Attached below is an email from Linda Kolton to Fr. Sergei. Linda who has accepted the position as the Director of the newly formed FOCUS Bridgeport Center.
January 2026
Dear Sergei,
Grace and peace to you, and thank you for being part of the growing story of FOCUS Bridgeport!
My name is Linda Kolton, and I am grateful to introduce myself as the new Center Director for our Bridgeport ministry. It's an honor to step into this role as a steward of the prayers, generosity, and dedication that have made this Center possible. The work that begins now rests on a foundation you have already laid with faithfulness and care.
FOCUS answered a call to come to Bridgeport to address the needs of our neighbors. Your love is a living witness that the Orthodox community and local friends are present, engaged, and responding to God’s call to serve.
Please continue to keep our new Center in your prayers. With God’s help—and with your continued support—this ministry will grow and bear fruit.
With gratitude and hope,
Linda Kolton FOCUS Bridgeport Center Director
As you remember, our Church School (as part of our St. Nicholas Party), collected donations of Christmas gifts for 3rd Graders at Beardsley Elementary School in Bridgeport. This was a coordinated FOCUS project with Holy Ghost and St. John's Orthodox Churches in Bridgeport.
FOCUS (Food, Occupation, Clothing, Understanding, and Shelter) has the following Mission Statement:
As an expression of Christ’s love, FOCUS exists to serve the poor by bringing together Orthodox Christian churches and community partners to provide Food, Occupation, Clothing, Understanding, and Shelter and other assistance to address the needs of local communities.
FOCUS North America currently has set-up 12 Centers around the country, Bridgeport being the most recent addition. The other 11 Centers include: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Gateway City (St. Louis), Houston, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Orange County (Southern CA), Philadelphia, and Phoenix.
An early status update on FOCUS Bridgeport follows:
On January 23, about sixty (60) people from ten (10) parishes gathered at Holy Ghost Orthodox Church in Bridgeport, CT to attend a Kickoff Meeting officially launching the Exploratory Committee process as we develop a new FOCUS Center in the Bridgeport metro area.
In Bridgeport, our Exploratory Committee (made up of 27 clergy and laity from 9 local parishes) is currently meeting to develop a vision for the ministry. Stay tuned for more details.
Our Exploratory Committee sends regular updates to all local clergy and includes members from the following parishes:
Archangels (Stamford)
Assumption (Danbury)
Holy Ghost (Bridgeport)
Holy Transfiguration (New Haven)
Holy Trinity (Bridgeport)
St. John the Baptist (Stratford)
Saint Barbara (Orange)
Saint John the Baptist (Bridgeport)
Saint Nicholas (Bridgeport)
Additionally, starting in late February, a monthly weekend meal service will begin for the children and families of Beardsley Elementary School at Holy Ghost Church:
FOCUS Bridgeport & Holy Ghost Welcome Beardsley Elementary School Families
Through prayer and many caring conversations, we saw a clear opportunity to support the children and families of Beardsley Elementary School with weekend meal service when children have no access to school meals. This will be the cornerstone of our ministry. We'll start with monthly meals and prayerfully plan to increase the frequency.
We’re excited to share that our first meal will be on Saturday, February 28 at 5:30 pm at Holy Ghost Church! We'll need your help for this meal and future activities so see below to learn how you can get involved!"
