July 14th, 2024
Always a Spiritual Focus, First
Dearest Parish Family Members,
Nice to be back and nice to be writing to you in sharing. I attended our most recent July 1-4th National Clergy Laity Conference, at which we were all able to witness, support, and participate in how decisions are made for our Archdiocese—which filters all the way down to our individual parishes. For this reason, it was honestly very important for us to attend and be represented, despite the effort and expense.
At the Conference, there were many overlapping lectures and presentations, some of which awkwardly conflicted with each other at simultaneous times—so we had to choose which to attend. The Plenary sessions were important and gave important information on how our Archdiocese operates and the budget needed to operate. Other sessions explained various social and spiritual programs that our Archdiocese offers for our people, from the Saint Basil’s Academy Home for children and families in distress to Hospital Ministries to Prison Ministries to Philoptochos Services. Honestly, there were a lot of programs featured and a lot of helpful resources presented to learn about so we can help improve our parish resources to help our parishioners. For all this, I was grateful to see. And there were many church vendors offering church materials from icons to spiritual books to church supplies. Fortunately, our own parish is doing alright with our church icons and provisions, so we are good in that department.
All in all, it was indeed helpful to experience our Archdiocesan councils on the national level, just as we have our own New York Direct Archdiocesan District annual meetings and programs. I found it educational to see how we all fit in with our national level, and hear what other small parishes are doing to nurture and support their parishioners.
I express my thanks to our parish council who sent me for our representation. I’m sorry another person couldn’t come with me to experience the lessons and help and, hopefully, in another two years, we’ll have the next opportunity to participate again, learn more, and grow more.
For now, I can say that we are blessed not to need any prison ministry or substance abuse ministry, but we can always focus on spiritual ministries for outreach and sharing and supporting. This is what our parish family may specialise in: to be here for each other, to help each other grow in faith and support. You are so invited to come and attend our parish family services, and grow with us. In our Saint John the Baptist home, we are indeed “the little engine that could” and can and do. We provide and offer. Just come and receive.
Faithfully, Father Samaras
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