I would like to apologize that we were not able to serve Divine Liturgy at St. Vladimir's on Sunday, October 11. Although my first and most important duty as a priest is to serve the Divine Liturgy in the parish that I am assigned to serve in, there will be times, due to my duties as Dean of our Pastoral School, Dean of our Deanery, or Secretary of the Diocese that I will have to be away on a Sunday. These times are rare, but this particular weekend in October is one of those. Each year there is an academic symposium at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY on this weekend and as the Dean of our Pastoral School I really must be present there. However, it is not acceptable to me that the parish should suffer because of my travels. Thus, in addition to my apology I would like to issue a challenge:

We are the largest parish in our diocese for the second year in a row. That is good. But what that also means is this: we have more than ample personnel to provide our own clergymen for our parish. That is, although it is true that I spoke to quite a few seminarians when I was in Jordanville about coming to our diocese, there is no reason that we as a parish – the largest parish in the diocese – cannot provide ample clergymen for our own needs from among our own parishioners. Thus I am challenging all our men who are canonically eligible for ordination (if you don't know whether you are or not please ask me): please seriously consider how you might serve the Holy Church and our parish as a priest or a deacon. Do not make a decision immediately – but do not tell yourself that you will do this when you find the time. You will never find the time – we need to MAKE the time in our lives for those things that are important. And this is important. We need to nourish our parish family with the Word of God, and with His Body and Blood. The Divine Services are the most important ministry that we as a parish execute. There is no reason that our parish cannot have at least three priests and two deacons serving at the Holy Altar. And this should be our goal – at a minimum. Gentlemen – please pray about this, please discuss with your wife, and please discuss this with me. Being a clergyman is not easy. But as with much in life, even if the work is hard the rewards are great. The time for ordination will not be tomorrow. But it cannot be in ten years or even five years. We need help very soon, and you can provide that help. Not someone else - you. Thank you for your consideration and again, please forgive me that we were not able to serve the Divine Liturgy yesterday at St. Vladimir's.

With Love in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Fr. Gregory