June 30th, 2024
Always a Spiritual Focus, First
Dearest Parish Family Members,
At the end of this week, we come to remember and celebrate the Independence Day of this country based in faith and freedom graced by God. Sad that, nowadays, that same faith and freedom seems to be criticized and threatened within its own societies and post-modern fragmentations.
In a similar manner, in this same week, we will also gather and celebrate our biannual National Clergy-Laity Conference. I have been required to represent our humble parish at this level of Archdiocesan support and participation. It is the mechanics of meeting and voting that help us function and grow as a parish conducting our Holy Services and unified organization. From our humble parish council meetings for our own parish, to our district clergy-laity annual meetings to our national decisions, we all come together to learn of our growth and conduct, our spiritual leaders, and our sharing of what charitable and educational programs work for us and help us to sustain ourselves. We also get to glimpse what works in other parishes and what we may be able to do to enrich our own spiritual services and offerings to our people.
All I can suggest, in these struggling times, is that (to use one of my favourite quotations) we keep our “eyes on the prize.” Always strive for spiritual growth and understanding and, in this way, to help our lives, our daily struggles, our maturing and understanding not only of our fellow human nature but also of our spiritual questing, our efforts to lead better lives, spiritual lives, prayer life and coming closer to the reality of God. I have seen how the examples of the Saints have documented how they struggled and how they triumphed, even at the cost of their lives. I have met actual genuine Saints alive before me, counseling with me, helping me in my life. All I can do is strive to serve you in return, to pay it forward, to represent you not just in celebrations of yearly holidays—but also in daily survival and struggle to get better, to be better, to be at peace as we live our days. And all of it to be held in our parish home, our Church of Saint John where we may gather to share and grow, with each service commemorating the example of the Saints, from long before and from now. Come anytime, call anytime, for anything we may do to represent you and to help you, as we help each other in unity and growing strength in this scrabbled world.
Faithfully, Father Samaras
7th Morning Gospel:
Sunday of All Saints. On June 30th, 2024, we celebrate the Synaxis of the Holy, glorious, and all-praised Twelve Apostles, and we say where each of them preached and died. And, today, the Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the feast of All Saints, who are from every part of the world, those in Asia, Africa, Europe and America, from the North and from the South.
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2024 PARISH COUNCIL
President - Theo Christ
Vice President – Yvonne Anastasiou
Secretary – Dina Mastoras
Parish Council Member - Evdokia Sofos
Parish Council Member - Dialecti Voudouris
Parish Council Member - Anastassios Mentis
Parish Council Member – Paula Refolo
Parish Council Member - Theodore Vougiouklakis