March 9th, 2025
Always a Spiritual Focus, First
Dearest Parish Families,
Now with our first week of fasting nearly over, we have a great question for you: have you gotten used to fasting yet? I know. We’re all human and it takes awhile for us to not forget about fasting now. It usually takes about the first week for us to keep remembering we’re supposed to be fasting.
And this is the very reason why have fasting in our Church and faith: we do it to remember God in every moment. This is why, when we first begin fasting, we tend to forget. We tend to fall back on our habits and instinctively reach for whatever we previously promised to fast from. We momentarily forget our promises to God.
That’s normal. What comes next is closer to spiritual. When we shake ourselves out of our unconscious habits, then we begin to earnestly practice our fasting. After a few days or so, fasting starts to become a better discipline for us. We begin to remember we are fasting and strengthen ourselves to keep fasting.
To this, I encourage you to keep going. By next week, fasting will start to feel a bit annoying—and honestly, this is exactly what you want to happen to you. It means fasting is starting to work for you. After the first week of fasting, you start to feel the seriousness of fasting and your heartfelt efforts.
If you are fasting and it doesn’t bother you, then you’re not doing it right. Fasting doesn’t mean you substitute one type of food for another. That’s not fasting. Fasting is about portion control. You eat less. You strive to be kinder to people. You take a moment to slow down and maybe understand why people do what they do. You find yourself becoming more patient, more compassionate. This enters you into the Spirit of fasting.
Just this past Wednesday, I gave my first talk in church on our topic of fasting and Great Lent. I enjoyed it thoroughly. For next week, I wish to develop a bit more on the foundation of how we may better understand and appreciate the practice of fasting.
You are so welcome to join me on these next Wednesday evenings at church at 7:00 pm. We will also continue to strive to work a “Zoom conference” for everyone to remotely join us, if possible.
Either way, we provide opportunities for you, for one and all, to share with us together in spiritual and emotional support and growth.
Faithfully, Father Samaras
4th Morning Gospel
On March 9, we commemorate the holy and great Forty Martyrs, who witnessed in the city of Sebastia; the holy Martyr Urpasian; Saint Kesarios, brother of Saint Gregory the Theologian; the holy Martyrs, a Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother, and two Children; And today, the first Sunday of Lent, we commemorate the restoration of the holy and venerable icons enacted by the ever-memorable Emperors of Constantinople, Michael and his mother Theodora, during the patriarchate of Saint Methodios the Confessor.

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