A Letter from the Editor Dearest Friends and Supporters of the A.C.R.Y. Annual, Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory be Forever! As a Priest I expected to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at God’s Holy Altar, to hold the hand of a dying parishioner, and to pinch pierogies! Despite my expectations, the priesthood has taken me many places I never expected. I never suspected upon entering seminary that I would be the Editor of this publication. Nor did I ever expect that I would find myself blessing horses in a stable, rivers with an ice cross, or dogs at a swimming pool. If you were to ask him, I am sure Father Jonathan Bannon would say the same about blessing a field in rural Illinois (as depicted on the cover of this year’s Annual), or leading a Muslim Imam and his family to the fullness of the Orthodox Faith. There are no seminary courses to prepare clergymen for these places, yet God leads them there anyways. Be sure to read his two articles included in this year’s edition! Each year my hope in publishing the A.C.R.Y. Annual is to showcase these unexpected places where God sends his clergy and faithful. These images are meant to inspire the Holy Church, its clergy, and its faithful to move beyond the comfort of their four walls and out into the world. I am thankful as Priest and Editor for both the unexpected events and the expected ones. My expectation is that you, the good people of the A.C.R.Y. and our Diocese will continue to support this worthy yearbook through your generous financial offerings which allow its staff the opportunity to catalogue and be inspired by so many unexpected blessings year after year. You have no idea how much your financial and prayerful assistance is appreciated as this book is put together each year when despite the surrounding circumstances you come through in your support. It would be impossible for my staff and I to continue the good work of the A.C.R.Y. Annual without your continued generous support. I thank the Parish and Organizational Sponsors, and the many individuals, and families who generously donate financial resources in order to continue the vital ministry that the A.C.R.Y. Annual and Diocesan Yearbook has provided to our God-Saved Diocese from its beginning over 80 years ago.
Rev. Matthew G. Stagon Rev. Matthew G. Stagon, Editor of the A.C.R.Y. Annual
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Diocesan Yearbook
2023
