Bishop Anthony's Annual Mission Appeal

June 19, 2016
Great Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost

Beloved Clergy and Laity of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest,

Today we celebrate the Great Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, which the hymnography of our Church describes as the "fulfillment of the promise and the completion of hope." Prior to our Lord's Glorious Ascension into Heaven on the 40th day after His Resurrection, He promised the disciples He would send them His all-Holy Spirit. He also instructed them that, after receiving the Holy Spirit, they should be His witnesses "in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8).

As members of his Holy Church, like the Apostles we have each received the Holy Spirit as we proclaim in the Divine Liturgy: "we have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly spirit." As we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit, let us also recall our Lord's instructions to "be His witnesses" and "to make disciples of all nations".

In the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest, our missionary work is manifest in the life of our nine mission parishes as well as the work of our Midwest Mission Council, which was established to support those mission parishes and to plant new ones. As we celebrate the present Feast, I would ask that all of the faithful renew their support and dedication to the missionary work of our Diocese and take up the task of sharing what each one has received, both in spiritual and material blessings, with our mission parishes.

Therefore, all parishes are asked to take a special offering on this day to support our nine mission parishes. Checks may be made payable to the "Diocese of Toledo Mission Fund" and can be sent in care of Nicholas Ayoub, 1251 Franklin St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. I also renew my request that all parishes include a line item in their annual operating budgets for the benefit of the mission
fund.

Please continue to keep our mission parishes in your prayers during this festal season and throughout the year.

Have a blessed Feast and may the Lord bless you as you remain faithful to Him.

+Bishop ANTHONY
Bishop of Toledo
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America