The evening commenced with a beautiful Vesper Service served by Rev. Father Marko Bojović and Protodeacon Dragan Stojanović, both from Jackson, CA, with the prayerful attendance of His Graces and a church filled with many faithful souls. The responses were sung by Bp. Maxim, V. Rev. Djurica Gordić, Dr. Lazar Supic, and Stefan Radović. After the service, V. Rev. Father Vidoslav Vujasin, the host priest, greeted all in attendance and invited them to the hall to enjoy a welcome cocktail.

The guests enjoyed a drink and appetizer in a beautifully and elegantly decorated hall. While socializing and greeting each other joyfully, the guests could look at the auction items to benefit the fundraiser. Following the prayer and a delicious dinner accompanied by beautiful Harp and Cello music, the program continued with Father Vidoslav, who welcomed all and introduced the honored guests, His Grace Bishop Maxim, His Grace Bishop Longin, the attending priests and deacon, and the Consul General of Serbia Mr. Damjan Jović who came from Chicago to support this important event for our parish.

Afterward, our board member Robert Adzich, who was also the emcee for the evening, presented the landscaping project, including the estimated costs of around $2,2 million, to a very attentive audience.

A beautiful music intermezzo with Serbian compositions was provided by Larissa Smirnova on the Harp and Protinica Biljana Bojović on the Cello.

The primary guest speaker, His Grace Bishop Longin, gave a very inspirational and personal speech about the importance of the project and how giving to a good cause like this is a blessing for every Christian and everybody should give what they can and even a little more. He reminded all that there is a Serbian saying that goes: when a man