On the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Sunday, October 26, 2025, His Grace Bishop Maxim of Western America visited the church community of St. Petka in San Marcos, a suburb of San Diego, on the eve of the feast of St. Petka, the altar feast. Concelebrating with His Grace were the parish clergy, V. Rev. Protopresbyter Stavrophor Milovan Katanic, the parish priest, and V. Rev. Protopresbyter Strarophor Milan Vukovic, retired priest, with the concelebration and participation of all altar servers and a large number of the faithful of this parish.

In his homily on the gospel reading of the raising of the son of the widow of Nain, His Grace spoke of God’s compassion towards man, who doesn’t look at us with disinterest but is active in our lives. Moreover, when the Lord touches the bier in this gospel reading, He reveals to us not only that our faith is direct contact, but this physical touch is important in our own lives. Finally, when the Lord, after raising the widow’s son, gives him to his mother we are given that simple lesson that we belong to one another. We are called not to live individualistically but in a community for one another.

Following the liturgy the Slava gifts were blessed with this year’s kumovi Vladimir, Aleksandra and Andrej Mulina. Accepting the role of kumovi for next year’s celebration were Drazen Zlovaric and his family.

It was a special joy when, at this solemn gathering and celebration banquet, Bishop Maksim awarded the episcopal certificate, the Gramata, to Stojadin and Djurdja Ilovski and Svetlana Isakovic! The Bishop also noted that there are certain people who help both their local parish church of St. Petka but also the life of our diocese, and on that occasion His Grace presented Zeljko Jovanic with the Order of St. Sebastian, second degree!

The program was concluded with lively performances by all three groups – the peewees, juniors and seniors – of the local parish Avala Folklore Ensemble. May God, through the prayers of his St. Petka, continue to send His blessings.