The OCCIF board on location!

The OCCIF board on location! (from left to right) Linda Koshell, Dennis Garlick, Mat. Theodora Blom, Deacon Vyacheslav Adams, Father John Dresko, and Catherine Mandell.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ;

As we all move forward into Pascha, I want to take a minute to look back on what OCCIF did in 2023. During 2023 we provided loans for new living quarters at the Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, California; helped St Jacob Orthodox Church purchase and convert a building into a new church in Bend, Oregon; and helped St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church in Fenton, Michigan put a new roof on the church.

In 2023 we also welcomed Ben Anderson, a new board member with extensive experience in the construction industry. Ben is Manager of Facility & Energy Projects for the Naval Federal Credit Union, and manages several hundred millions worth of construction projects.

We are also grateful that in 2024 OCCIF was blessed with two additional board members: Catherine Mandell and Dennis Garlick. Both Catherine and Dennis bring a wealth of experience to OCCIF. Dennis has a professional background in construction management, and Catherine brings decades of corporate banking expertise as we work with new loan requests. Their input has already helped as we move OCCIF forward.

As always, in 2024 we again have more loan requests than we have funds. Moving forward this year we want OCCIF to connect even more Orthodox investors with qualified loan candidates in all jurisdictions though out the United States. Essentially we can get your funds to Orthodox Churches and Institutions across the country.

But we can’t do it without your help.

Please consider making a loan or donation to OCCIF, and we can continue our work in growing the Orthodox Church in the United States.

Father John Dresko
President/CEO
Orthodox Church Capital Improvement Fund

St. Jacob Orthodox Church: A Place to Worship

In 2023, OCCIF worked with Father Ignatius Strange to purchase a grange hall that his parish could convert to a new Orthodox Church in Bend, Oregon. Since then, St. Jacob Orthodox Church has welcomed many to the new parish, which will serve all of Central and Eastern Oregon.

There is still some work to be done, but Father Strange is excited at the progress they have made. “We have done a lot of renovations [to the church], but there is still some work to be done,” said Father Strange. The back of the church has been cleared, and they are now installing double wooden doors which will lead out to a beautiful open yard. “Now we just to need to get our landscaping done in time for Pascha,” notes Father Strange.

The new church is bringing in even more parishioners, and Father Strange points out
that it is ideal for Bend, Oregon. “We don’t need a cathedral,” notes Father Strange. “We are just people that need a church home, Thanks to OCCIF we have a very comfortable worship space that really fits this area.”

St Mary Magdalene: A Roof Above Our Heads

Last year Father Gabriel Bilas of St Mary Magdalene in Fenton, Michigan was in a bind, with a church that had experienced incredible growth.

The number of new parishioners had pushed well past the capacity of the Church, and they needed to expand to a bigger space.

Father Gabriel turned to OCCIF to get a loan to expand their temple and add a new roof and dome to the new space.

We checked in with Father Gabriel, who told us that the new church space is more active than ever.

“We have been in the new church for a month,” said Father Gabriel. “We moved in a week before Lent, which was incredible.”

“There were still a few rough edges to work out,” notes Father Gabriel. “It’s like a new house, a few things here and there that have to be fixed. We went to turn on the Baptismal font and got no water. We did a quick fix and are able to move forward.”

Holy Assumption Monastery: Making a House a Home.

In 2023 OCCIF helped the Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, California to build a new family house for the nuns.

The old Saint Nicholas house was replaced with a new fully modern residence for the sisters who reside at Holy Assumption. The new St. Nicholas House features new rooms, handicap accessible walkways, a new kitchen, and an elevator.

Now many months since they moved in, Mother Macrina says they are finally getting the finishing touches to the new Saint Nicholas House.

“We are continuing to settle into the house, but it is going well,” said Mother Macrina.
“Just this morning the commercial baking ovens arrived and were installed. So now all of the granola and cookie production will move into the new kitchen.” The sales of the monasteries cookies and granola are just a few of the ways that Holy Assumption stays self sufficient.

Holy Assumption did a successful fundraiser to help provide funds towards payment of their OCCIF loan. Mother Macrina points out that paying off their OCCIF loan sooner is important for the long term help it can provide.

“We will definitely do a year end fundraiser, looking for a $50K matching donation,” said Mother Macrina. “If we can do that, by the time our OCCIF loan comes due we will have already paid off the balance. The more that we pay off the principal, the faster that money is available to OCCIF.”

Remember, OCCIF is a charitable donation

OCCIF is a 501(c)3 charity. Consider donating appreciated stock, make a direct donation of your RMD from an IRA, or you can make a simple cash contribution. We would appreciate whatever you can donate!
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