Chrismation Celebration of Brandon and Doanh

We in the Orthodox Church are one big family and this was again demonstrated when we received into our family Brandon, Doanh, and Jack. They are members of Holy Cross Church and Brandon and Doanh are students. Doanh lives less than a mile from where I live.

On Sunday 24 June 2007, her 24th birthday, they both were received into the Church by Fr. Gregory of Holy Cross Antiochian Church. I was unable to be at the service since I was at my own parish. But I did attend the party that Keith Jones threw for them at his own home.

Last October when a group of us, including Brandon and Doanh, went to St. Vladimir Orthodox Seminary for Education Day, several times Doanh would say, "When I was young...." and we all would laugh. She was easily the youngest person in the group.

This party was also a networking opportunity. In addition, I had the opportunity to discuss the upcoming Parish Life Conference and the recent Orientale Lumen conference with several people in the parish, including Fr. Gregory. I also heard an argument from Bruce about establishing ministries for the deaf. Plus Bruce and I also discussed a problem that his parish ("my cathedral") and my parish are having integrating various ethnic groups into the life of the community.

There were people there whom I have not met in the past and others whom I have known for centuries. I met Bruce this century, but I've known his wife Lola since the 1980s. Others I just met last year. There was a wonderful mix of ages in the parish, as you can see from the photographs. For an American Orthodox community, we also had a mix of races. Holy Cross is the most diversified parish that I have ever seen.

		Brandon and Doanh
Bruce and his wife Lola
Cal and Jack

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