Record Attendance Marks 71st Diocese of Ottawa Parish Life Conference in Montreal

MONTREAL — The 71st Annual Parish Life Conference of the Antiochian Diocese of Ottawa, Eastern Canada, and Upstate New York was held July 2–5 in Montreal, drawing a record 506 clergy and faithful from 19 parishes and missions across Eastern Canada and Upstate New York.

Hosted by St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Montreal under the leadership of Archpriest Joseph Purpura, the conference was highlighted by the presence of His Eminence Metr. Saba and His Grace Bp. Alexander, whose participation provided spiritual leadership throughout the gathering.

The conference opened with Great Vespers on July 2, followed by the annual clergy dinner, during which Metr. Saba announced that Dn. Nicolas Naous would be ordained to the holy priesthood during Sunday’s Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Fr. Nicolas will serve at St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Montreal.

Throughout the weekend, Metr. Saba met with diocesan organizations, including the Antiochian Women, Young Adult Ministry, Teen SOYO, and the Antiochian Men’s Group, while also hosting a town hall meeting emphasizing continued spiritual growth and missionary outreach.

During a meeting of the Diocesan Ministry Council, the metropolitan announced the donation of land that will become the future site of a diocesan camp and retreat center, as well as a monastery near Toronto, an initiative welcomed enthusiastically by conference participants.

Youth activities featured prominently during the conference. Eleven teens participated in the Oratorical Festival, with Angelina Mokbel of St. George Church in Toronto winning the junior division and Nicole Nadour of St. Nicholas Church in Montreal winning the senior division. Nadour will represent the diocese at the Archdiocesan Festival at the Antiochian Village later this month.

The annual Bible Bowl drew 24 teams competing across three age divisions. Christ the Savior Church in Waterloo, Ontario, captured the teen division title and will represent the diocese at the Archdiocesan Festival. St. George Church in Montreal won the pre-teen division, while St. Nicholas Church in Montreal took first place in the adult division.

The conference concluded with Sunday’s Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, during which Dn. Nicolas Naous was ordained to the priesthood and 15 new members were inducted into The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Organizers expressed gratitude to conference chairwoman Caroline Habib, honorary chairwoman Carol Jazzar, PLC coordinator Eric Zakaib, and the clergy and faithful of St. George Church for their efforts in hosting what participants described as a joyful celebration of Orthodox faith and diocesan unity.

Previously, the UOJ reported that more than 400 clergy and faithful from the Antiochian Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America and beyond gathered at St. John Chrysostom Antiochian Orthodox Church in Lakewood, Colorado, for the 2026 Parish Life Conference.