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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
July 2024
Greetings fellow parishioners and friends of St. Katherine! It’s hard to believe, but we’ve passed the halfway point of 2024. I hope this finds you well and I wish you great things in all your endeavors for the remainder of the summer. In the meantime, here’s what’s happening around our parish.
As you know, work projects are taking place in the Community Center this month. Both restrooms have new countertops and sinks; the gym floor is being repaired in the sections that showed signs of wear/tear; when that is completed, the floor will be sealed and polished.
The east wall of the education building (facing Dobson Rd) will be repaired now that Cadence has installed their new sign. Other signs have been in that location in the past, so the holes and damaged stucco must be repaired and repainted. Additionally, bids are currently being sought to install more lighting around the Sunday School building.
The three main buildings on our campus are all equipped with sprinklers and alarmed for fire. Those systems must be inspected annually and tagged that they are currently in working order. Our parish has always done that, but our last vendor missed some items on their last service call that could have proved costly. Not from a fire standpoint, but from two corroded pipes that could have burst at any time. Luckily for us, those items were discovered and repaired immediately. Suffice it to say, we have a new vendor inspecting and verifying that our fire systems are operational and in good standing.
You may have caught my comment regarding the Sunday School building. As we apply for another federal security grant, we are concentrating on the 4th acre house. To reduce confusion and not give the agency the impression we are asking for improvements on a totally separate facility, we are calling the 4th acre the Sunday School building. That way it is easily recognized (by support staff) as part of the campus. While we know other groups use the building, the primary purpose for the building is to house our Sunday School program, so this made sense. Going forward, I will try to refer to it that way, but old habits die hard!
There is currently a committee looking into repairs and/or remodeling of the Sunday School building to make it more functional for the program. We met with the teachers and listened to their ideas on how they would like to see the building improved. While the improvements will be planned with those suggestions in mind, all users will benefit from the changes being made. We will make renovations as soon as construction plans are available and as funds allow.
I was able to attend the Clergy-Laity Conference in San Diego during the week of the Fourth of July. Serving as the delegate for our parish, I must say it was inspiring. There is much going on during the week, with many educational and spiritual sessions filling the day. Of course, there are two afternoons of plenary sessions where ALL the delegates come together to approve the budget and discuss/debate any other changes proposed by the archdiocese. Another ‘eye-opening’ experience!!
The main point I brought home is the plethora of programs and assistance provided to us by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA henceforth). It is wonderful to see when you start looking into the resources they have available for successful ministry building, educational tools and many other areas of parish need. I will be recommending to all ministry chairs and parish council members to use those resources to our advantage. If they are providing the material, it is incumbent upon us to use their experience and hard work to make our efforts easier, more successful and fulfilling.
I attended several seminars, but two that stood out for me were: 1) parish cyber and physical security; and 2) parish progress. I prefer not to go over those at this time but rest assured, you will be hearing more about each. I will add one quote from the progress class that I found profound because it sums up the last three years here at our parish: “The status quo will counter progress. We must honor the past while proposing the new. Celebrate and change!”
I would like to begin the thought process regarding parish council elections in the Fall. The parish calendar will be set soon after we get back to our normal schedule in early September. Our parish typically holds PC elections in November (early December at the latest). Four positions will be open this year. I am requesting anyone that has an interest in assisting in this most important ministry to speak with me, any council member or Jerry Vasilatos (chair of the election committee). Please consider joining us during this period of unprecedented growth and progress in our community. If enough are interested, perhaps I could hold a meeting with all those interested and explain what duties, responsibilities and time commitments are involved with the election to the parish council.
Glenn Thorpe is the parish council member that leads our Fund-Raising Ministry. While doing that, he has been the chairperson of our last few Greek Taverna events. As you know, those are our one-day ‘mini-festivals’ we hold to continue our fund-raising efforts while also promoting Greek culture and our Church. Church tours were a very popular feature at the last event! Glenn is looking for someone (or two people) to assist him with the next event; to ‘learn the ropes’ and become the new chairperson(s). If you have any interest in assisting Glenn, please contact him via the church office.
I choose to end these messages with a story, quote or example of stewardship to keep the concept of generosity and gratitude at the top of our minds. Stewardship ranks among the top factors composing the spiritual profile of a parishioner – along with confessing the creed, frequency of worship, fasting, personal prayer, reading Holy Scripture and service to others. Anthony Scott writes in Good and Faithful Servant: Stewardship in the Orthodox Church: “If it is assumed that fasting, prayer, participation in the sacraments and an understanding of the Orthodox faith must precede sacrificial giving, then it is unlikely that sacrificial giving will ever occur because one never “arrives” spiritually. It is precisely in giving generously, together with all these activities, that one receives the joy and freedom of a life in God.”
Yours in Christ,
John Chrisagis; Parish Council President
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