"Mochas for Missions"
The Metropolis of San Francisco Commission for Orthodox Missions and Evangelism (C.O.M.E.) has launched her annual Mochas for Missions campaign! Formerly known as Pennies and Prayers, this effort is dedicated to raising awareness about individual, parish and Metropolis Missions and Evangelism programs. The concept is to encourage people to voluntarily sacrifice small treats – like a $4 mocha – during the three-month campaign period and direct those funds to support growing Orthodox Christianity instead. Mochas for Missions is the primary fundraising campaign to support missions and evangelism efforts throughout the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco.
"This is a unique opportunity for all of us, as individuals and as communities, to support this important effort. Spreading our faith is paramount to our mission as Orthodox Christians," stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos. "There is no better way to begin our journey through Great and Holy Lent than with charitable giving focusing on sharing the love of Jesus Christ through His Gospel."
In 2015, 53 parishes participated in the campaign, raising $34,203 for Missions and Evangelism. This year’s goal is $45,000 which can easily be accomplished if all parishes use the resources provided through C.O.M.E. to educate their faithful about the Metropolis' vision to grow Orthodox Christianity. Mochas for Missions is also an ideal time to highlight the parish’s efforts to share the Gospel and recruit new membership and participation in the parish Missions and Evangelism Ministry.
For more information or additional assistance with Mochas for Missions, please contact our Parish Missions coordinator, Shaine Kennedy, shaine.kennedy@gmail.com or Thomaida Hudanish, C.O.M.E. Assistant Director, come@sanfran.goarch.org, 503-277-3928.
Veneration of St. John Maximovich of Shanghai and San Francisco
Saint Anna Church Pilgrimage to Venerate
Saint John Maximovich the Wonderworker
Archbishop of Shanghi & San Francisco
Tour the church of the Old Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Cathedral Molieben (Service of Intercession)
Visitation to the Chapel of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Visit the chapel & orphanage established by St. John & the office where he studied & prayed and
tour the new Holy Virgin Russian Cathedral See and Venerate the Relics of St. John and visit the Cathedral Bookstore
Our pilgrimage will be lead by Rev. Hiermonk James of the Old Holy Virgin Cathedral
Sat., June 18th
Depart St. Anna Church, 8:00AM
Return between 7:30-8:00 PM
Donation $35 (Includes bus transportation)
Please bring a bag lunch & dinner
Please contact the Church Office to reserve your seat(s) at 916.772.9372 or secretary@saintanna.org
Space is limited!
Project Mexico
“Lift up and stretch your hands, not to heaven, but to the poor; for if you stretch forth your hands to the poor, you have reached the summit of heaven; but if you lift up your hands in prayer without sharing with the poor, it is worth nothing…”
~St. John Chrysostom
As we traverse the days of the Great & Holy Lent, in addition to our commitment to increased prayer and a dedicated fast, we, the clergy and laity of St. Anna Parish, will support the children of St. Innocent Orphanage. Each week, we will ask for alms in support of these adolescent or teenage boys who are in the care of the Orphanage because they were either removed from their home by social services, ran away from home due to abuse or their parents are deceased or imprisoned. On Sunday, April 17th, we will receive Rev. Fr. Nicholas Andruchow, the Chaplain and Associate Director of the St. Innocent Orthodox Orphanage & Project Mexico. During his visit, we will learn more about this ministry, offer our monetary support, consider the “pantry partners program” and discuss our first home building trip, to be scheduled for 2017. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ keep the children and the staff of St. Innocent Orphanage in His care as we lift up and stretch out our hands to the summit of heaven!
About Rev. Fr. Nicholas Andruchow, Chaplain & Associate Director
After finishing his undergraduate degree in Restaurant Administration at Widener University, he joined the United States Peace Corps and served the impoverished for 2 & ½ years in the Caribbean. Although baptized and raised in the Russian Orthodox Church, it was here in the jungles of the Caribbean that Fr. Nicholas fully committed himself to Christ. Shortly after finishing his service with the Peace Corps, he was asked by Project Mexico to lead their business development program. He worked for the orphanage for three years, running the onsite pig farm and training the orphan boys in basic entrepreneurial skills. During that time he married his wife, Merilynn Kouris, of Salt Lake City, and started their family living two of the three years at the Orphanage. Thereafter, Fr. Nicholas began his studies for the holy priesthood at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Upon graduating from Seminary, Fr. Nicholas was assigned to the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox mission in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he served for 9 ½ years. In this time, he was approached by Project Mexico to serve as the spiritual director for the only Orthodox Christian Orphanage in North America. After much prayer and contemplation, Fr. Nicholas and his family, with the blessing of Metropolitan Gerasim
