National Association of Melkite Youth

I am delighted to announce that the National N.A.M.Y. Conference will take place on June 27-July1, and will be held at Caldwell College, 120 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, NJ. You can visit their website at www.caldwell.edu. The cost of the conference is $150 for double occupancy rooms.

If You ask any of our young Melkites that have attended past conferences, they will tell you what a wonderful time they had there. The experience of laughing, loving, learning, and praying together is powerfully enriching. Lifetime friendships (and even a few marriages) have come from people meeting at these conferences. So, if you are a N.A.M.Y. member who has never been to the national conference - what are you waiting for?

The theme chosen for this year's N.A.M.Y. conference is "Ask and it shall be given to you, search and you will find" (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11 :9). This theme reminds us that we are to ask and seek for God and His will for our lives and to trust that we will receive and find all that we need.

All of the necessary registration forms and consent forms will be made available from this site.

I look forward to being with everyone at the conference again this year.

Please remember to pray for all of the advisors and for our youth - they truly are the future of our church!

Formal portrait of priest in white garment

Fr. Thomas Steinmetz

National NAMY Director

What is NAMY?

The National Association of Melkite Youth (NAMY) is created to provide a common forum and activities for all youth 13-18 years of age within the Eparchy of Newton. The organization is to initiate, coordinate and implement religious, social, educational and humanitarian programs designed to promote the involvement of its membership in the Christian Faith and Melkite tradition.

Therefore, the purpose of the organization is as follows:

1. To enjoin upon its membership a complete devotion to the Christian Faith and the Melkite tradition, discipline and worship.

2. To deepen the spiritual lives of its membership through frequent individual and corporate reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion.

3. To promote friendship among its members.

4. To support the Ecclesiastical authorities, Parishes, and Parish committees within the Eparchy.

5. To take an active part in the support of a learned priesthood for the Eparchy.

6. To aid programs of education for the study of doctrines, dogma, music, liturgies, art, and architecture of the Christian Faith and the Melkite tradition.

7. To encourage regular church attendance and participation.

8. To participate actively in a program of Christian fellowship, especially with youth of other Eastern Christian activities.

9. To coordinate and direct NAMY activities and programs, especially at the Annual Melkite Convention.

10. To promote the activities of NAMY through a well-planned program of public relations.

11. To develop the physical well-being of its membership through NAMY sponsored inter-church athletic activities.

12. To assist the Eparchy in the fulfillment of its activities and goals.

13. To promote and sponsor a complete program of parish involvement as a means for developing a fuller spiritual life for all faithful members of the Eparchy,

14. The Eparch shall be the final authority on all matters pertaining to the activities of the Youth organization. He appoints a National director (priest or deacon). The National director, after consultation with the Eparch shall choose regional spiritual advisors and coordinators to assist with matters pertaining to NAMY.

Updated 04/17/2009