I’m very glad to receive this request from you. Please forgive my delay in responding to this. I am undergoing treatments, scans, and further evaluation for my esophageal cancer. Meeting with doctors daily. Scheduled to begin another round of intensive treatments lasting 6 weeks in the next few days.
The clergy from St Ignatius in Franklin, TN are sharing the load of covering the services at St Anna in my absence and we are in regular communication about the needs and parishioners at St Anna. Since my parish update in July, we have baptized 3 infants, rejoice at the announcements of 2 more pregnancies, welcomed another catechumen among our people (we now have 4!), celebrated our Patronal Feast and annual church picnic for the Holy and Righteous Ancestor of God, St Anna and celebrated the Orthodox Christian Marriage Blessing of a founding couple in our parish who were married before becoming Orthodox Christians. We have also spoken to 3-4 additional inquirers who are seeking to become catechumens. In August we celebrated the Feast of the Dormition and in September, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Additionally, on Labor Day, our youth and young adults and their parents completed the annual 5 mile Duck River Float Trip. I’m limited in my capacity and energy but still managing to occasionally meet individually with key leaders as well as making use of texts, emails and phone calls to help keep up the continued progress and God-sent growth at St Anna. Thank you for your continued support and prayers, especially during these days. We treasure your prayers. God bless you.
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Father Andrew Short
