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Thriving Parishes Project Program Director Priest Andrew Smith visited St. Katherine Church in Kirkland, WA December 14 and 15 to conduct Church Health Team training and present the wider scope of the Project to the whole parish.
The team of eight gathered at the church at 1pm Saturday, working until Vigil for the Resurrection and the Holy Forefathers, which was served by parish rector Archpriest Barnabas Powell and Deacon Athanasios Davison. Fr. Andrew concelebrated the Sunday Divine Liturgy with the local clergy and was asked to give the homily.
After coffee hour, the congregation returned to the nave of the church for more education on the work of the Thriving Parishes Project. Fr. Andrew mentioned that, while he has traveled extensively throughout the Diocese before he was ordained, since he once served as Archbishop Benjamin’s assistant, this was his first time not only at St. Katherine Church, but in the whole Seattle Metropolitan Area! Many thanks to Archpriest Barnabas Powell (Vocations Director of the Thriving Parishes Project), his family, and the faithful at St. Katherine Church for their hospitality, participation, and attention.
St. Katherine Church began as a mission in 1998 of St. Spiridon Cathedral in Seattle, though it was quickly populated by Orthodox Christians of various jurisdictions living on the Eastside of Lake Washington. Since then, it has grown by leaps and bounds, attracting dozens of former Protestants to the Orthodox Church. Despite estimates that the parish presently consists of up to 90 percent converts, Fr. Andrew couldn’t help but notice some distinctively Greek and Slavic names (and accents) while he distributed communion from the second chalice at the Divine Liturgy.
He also connected with two decidedly cradle Orthodox Christians during his visit: Dr. Paul Meyendorff, the former Father Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (under whom Fr. Andrew studied as a seminarian), and Choir Director Emily Lorelli, daughter of former Diocesan Council Member Protodeacon George Shumaik (St. John of Damascus Church, Poway, CA).
Whether by enriching the lives of its current members, cradle or convert, or by the attraction of resident Eastsiders to the Faith, may God grant St. Katherine Church to thrive!
The Diocese of the West is the geographical district of the Orthodox Church in America consisting of the Western United States. The diocese has active parishes in Montana, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii. San Francisco is home to the diocese’s cathedral, Holy Trinity, as well as the Chancery offices. The diocese is led by His Grace Vasily, Bishop of San Francisco and the West.
