The Slovak Roma mission in the USA: A successful trip for support and new partners

Fr. Martin Halík's successful journey across the United States brought new partnerships. The generosity of American believers will help develop the Orthodox mission in the Roma settlements in Slovakia.

The mission trip of Fr. Martin Halík from the Slovak parish of Markovce across the United States of America has just been successfully completed. The eparchy reported it yesterday on Facebook. The aim of the trip was to find partners who are willing to support the “Christian Roma Mission”.

During the past week we had the chance to meet bishops, priests and faithful, and to present the service of the Church among Roma communities in Slovakia. The aim of this trip was to look for partners who want to support this mission with prayer and with concrete help” - from the post

Fr. Halík also came to Chicago, where on Tuesday, 24 March, he met Archbishop Daniel (PCA). The archbishop assured the missionary of his personal support and prayers. Then, on Wednesday, Fr. Martin visited the Slovak Orthodox parish in Chicago, founded by Slovak immigrants. Together they served the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and after the service he had the chance to present his project, the “Christian Roma Mission”, to the faithful in America.

Fr. Martin's journey then continued towards the East Coast, with a stop at a replica of Noah's Ark, which serves as a biblical education centre. On Friday in Washington he was received by Fr. John Vitko at the parish of St Luke (PCA), where the Slovak missionary was again able to present his work in the Roma settlements. The family found a home base in the church of St John the Baptist (ROCOR), founded by St John of Shanghai, where Fr. Martin took part in services and common prayers.

The high point of the stay in Washington was the Sunday hierarchical liturgy with Metropolitan Nikolaj (ROCOR). He brought to the church the rare, miraculous Kursk Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God. Fr. Martin had the honour of concelebrating with the local clergy in a full church, while the faithful prayed with reverence before this holy icon, which is connected with St Seraphim of Sarov.

Metropolitan Nikolaj then announced in support of the Christian mission among the Roma in Slovakia.

At the end of the liturgy we were surprised by the great generosity of the local parish. Fr. Viktor announced a collection in support of our mission among the Roma in Slovakia, (...) Thanks to the generosity of the faithful, the costs of this mission trip were covered, for which we are sincerely grateful.” - from the post

The founder of the mission had earlier noted in the post:

Alongside my service in the Roma mission I also work in a secular job as an IT developer, which helps to cover a considerable part of the costs of the mission work. We are glad to see, however, that the support of the friends of the mission is slowly growing and today covers about 15–20 % of the costs.”

On Monday morning Fr. Martin visited St Vladimir's Seminary in New York, where he discussed with its dean the possibilities of future cooperation and support for the Slovak mission work. The missionary closed the whole journey by thanking God for all the meetings and for the good people who opened doors for him in America to spread the Gospel.