The following is the full transcript of OYM’s interview with Mike Rascia. Read the article here.
OYM: Do you think there was a specific moment that sparked your passion for building community, especially with young people? You’ve organized so many outings—was there a particular point that inspired you?
Mike: I’m not sure if there was a specific moment, but when I first came to Orthodoxy in my 20s, I naturally gravitated toward people my own age. I really enjoyed the fellowship. As I got older, especially when we started organizing camping trips in my 40s, I became more drawn to working with younger people [...] I enjoyed being around younger people because their minds are still open and inquisitive, especially when they’ve just joined the Church. They have lots of questions, and in many ways, we became role models for them. My wife and I have an Orthodox home—we have icons in every room, and we live out our faith. When people visit, we pray together before the evening ends, and we sing hymns. It’s a way for us to offer an example of Orthodox living and build a sense of community. [...] My goal is to present an authentic face of Orthodoxy, without hidden agendas. It’s all about the love of Jesus Christ and sharing that love with those who are coming into the faith.
OYM: What makes you feel that you’re the right person to step into this role and lead? Is it something you’ve always felt called to do?
Mike: Well, one thing that stands out is that I still feel youthful, and that helps me connect with them. I enjoy the same activities they do, and that gives us common ground. I’ve always been interested in working with youth because I feel youthful myself. I love going on hikes, bike rides, climbing, and canoeing—activities that younger people are usually eager to join in on. It’s a great way to be in nature, enjoy God’s creation, and talk about Orthodoxy. Through these shared experiences, we grow together as a community. As for challenges—sure, there were some, especially in the beginning. Back when Father Bill was here, he always encouraged getting together, and he wanted to be a part of it, fostering that sense of community.
One of the more interesting challenges I’ve faced is working with different generations. In the '90s, I noticed differences between the Baby Boomers, Gen X, and now Millennials and Gen Z. We don’t always communicate the same way, and we have different expectations. It was fascinating—and sometimes challenging—to realize that the way we hear or interpret certain things comes from our own generational perspectives, or as we’d say in Greek, our “phronima” (mindset). Even though we’re all within the same culture, there are subcultures based on generation. But working through these differences has been a rewarding experience, as we learn from each other and grow together.
OYM: Could you maybe walk us through what sort of a meeting or an outing looks like?
Mike: I had a few people coming over to my house, and I thought, “Why don’t we make a small group?” It began with about 5 or 6 of us, and whenever we planned to do something, we’d send a message to the group. Over time, more people got added, and now we have a chat group with anywhere from 12 to 17 people, depending on who’s active.
One of the things we’ve done several times is gathering on a Saturday morning for prayers. We follow a morning prayer service [...] We usually meet around 6:00 AM to do the morning prayers, then go on a hike for an hour or two. After that, we grab breakfast together. It’s a great way to start the day, combining prayer, fellowship, and some time in nature. As more people expressed interest, we added them to the group, and now we have a solid list of people who join in for these outings.
The focus of these gatherings is to have meaningful conversations. Many of the people who come to our gatherings are either interested in Orthodoxy, scheduled to be chrismated, or have just recently been chrismated or baptized. So, we create a welcoming space where everyone feels comfortable staying as long as they’d like. Typically, I’ll cook a meal, and others will bring food to share. We usually spend most of the Sunday together, talking, sharing, and enjoying each other's company.
What’s great is that most of the young people are extremely well-read—often more than I was at their age. They’ll talk among themselves, and someone might say, “Oh yeah, I read something by so-and-so,” and they’ll have these really thoughtful discussions because they’re peers, and they just get each other. We don’t have a set agenda for conversation, but the topics naturally emerge based on their interests. Some are into food and health, some are passionate about the environment, others about politics, and some are just trying to understand the Church.
What’s really nice is that even though some have only been around for a few weeks, they already feel bonded and part of the community because they’re around the same age and share a lot in common. That sense of community builds quickly.
OYM: how do you think the young men, or young people in general, are transformed through the meetings and gatherings you organize? What do they take away from these experiences?
Mike: Well, the biggest thing is that they’re with people who are in the same place they are, spiritually and socially. I’d like to think that everyone who comes says, “Wow, this is the real deal. This is the right path.” But honestly, most of them already have that conviction before they’re chrismated or even after just a few visits. What they really get out of it is the community—being able to enjoy each other’s company.
That being said, disagreements do pop up sometimes, especially given the polarized nature of our society today. People don’t always know how to disagree politely anymore. At first, I had a strict “no politics” rule, but over time, I’ve relaxed a bit. However, I’ve heard things like, “I wouldn’t be Orthodox if it wasn’t for you,” which is incredibly rewarding to hear.
The main challenge for young people today is everything pulling them away from the Church—social media, the fast-paced world of opinions, and all the distractions. Some of these young guys even have their own podcasts or are deep into online Orthodox spaces, but that can be tricky. The Internet is full of voices, many of them pushing their own versions of Orthodoxy or even Church politics.
I try to guide them back to basics. I always tell them, "Talk to your priest. Whatever he says, follow it." It’s easy to get swept up by some popular online figure, but I emphasize that they need to ground themselves in their parish. Don’t get your brain ahead of your heart. You’re still new to this, and while your zeal is great, make sure you’re listening to the right authority—your priest. Stick with your local church and grow there. That’s the most important takeaway I hope they get from these gatherings.
OYM: As a follow-up, what role do you believe community plays in someone's faith journey? Would you say it's the most important factor, especially when it comes to guiding them on how to make the right judgments?
Mike: Absolutely. Within the community, you develop a mindset—or what we call in Eastern Orthodoxy a "phronema," an ideal worldview. Since many people come into Orthodoxy with a Western mindset, it's important that they start shifting into the more traditional, Orthodox way of thinking. That transformation often happens through the relationships they build. The community becomes essential because, for many, they’re leaving behind old social circles or even coming from families that aren’t religious at all, so they’re kind of like orphans in that sense.
It’s vital to get them connected right away and to build that community under proper spiritual authority. For example, when I see someone new at church, I’m often the first to approach them after Communion. I’ll grab some blessed bread and say, "Here, take this. It’s not Eucharist, just blessed bread. Would you like some?" That opens the door for a conversation, and I’ll invite them to stay for coffee hour and chat with the community. It’s about making them feel welcome and like they belong from the start. Community, for sure, plays a critical role in someone’s faith journey.
OYM: That’s such a wonderful approach. To tie everything together with what you’ve shared, if someone wanted to use their gifts for ministry like you have, what advice would you give them?
Mike: The first step is identifying their gifts. One way to do that is to gather a group of people who know the person well. We actually did this with our former priest, Father Bill. We all sat in a circle and discussed each person’s strengths. When it came to me, people said, "Mike has the gift of hospitality and music." They didn’t ask me directly what I thought my gifts were—they pointed it out for me. And we did this for everyone in the group. So if someone is looking to find their calling in ministry, it helps to ask people who know them. You might hear things like, "You have the gift of wisdom," or "You're great at music," or "You have a generous spirit."
Once you identify the gifts, the next step is finding a place in the church or ministry where those gifts can be put to use. You might find several different opportunities to get involved, but the key is to align your gifts with the needs of the community. It’s not always about what you think you’re good at—it’s about how others see you and how you can best serve.
OYM: Awesome, do you have any future plans or hopes for how your ministry will grow or evolve?
Mike: Yes, absolutely. First off, I’m really excited that Christian Gonzalez reached out to me. We’ve known each other for many years—he was in my choir back in the early 2000s. We’ve crossed paths so many times, and we even met this past March at his church when we were visiting Father Bill, who has since passed away. My hope is to find a place in Ancient Youth Ministry (AYM), or something like that, where I can really plug into what I’m gifted in, as others have recognized in me. I want to use those gifts under the proper authority to help bring more people into the Orthodox Church and share what I believe is one of the best-kept secrets—Orthodoxy itself.
With Father Bill, we always had a priest at every gathering, which was a great source of spiritual grounding. But in recent years, we haven’t had the same presence of priests. Just recently, the priest from St. Innocent joined us, which is a step toward reconnecting with that essential authority. My goal is to get more of our gatherings under that spiritual umbrella and follow guidance from the Church hierarchy so we can continue to grow in the right direction. I’m really excited about where things are heading.
OYM: That sounds amazing! Is there anything else you’d like to share about your ministry, your journey, or the impact of your work?
Mike: Well, for me, my journey into the Orthodox Church was love at first sight, so to speak. It wasn’t an intellectual decision—I didn’t have to read a bunch of books. I just felt it in my heart immediately. I mean, people recommended books like The Orthodox Way by Timothy Ware, but for me, it wasn’t about reading; it was about feeling that deep connection.
What really excites me is seeing people come back to the Church or discovering it for the first time. I know the world is moving away from organized religion in many ways, and it feels like there are so many obstacles in the way. But I’m hopeful that we can reignite that zeal in the youth and even within ourselves. When someone new comes in, I get excited all over again, seeing the faith through their eyes.
I’ve learned that the key is to really listen—to understand what the new person is feeling and seeing, rather than immediately telling them what I think they should know. If we don’t take the time to understand their perspective, we’re just using outdated approaches that don’t resonate. Elders like me need to re-educate ourselves on how to truly connect with young people today, without bringing our own biases to the table. That’s how we can bond with them and have a real chance to influence them in a positive way.
OYM: That’s such a beautiful perspective. Thank you so much for sharing all of that. We’re almost out of time, but if there’s anything else you’d like to add, feel free.
Mike: I’d just say that, for me, ministry starts with fellowship. Everything else—whether it’s an agenda or tasks to accomplish—comes second. The most important thing is that we’re building a community. If we’ve managed to form a community, even if we didn’t get everything on our to-do list done, we’ve succeeded. When I organize things, my priority is always that sense of togetherness. The rest will follow.
Mike: You know, your generation is going to be the one that figures out this whole social media thing. You’re going to come up with a solid answer to it and find a way to bring it into balance. Right now, everything feels out of balance, and it’s going to fall on you to clean up the mess that my generation, the baby boomers, and others have created. You’ll be the ones to represent this faith through your own perspective, using new methods and approaches to make it relevant.
That’s what I tell the young guys who come over. They’re brilliant—just so incredibly knowledgeable. They’ve read so much, and their understanding of the faith is impressive. But they need to work on finding a balance between modern technology and tradition, especially in how they present the faith. It’s a challenge, for sure, but I have no doubt they’ll rise to it.
