In regard to the year that passed, we ought to thank our Lord, because He granted us the joy of continuing the work of our historic parish with success and receiving the “well-done” of our Most Reverend Metropolitan. Thanks to the donations and sacrifices that were made, we were able to defray costs and respond to our responsibilities, in spite of the difficulties we had to face because of the general recession in the economy of our country. Consequently, I feel the need, as your priest, to thank you all wholeheartedly for whatever each of you was able to contribute, little or much.

In regard to the New Year that we have entered, the 10th year of my ministry at St. John’s, I want to beseech you, because I know the possibilities that we have as a parish, to think seriously and to plan to do something more for our parish in 2012 in order to achieve better or even the best results in our objectives for our own benefit and the benefit of our families. I propose, then, that we try to consider the following actions: 1) how many times did we attend church out of the 120 or so services that our parish celebrated during the past year? 2) How many candles for health or for the repose of the departed did we offer? and, 3) What did we contribute to the various ministries of our parish (the trays, the picnic, the festival, the school, the catechetical work, the periodical, etc)? Let us plan to double or to triple our contributions in the New Year so that we may achieve at least better, if not the best.

The Holy Fathers of our Church teach us that “the good”, “the better” and “the best” reflect the three dimensions in our life, i.e. “our being”, “our well being” and “our eternal well-being”. I wish and pray that all of us may do better in 2012 to the glory of our Lord and to the spiritual benefit of ourselves.

With brotherly love in Christ,
Father George Dion. Dragas