Fr Paul's 2024 Annual Pastor's Report for the Annual Meeting (Jan 28, 2024)

Census

To be considered a member in good standing of St Herman’s, following OCA (Orthodox Church in America) guidelines, one must be participating regularly in our weekly worship services, give one’s confession at least once a year, and be receiving the sacrament of Holy Eucharist regularly. To be granted voting status at St Herman’s, beyond satisfying the above requirements, one should also be contributing to the operations of St Herman’s according to one’s ability and circumstances. In the OCA, by the way, one can be a member of one parish only.

For the purpose of determining a quorum for the all-parish annual meeting, I am setting the number of voting members of St Herman’s at 64. This puts our quorum at ‘roughly’ 21.

As a matter of interest, the number of all of us who regard St Herman’s as our home parish, as evidenced by our regular participation in our worship – not only us faithful and catechumens (including our children, of course!) but also us ‘inquirers’ and ‘seekers, is ‘roughly’ 130.

Metrics

On February 11, 2023, we received the Boyum family into the Church: Garrett (St Basil) and Katie (St Monica) through Confession & Holy Chrismation, and Ezra & Obadiah (the prophets) through Holy Baptism & Chrismation. Garrett’s sponsor is Dan Tkach, Katie’s is Maureen Johnson, Ezra’s is Caleb Tkach, Obadiah’s is Alex Wauck.

On April 8, 2023, Lazarus Saturday, we received Tom Kolden (St Stephen the Protomartyr), Matthew Homan (St Seraphim of Sarov), and Erika Roland (St Antipas) through Confession & Holy Chrismation. Tom’s sponsor is David Thomas, Matthew’s sponsors are David & Cheryl Doely, and Erika’s sponsor is Mother Nancy.

On Saturday, Aug 5, 2023, we received the Klenk family: Stuart (St Bede) and McKenna (St Maria) through Confession & Holy Chrismation, and their daughter (but a few months old), Sophia Rose through Holy Baptism & Chrismation. And, we received Cindy Beaver (St Joanna) through Confession & Holy Chrismation. Stuart’s sponsor is Dan Gremillion, McKenna’s is Marissa Gremillion, Sophia Rose’s is Corinne Johnson, and Cindy’s is Emily Phillips.

A week later, on Sunday, Aug 13, 2023, we received Erin Livingston (Vladimira for St Vladimir, her cousin, a Russian Orthodox Priest who was one of the thousands of new martyrs of Russia in the late 1930’s murdered by the Soviets) through Confession & Holy Chrismation. Her sponsor is Megan Thweatt.

On Saturday, Dec 23, 2023, we received the Peterson family, all through Holy Baptism & Chrismation: Avery (St Joseph of Arimathea), Olivia (St Nonna), and Seamus Patrick (St Patrick of Ireland). And, we received also through Holy Baptism and Chrismation Noah Janke (St Joseph the Hesychast). Avery’s sponsor is Dan Thweatt, Olivia’s is Megan Thweatt, Seamus’ is Michael Thompson, and Noah’s are Dan & Marisa Gremillion.

Currently, we have 15 active catechumens. Their pictures are posted on our bulletin board downstairs. We will start receiving those catechumens who are ready at different times between now and Lazarus Saturday on April 27. (Holy Pascha is on Sunday, May 5.)

Our catechumens, inquirers, and seekers contribute joy and warmth to the spiritual climate of our parish. They inspire us and bless us. We are grateful to Our LORD for bringing them to us. Of course, we say this a bit ironically because the fact is, most of us were at one time seekers then inquirers, then catechumens and now faithful whom the LORD brought to St Herman’s. So our catechumens, inquirers, and seekers should know that we look on them as into a mirror; in their faces, we see and recognize ourselves.

St Herman’s faithful had the pleasure this last year of watching the romance between Alex Wauck and Katie Knocke grow and blossom into a wedding this past Fall. We congratulate them and pray that Our LORD will bless their marriage. In the year to come, we hope to have the joy of congratulating Anna Savitt and Kyle Baker on the occasion of their wedding, planned for June 2, and Ruth Hailey and Blake Swanson on the occasion of their wedding planned for next Fall on a date to be announced.

Archbishop’s Visit

Our Archpastor, His Eminence Daniel, Archbishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest, is on the calendars (his and ours) to pay us an archpastoral visit on the weekend of March 16 & 17. We plan a parish dinner with Archbishop Daniel on Saturday, Mar 16, at 4 pm. This is Saturday and Sunday of Cheesefare week. Cheesefare means dairy, wine and oil are allowed but no meat. Sunday, Mar 17, is the last day before we begin the Great Fast. (We will have begun fasting from meat the Monday before, Mar 11.) Our dinner with the Archbishop will be a ‘directed’ potluck; we’ll assign what dishes parishioners may bring to ensure a meal that has all the desired fixins’. We will be several weeks into the Lenten Triodion by now, so we will be serving Saturday Vigils. So, following the dinner with the Archbishop on Saturday, Mar 16, we will go upstairs and serve Vigil at 5 pm with him.

On Sunday, Mar 17, we will serve the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. This will begin at 9 am. The entrance of the Archbishop will be at 830 am. We’ll enjoy Coffee Hour following the Divine Liturgy with our Archpastor, and then we will come upstairs to serve Forgiveness Vespers and begin the Great Fast with him.

Many of us, not just those of us new to the Orthodox Faith, would benefit from instructions on proper ‘Bishop etiquette.’ We will provide such instruction in the weeks to come.

Annual Report to Parish