Diocesan Thriving Parishes Project at St. Herman’s, Littleton, CO
August 23-25, 2024 – St Herman Orthodox Church – Littleton, CO
Thriving Parishes Project Program Director, Priest Andrew Smith, visited St. Herman Church in Littleton, CO this past weekend to introduce the concept of church health and to train the Church Health Team.
Inquiring minds of the parish gathered on Friday August 23 in the parish hall to hear Archpriest Jonathan Ivanoff present on the subject of church health. Archpriest Alexander Vallens (St. Tikhon Mission, Parker, CO) brought a number of his parishioners with him to observe the talk. Priest Anthony Machnee (Holy Theophany Church, Colorado Springs, CO) also came.
The local Church Health Team and parish rector Archpriest Damian Kuolt met on Saturday morning and stayed through 2 PM, getting trained by Fr. Andrew in the process of leading a parish through Natural Church Development. They asked many good questions and left confident in knowing what their next steps should be!
Fr. Andrew stayed through the weekend and served Great Vespers on Saturday evening. On Sunday August 25, Frs. Damian and Andrew concelebrated the Divine Liturgy, with Deacon John Wooley assisting.
St. Herman Church has been in existence since the early 1970s, being founded as a daughter parish of the Denver Cathedral, named for the Holy Transfiguration of Christ. The original members of St. Herman intentionally had the Divine Services celebrated in English, instead of Slavonic, so that the hymns and texts might be understood by the local faithful.
Fifty plus years later, and St. Herman Church is still fulfilling this need, having already attracted 28 converts to Christ’s Holy Church this year. We pray that God will further increase the fruits produced by Fr. Damian and his flock as they reflect on their community life and look at strengthening the Body of Christ that they represent in Littleton!
