Andrew Temple
Benjamin Daniel
The Students and Instructors of the Diaconal Formation Program
George Zlatkowski
Jay Adams
Joseph McCusker
Fr. Victor Gorodenchuk Lecturer in Scripture
Joseph Semon
Michael Pasonick
Fr. Timothy Hojnicki Lecturer in Litrugics
In Blessed Memory of Seminarian Thomas Clee Fr. Victor Gorodenchuk, Faculty Member One of the goals of St. Tikhon’s Program of Diaconal Formation is to create a semblance of the atmosphere of “seminary life” that the students here can experience every Saturday during the school year. The fellowship among the seminarians is an important part of this atmosphere. As with any such fellowship, the untimely loss of one of its members is always difficult to bear. As we began the spring semester, all of us were deeply saddened by the unexpected repose in the Lord of one of our students, Thomas Clee, at the age of 55. I got to talk to Thomas only a few days before classes resumed, and he was very excited about continuing his education. Yet, despite all our planning, we always have to recognize the providence of God Who arranges our life in the best way for our salvation. And to me God’s providence was clearly seen in Tom’s spiritual journey. The first time I met Tom was through his curiosity with the Lenten customs of the Church. When we first met, as I found out later, Tom was considering joining a Benedictine Monastery. He grew up Roman Catholic, but like many from his generation, he left that confession in search of a deeper spiritual experience. This search led him to study a variety of religions until he came to a Presbyterian congregation, where he became an active member, working with youth and taking care of the parish library. Yet even here he felt that something was missing, and he soon realized that what he missed most was liturgical worship in the Church. Having been brought up Catholic, Thomas valued the traditional approach to worship and reverence that should be exhibited in a house of prayer. All this led him to a desire to give Catholicism another chance, this time in a monastery setting. Yet, before making this decision, imitating our Lord and His Apostles, Tom decided to go through a period of prayer and fasting. But how could he pursue this discipline? Where could one find specific instructions on how to fast? Today most Christian denominations don’t have any rules of fasting; usually each individual decides for himself what rules to follow.
During his relatively short time at St. Stephen’s he helped to strengthen the life of our parish in numerous ways. Tom had a good voice and quickly became an integral part of our Cathedral Choir. It was with Tom’s help that we were able to introduce Daily Vespers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Because of his dedication we always could count on Tom being at these services reading and singing the responses. The news of Tom’s passing was a shock to all those involved in the Deaconal Formation Program as well as to all the parishioners of St. Stephen’s. For the Panikhida service, the cathedral was full of people, many of whom we never met before. It was obvious that while not being very vocal or outgoing, Tom gained the love and respect of many friends and co-workers who now came to pray for him as he left this world. Here at St. Stephen’s, and in the community of the Program of Diaconal Formation, we will continue to pray that God will give rest to His departed servant Thomas and will make his memory eternal.
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2007 – 2008 ACADEMIC YEAR
Providentially, one of Tom’s friends suggested that he visit an Orthodox church and learn there how to fast! Tom came for the first time to St. Stephen’s Cathedral on the eve of Forgiveness Sunday and became so interested in Orthodox worship that he did not miss a single service for the whole duration of Lent. This was how Tom’s journey to Orthodoxy began. Although he had fallen in love with Orthodox worship and teaching, he took his time studying and coming to a deeper understanding of the Church before he was Chrismated.