January
Events Are In Sequence – Please Scroll Down
St. Luke Parish participated in the Right to Life March. His Grace, the Right Reverend Paul, Bishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest along with Fr. Paul Jannakos and St. Luke Parishioners are shown here. This was Fr. Paul’s first march here.
Bishop Paul offers opening prayer before the March. (Photo: Regina D’Amico taken from the Oca Midwest Website). This was the third annual march and despite the extreme cold weather an estimated 5000 marchers participated.
Retirement Dinner For Father Andrew Harrison
This weekend St. Luke Parish held a retirement dinner in honor of Father Andrew Harrison. Clergy and parishioners from all over gathered to honor him and wish him well in his retirement.
Dinner music was provided by violin and harp.
This table allowed guests to write notes to Father Andrew and Pat. Across the top were strung plaques with the names of the parishes that Father Andrew served.
The program card. Dinner was provided and several speakers addressed the crowd culminating with Father Andrew.
Parishioners provided desserts for after dinner.
Father Andrew blesses the dinner.
The head table.
Some of the visiting clergy.
Father Andrew and Pat.
The new rector of St. Luke Parish, Father Paul Jannakos and Protinica Michelle.
Fr. Herman of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and Proto Deacon Andrew Werbiansky.
Father Jonas from Sts. Constantine and Helen Parish presented Father Andrew with the gift of a cross.
Close of view of the cross presented to Father Andrew.
After dinner music was provided for those who wished stay and dance. Our thanks to all who worked so hard to make this day a success. May God grant “Many Years” to Father Andew and Pat and we wish them health and happiness in their retirement.
Mission To Mexico
Fr. Andrew and Lee were invited by Archbishop Alejo to discuss future mission projects. The meeting took place during Metropolitan Tikhons annual visit to the Mexico for Theophany. This is the service of the Great Blessing of water.
Fr. Andrew was among the eleven priests serving with the Metropolitan and Archbishop.
His Beatitude giving the blessing at the Orthodox Cathedral in Mexico City during the Divine Liturgy.
Fr. Andrew presented an Icon of St. Luke to Archbishop Alejo on behalf of the Parish with the hope of developing closer relationships for future Mission projects.
Garden Center Visit For January
Fr. Andrew started our visit with the story of Samuel, an Old Testament prophet. Samuel was born to Hannah, in answer to his mother’s prayer. As a child he was placed in the care of Eli, high priest at the tabernacle at Shilo, which fulfilled the promise Hannah made to God. The Lord called Samuel at a young age to become a prophet. He became a great prophet and judge of Israel.
Fr. Paul told us how we should believe in God and love Him and that God loves us more than anyone else. Also along with faith, we should do the good work. Even small kind gestures to others are doing good work.
Stea brought us St. Basil the Great sweet bread. Traditional is that St. Basil put gold coins in baked bread to distribute to the poor. Thus the recipients had buying power to sustain them for quite some time. Fr. Paul sliced the bread and Stea passed it to all the residents, who sat in anticipation of who would get the coin.
Happy was Rusty when he found the coin in his slice of bread.
Only one person received a gold coin, but everyone received the reward of eating Stea’s sweet bread.
Vesperal Liturgy Of St. Basil and St. Basil’s Bread (Vasilopita)
On New Year’s Eve, St. Luke Parish held a Vesperal Liturgy Of St. Basil and blessing of St. Basil’s Bread (Vasilopita).
Father Paul blesses the Vasilopita.
After the blessing the bread is cut.
The bread is given to all those present. Hidden in the bread is a coin. Tradition holds that whoever receives the coin receives the blessing of St. Basil for the coming year.
This year Father Doss received the coin.