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Freedom Run

This is the fourth year Fr. Andrew,a retired Air force Chaplain, has been invited to give the invocation at the Illinois Freedom Run. This program is sponsored by an Illinois Motorcycle club dedicated to support Middle Eastern War Veterans.

The club organized and raised the funds for the Middle Eastern War monument in Marseilles Illinois. Each year since 2003 as many as 30,000 motorcyclist gather in Joliet Illinois and travel down Interstate 80 to Marseilles to participate in the memorial program.

Many of the families of the fallen men and women come to the memorial. Each name is read by organizers and family members.

This is the memorial flag ceremony with Brigadier General William C. Kirkland of the 88th Regional Readiness Group presenting the flag to Civil Air Patrol cadets. The flag will be raised half mast to remember the fallen heroes.

Fr. Andrew is giving the invocation praying for those killed in action, for the a just end to the war and for the grieving families.

Invocation

O Lord of heaven and earth, the creator of the visible and invisible universe. You are the Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Eternal Father, and the Prince of Peace. Today we stand again before this wall of grief reading the ever growing list of names of our fallen heroes. These men and women who made the supreme act of love by laying down their lives of us. May they find eternal rest in Your heavenly kingdom with all the saints.

O God, we do not deserve what they have given us for we eat, drink and are merry while our men in women in uniform are sacrificing themselves for our freedom. We have forgotten to pray for them and for our enemies so that all hatred in Your name will be turned into love.

We humbly ask you today to intervene in this war in lands where you made you presence known and bring it to a just end. We pray for all those who grieve the loss of their loved ones. We weep with them and pray that all of us here and in our country will appreciate what they have given us.

We know that there will some day be a war that will end all wars we hope and pray that we will be on the winning side and will rejoice when you return in Your glory for you are the father of the age to come. Amen.

Benediction

O Master send Your Holy Spirit upon us as we depart and protect us as we travel the highway of life. Bring us safely home so we can fulfill all of our petitions which are for the well being of our troops, the remembrance of our fallen heroes and their families and for this war to end. May the love of God the Father and the grace of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Go in Peace. Amen

Amazing Grace is being played by a local police officer as he marches in front the wall with the names of all those who have been commemorated. This is the first memorial that has ever been made while a war is still going on.

This is a group picture of the civil air patrol cadets who participated in the ceremony with their commanding officer. Fr. Andrew is a Civil Air Patrol Chaplain. He teaches moral leadership classes each month at the Lincoln Way Civil Air Patrol squadron.

Annual Quad-Parish Picnic

The 5th annual Quad Parish Picnic began with the Divine Liturgy. Archbishop Job is greeted by Fr. Andrew and Nick Cavaligos. The other celebrating clergy were Frs. Myron Manzuk, Stephen Karaffa, and Luke Nelson. Also serving were four deacons Andrew Werbiansky, Bob Northrup, Danial Doss and Joseph Matusiak.

The Liturgy was held at the Pioneer Woods pavilion in the Cook County Forest Preserve. Archbishop Job's is giving the sermon which was about the dedication of the saints especially our diocesan patron St. John of Chicago.

The choir was made up of members from St. Luke, St. Panteleimom, St. Michael and St. Peter & Paul Parishes. John Sutko of St. Peter and Paul Parish was the choir master.

After the Liturgy all had a delicious luncheon served by the picnic committee under the leadership of Luba Johnson - We appreciate the many hours they spent in planing.

There were many games for the children. Fr. Andrew and Nick Lisowski are supervising the Panate game.

The children are gathering the candy which came out of the Penata after it was broken open by the children using a wooden stick.

Another game called Bozo buckets in which the children had to through the ball into the buckets. Bill Lynch is observing to make sure all is fair.

A singing group from St. Peter and Paul under the leadership of Fr. Stephen called the Sheppard and the Sheppettes provided entertainment.

The winners of the Chili Cook off were Luba Johnson for the fourth time and Chris Zubenko.

Chris and Amy - God Grant Them Many Years!

This weekend the members of St. Luke Parish celebrated the wedding of Chris amd Amy. We wish them all the best and ask that "God Grant Them Many Years!"