NEWS AND EVENTS - Friday, April 11, 2014
CLERGY CONFESSION AND MEETINGNEW GRACANICA-MIDWESTERN AMERICA DIOCESE
Grayslake, IL -With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Longin of New Gracanica and Midwestern America the diocesan clergy gathered for confession on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at the see of the Diocese, Monastery New Gracanica at Third Lake, Illinois. Matins was served at 9 o'clock in the morning. The young, newly-ordained priest Fr. Aleksandar Vujkovic, while deacons Aleksandar Petrovic and Nikolaj Kostur sang at the chanter's stand. His Grance Bishop Longin and clergy attended Matins. Clergy confession followed the service.
With the bishop's blessings serving at confessors were Archimandrite Thomas Kazich, Abbot of Monastery New Gracanica and V. Rev. Stavrophor Bogdan Zjalich, retired priest from the Chisholm parish.
Beforehand Bishop Longin addressed the clergy with words about confession as well as instructions of confessing, which must be sincere and open, filled with repentance. After confession refreshments were served. At 11:30 the clergy met again at the monastery trapeza where, led by their archpastor, they addressed various pastoral issues, as well as the upcoming Diocesan annual assembly which will be held together with the Diocesan Days, scheduled for June 13-15, 2014. His Grace in his opening remarks set the tone for this meeting and discussion. As opinions were exchanged regarding the diocesan annual assembly, pastoral issues and the mission of the clergy in their respective parishes was addressed. The next matters on the agends were:
1. Assembly reports: how much are clergy included in these. The Diocese has not received all annual reports from the church-school congregations.
2. The relationship between clergy and church boards.
3. Activities in adult education.
4. Transfer of clergy - from parish to parish: by need or mistake, discussion of the possible need.
5. A response of the clergy to the Diocesan invitation: promptness in responding.
6. Our Diocese in relation to its work in the Central bodies of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America.
7. The issue of the diocesan website.
A discussion ensued to all the abovementioned matters and suggestions were given which will be submitted to the appropriate bodies. A lunch was served by the diligent sister Rada, from the monastery kitchen, assisted by her brother Zdravko and sister Nikolic, who, together with her brother Nikola, gave each diocesan parish a tray for altar use. An Akathist was served at the monastery church in conclusion.
And so concluded the clergy meeting with a prayer to God that He strengthen us for the new endeavors, for the benefit of our Holy Church and the salvation of the souls entrusted to us.
V. Rev. Stavrophor Nedeljko Lunich
