March 2nd, 2025
Always a Spiritual Focus, First
Dearest Parish Families,
Over these past few weeks, I’ve been struck anew by the themes that our Sunday hymns and Gospels have been giving us, and those themes are somewhat dark and serious—which is exactly the point in preparing us for the seriousness of Great Lent and our fasting issues. The themes have all been about the end of the world and our coming, inevitable judgement of all our souls by Jesus Christ.
Yes, that is a very sobering theme to consider. How may we deal with that somewhat unpleasant thought to consider?
I just shared with those of us who were able to be in Church this past Sunday something I heard when I was a very young seminarian. I had visited the Russian Orthodox Monastery in upstate New York, located very close to Cooperstown, New York. The Monastery itself is a huge land area, gorgeous to see and experience. You see Russian monks walking about and little old grandmotherly ladies with babushkas on their heads walking by, and you swear you are no longer in New York anymore, but are somehow in Russia itself, back in time. It’s a place to visit that I recommend wholeheartedly.
At the Jordanville Monastery, I was told that the older monks ask the new novice monks who enter there a very loaded question, a question that also shocked me when I first heard it. They ask the new monks, “Have you built your coffin yet?”
Well, when I first heard that, I somewhat freaked out. But then, one of the older monks told me the deeper meaning.
They meant this: in a similar manner that our hymns of Great Lent sing about, we are called to always be prepared for our own passing away. While that may be distasteful for us to think about, the elder monks remind us that it is an inevitable topic. Just like when we are told in America to get “prepaid” funeral arrangements, so as to lighten the burden on our children and/or grandchildren, and make our personal choices known and prepared for, the elder monks at this Monastery are basically saying the same thing. All of us need to consider our personal ends of life, and be prepared for it.
This is why our wise Church and faith reminds us ever before the start of Great Lent, in song and in Gospel passages, how crucial and important this issue is, and how we need to prepare ourselves spiritually through practice, through worship and prayer, through the Sacrament of Holy Confession and receiving Holy Communion.
So, as unsettling as this topic is, isn't it actually a valuable topic to help us, to help our children,, and to be prepared? I pray this Great Lent may be for all of us a good "wake-up" call, and for us to help ourselves spiritually and emotionally in settling our lives. May this Great Lent of 2025 be the most inspiring and uplifting Lent of all, allowing us to more fully participate and enrich ourselves spiritually, becoming even closer to our Lord.
Faithfully, Father Samaras
3rd Morning Gospel
On March 2, we commemorate the holy Martyr Hesychios the Senator; the holy Hieromartyr Theodotos, Bishop of Kyrenia, Cyprus; the holy Martyr Quintos the Wonder-worker; the holy Martyrs Nestor and Trivimios; the holy Martyr Troadios and those with him, who witnessed under Emperor Decios; the holy virgin Efthalia; the holy Martyrs Andronikos and Athanasia; Saint Nicholas Planas the Priest. and today, we remember the expulsion of the first-formed Adam from the Garden of Eden.

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
Parish Council Member - Mike Anastasiou