Fr. Bratso’s Letter to Parishioners
Dear Parishioners,
Today, June 11th, is the last day of school for the San Diego Unified School District. College students will, likewise, end their semester next week. Our Sunday school program has also ended on June 2. Another school year has come to an end. Some of our parishioners have already gone on vacation, their trip to Serbia and other destinations.
As your shepherd and spiritual father, I would like to congratulate parents and students on the completion of this school year. Both parents and children have made many sacrifices and your hard work has paid off. You deserve a break from reading textbooks and writing essays, etc. Well, at least for a couple of days. Avid readers and those wishing to continue learning will perhaps not so much as to take a break, but rather, change their reading genres. Summer is a great opportunity to read some of those books that have been collecting dust on your bookshelf. To this end, may I suggest that you read: The Orthodox Study Bible, The Orthodox Churchby Kallistos Ware, Welcome to the Orthodox Churchby Frederica Matthews-Green, Everyday Saintsby Archimandrite Tikhon, Our Thoughts Determine Our Livesby Elder Thaddeus, The Way of a Pilgrimtranslated by Olga Savin, to name just a few.
Of course, if you are traveling, I suggest that you visit the local Orthodox Church or a monastery. Such an experience is always uplifting and spiritually rewarding. A quick online search will give you an address of the church, but please always search for the canonical Orthodox Church. If you are not sure about the canonical status of any parish, please contact me (frbratso@sbcglobal.net; 619-316-2362) and I will be happy to assist you.
Additionally, if you are staying in San Diego, please, mark your calendars for the following events and plan on attending: June 22 – Folkfest; June 30 – Vidovdan celebration, August 3 & 4 – 50thAnniversary of the consecration of St. George church, July 14-August 3 – Summer Camp (I will be at camp from July 21-27).
Have a safe, relaxing and blessed summer and enjoy your quality family time. Remember, the school year is over but our prayer life and our liturgical life and participation continue, because we are people of prayer, we are Orthodox Christians.
God bless you all and thank you for supporting the ministries at our cherished St. George parish!
Always in prayer for you all,
Fr. Bratso Krsic, Parish Priest