Fast, a period of slowing down, postponing gratification, and being filled with longing and desire for Christ’s coming. It’s all too easy to get caught up in our culture’s habit of celebrating before the feast even arrives, but it is a beautiful lesson to learn, that priming ourselves through ascetic struggle allows us to celebrate all the more fully when the time truly comes! And so we patiently wait until we can share our news, knowing that the wait will only intensify the joy.
In the meantime, we thought it would be fun to introduce some members of our team that have been working tirelessly behind the scenes. There are many more who have supported us through the last few months, so this is not an exhaustive list by any means, but these are the familiar faces you would see if you could join us at our weekly meetings:
Fr Sinisa Milutinovic: Our fearless leader, our spiritual director and guide. As soon as Fr Sinisa heard about the school he put his full support behind us, networking, spreading the news, and generously offering his time and energy to make this school a reality. His enthusiasm about the project lifts our spirits exactly when we need it, and we are ever so grateful for his involvement.
Paul Laroque: Paul is another HKOA member who didn’t hesitate to jump in with both feet to bring this school to fruition. As a retired school teacher and current parish president at St George Orthodox Church, his practicality and “get ‘er done” attitude have truly helped moved us forward.
Nikki Naherniak: A faithful member of the UOCC, Nikki has been with us from the beginning, and her contributions are too many to count. As a certified Manitoba teacher, she is intimately knowledgeable about the ins and out of the school system and is helping us navigate the many hoops we need to jump through to become an independent school. We would not be where we are without her!
Zlata Hajin: An experienced school psychologist, Zlata brings a sense of calm and collectedness to our group. She is eager and reassuring, always willing to lend a hand where she is needed. Zlata belongs to the vibrant Serbian Orthodox community with Fr Sinisa.
Adam Osswald: The most recent addition to the HKOA team, Adam is also a certified teacher and grew up in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He is actively involved in the Ukrainian and Greek communities – in fact, as a student of iconography, he is currently helping install the new icons at St Demetrios! We are so grateful for his enthusiasm for this project and willingness to be involved.
Cameron Hay: Another original member, Cam has always had a clear vision of what this school should be. Of course, every team needs a good accountant, and Cam is usually the one to get roped in – but in this case, it’s truly a labour of love. Despite his busy schedule, he always manages somehow to get everything done, and we can’t say enough how much it’s appreciated.
Elissa Hay: I’m the voice behind these letters! That said, I do try to speak on behalf of us all. I’m always humbled by the knowledge and ability of the others on the team, and I really can’t say that I add much at all, except a heartfelt passion that the pan-Orthodox community needs this school. What I lack in experience, I try to make up for with sheer willingness to help! Cam and I belong to the Holy Trinity OCA Cathedral, but truly we feel as if all Orthodox churches in the city are just part of our extended church family.
We want to send a big thank you to all of you who contributed by donating gift certificates and bottles of wine for the online raffle. Our goal is to have it up and running soon – more news on that later!
May our Heavenly King continue to bless this work, and grant that everything we do be in accordance with His will. Thank you all for your prayers and your words of encouragement. It means so much to us.
With love in Christ,
The HKOA Team
