May 17th, 2026
Stump the Priest: Question: “How can someone best assimilate into the ‘culture’ of Orthodoxy even picking up other national customs without losing their own nationality (being of the USA for example)? How do we find that middle balance of taking the good and leaving the bad from our own culture?” Click here for the Answer.
If you have a question you would like to ask, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com
The Orthodox Term of the Week: Euchologion.
Saints of the Day for Sunday and the coming week, and other edifying reading:
https://saintjonah.org/bltn/pascha5.pdf
Propers for the Sunday Liturgy (Sunday, May 17th):
https://www.saintjonah.org/lit/lit_pascha5.htm
Propers for the Feast of the Apodosis of Pascha (Wednesday, May 20th):
https://www.saintjonah.org/lit/lit_pascha_apodosis.htm
Propers for the Feast of the Ascension (Thursday, May 21st):
https://www.saintjonah.org/lit/lit_ascension_stjohn.htm
You can find propers for other upcoming Liturgies by clicking here, and upcoming Rubrics for services by clicking here.
Schedule of Service for the Coming Week:
| Tuesday, May 19th | 6:30 p.m. Vigil for the Apodosis of Pascha |
| Wednesday, May 20th | 9:00 a.m. Liturgy for the Apodosis of Pascha
6:30 p.m. Vigil for the Ascension |
| Thursday, May 21st | 9:00 a.m. Liturgy for the Ascension |
| Saturday, May 23rd | 9:00 a.m. Slavonic Liturgy
5:00 p.m. Vigil |
| Sunday, May 24th | 9:00 a.m. Hours and Liturgy |
Announcements
Summer Camp: Registration is now open for the St. Jonah Summer Teen Camp in Denton, TX, running from Monday, June 8th, to Saturday, June 13th. All teens ages 11–18 are invited to join for a week of fellowship and fun activities. The registration fee is $350; if your family requires financial assistance, please reach out to Fr. John or Svetlana regarding scholarships. Visit stjonahcamp.org to register and view program details. See photos from our recent winter session here.
Our next Bible Study will be held on Monday, May 18th, at 7:00 p.m. We will be continuing with our study of the Book of Leviticus, beginning with Leviticus 26:34 through Chapter 27. You can catch up on previous sessions by clicking here. This Bible Study will be held via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/zww-thwg-ymw
Summer Camp Envelope Fundraiser: Help our youth by picking an envelope ($1–$100) from the Parish Hall wall to cover camp meal costs! Donations are accepted via cash, check, HEB gift card, or Zelle to (281) 220-7599. Please write the baptismal names of those to be commemorated on your envelope —or include them in your Zelle memo/text to the same number. Please mark non-Orthodox or departed. The wall is updated weekly – thank you for your generosity!
Graduates this Semester: If someone in your family is graduating this semester, please let Fr. John Whiteford know.
The Next Slavonic Liturgy we be on Saturday, May 23rd, at 9:00 a.m.
The next Parish Council Meeting will be on Friday, May 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be held via Google Meets:
https://meet.google.com/dmk-tivx-bbu
Reader and Singing Classes: Demetra Durham is conducting two sets of classes: one for learning the tones, and one for readers. The Readers class is for all new readers already on the rotation, and any who may be interested in reading – covering not only the orders of the services, but also vocal technique so that they can actually be heard, understood, etc. Anyone interested should let her know.
Catechumens: If you are a catechumen, or are not a catechumen, but would like to participate in classes for Catechumens, be sure to join the Catechumen io group online.
You can also join the St. Jonah Catechumen group on Telegram.
There will be a Catechumen get-together on Saturday, May 23rd, at 3:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
Our next Catechumen Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 27th, at 7:00 p.m., via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/cet-vvby-oci
To sign-up to be a presenter, click here: https://forms.gle/zKZeN8iQAk8Jbzdz6
Sisterhood News: The Next Sisterhood Council Meeting will be held on Friday, May 29th, via Google Meets: https://meet.google.com/xct-vttx-drn
You can become a Sisterhood member by filling out membership forms online, the paper forms located in the trapeza hall bulletin board. Make sure to join Sisterhood io group online or join the Sisterhood Telegram channel, to be up-to-date with all Sisterhood news and announcements.
Brotherhood News: You can join the Brotherhood io group online to keep up with all Brotherhood news and announcements, or follow their Telegram channel.
Parish Finances:
Calendar year to date total (01 January thru March 2026):
Tithes: $87,347.80
Building Fund: $9,409.11
For March 2026:
Tithes: $46,297.70
Building Fund: $3,208.99
Average Monthly Expenses $19,840
Recommended Reading for the Coming Week:
You can a homily “The Sunday of the Blind Man, and Courage,” by Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov),” here:
https://orthochristian.com/35149.html
Recommended Listening for the Coming Week:
You can the listen to the Sermon “Willful Blindness (John 9),” by Fr. John Whiteford, here:
https://saintjonah.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/willfulblindness.mp3
Rotations
Trapeza:
This Sunday: 5/17/26 (No Fast): The Nation, Mullins, Nowak, and Simmons families.
Next Sunday: 5/24/26 (No Fast): The Turner, Moreno, Shepard, and Linares families.
Cleaning Teams:
Currently: (Ending on): 5/23/26 – Team Wilkinson
Next (Ending on): 6/6/26 – Team Kara
Vigil Readers:
This Saturday: 5/16/26: Rdr. Moses Munster & Rdr. Danial Gonzalez.
Next Saturday: 5/23/26: Rdr. Codratus Bornejko & Michael Mahoney.
Liturgy Readers:
This Sunday: 5/17/26: Rdr. Moses Munster & Rdr. Danial Gonzalez.
Next Sunday: 5/24/26: Rdr. Codratus Bornejko & Michael Mahoney.
Servers (Not including Adult Servers):
This Sunday: 5/17/26: Team C: Mathieu Powell, Seraphim Powell, Constantine Powell, William De Carion, Luka Chrisanthus, and Michael Chrisanthus.
Next Sunday: 5/24/26: Team A: Jonah Companik, Daniel Companik, Jens Yates, John Turner, Alexander Mahecha, and Levi (Nicholas) Moreno.
Commemorations from the past week:
Jason Stark’s Name day – Monday, May 11th.
Fr. David Companik & Antonio Maldonado’s Birthday – Tuesday, May 12th.
Ignacio Ibanez’s Name Day; Barbara Koulikova’s Birthday – Wednesday, May 13th.
Jeremy Figaro’s Name Day; Michael and Rachel Sisco’s Wedding Anniversary; Julie Maldonado’s Birthday – Thursday, May 14th.
Deacon David and Diakonissa Sara Shephard Wedding Anniversary; John Mullins’ Birthday; Monica Moreno and Monica (Avie) Walling’s Name day – Sunday, May 17th.
If you have corrections or additions, e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com
Prayer Requests:
Orthodox:
For the Servants of God, Archimandrite Benedict (Nelson); Archpriest Andre Papkov; Priest Benigno Pardo; Deacon Vladimir Trussin; Deacon Jorge Luque-Martin; Deacon James Hall; Presbytera Sarah Trembley; Ann (Sonia) Shepherd; Subdeacon Romanos and Zoe Wren; Denise (Leslie) Barnett; Demetra Durham; Sophia (Cynthia) Hirsch; Joan Marie Pennings; Katherine Garbett Casanova; Renee (Ann) Nahlous; Maximus (Garrett) and Merilee (Mary) Eidson; Rozanne (Anne) and Jerry (John Herman) Spires; Michael Murphy; Valentin, Rada and Florentina, Olga, Nathaniel (Barrett) Mahand, Eliasious, Rdr. John Economou, Robert McIsaac, Galina Lay, Lisa (Euphemia) Bornejko, Cosmas (Spencer) Burton, Jeffery Gallagher, Savva (Tyler) Barrett, Dennis Tilley, Rdr. Gabriel Peña, Nun Barbara (Watts), John Watts, John Lickwar, Sophia Drobot, Mikhaela (Jennifer) Diaz, Svetlana, Gerald Campbell, Elizabeth De Carion, Lydia Chernousova, Stephanos Rosseau, Josiah Plumley, Christopher Gulden, Aleksander, soldier Aleksandr, Nathaniel Bhatti, Anna, Cynthia (Melangell) Rausch, Rdr. James Lardas, James Powell, Cristin, Dimitri, Christina, Juliana Blazek, Maria (Nicole) Murphy, Matushka Kara (Mary Magdalene) Hall, Abby (Ruth) Hall, Thekla (Dounya), Panayiotis (Peter) Lardas, Iryna Poputnikova, and the children Caison Elisabeth Kellam and Anna Krutova, who are ill.
For Nikolai, who is struggling.
For Justin and Nadezhda who are suffering persecution.
For the safety and salvation of those in Ukraine: Yelena, Tatiana, Denis, Sophia, Maria, Ivan, and Artem; and Dimitriy.
For newly reposed servants of God: Daniel McLellan, Evangelia, and those slain in the fighting in Ukraine, Russia, Syria, and the Holy Land.
Expectant Mothers:
Rachel Sisco, Helen Cantao, Callandra Maldonado, Emilia Herghelegiu, Nina Bernardi, Magdalena Gore, Marina (Alisa) Harris, and Faith Simmons.
Catechumens:
Savita Bhatti; Jessica Palmer; Nicholas Bruschi; Kristofer Sean Hutter; John Ryan Levy; Hunter Jones; Andres Lynch; Moses (Grayson) Culton; Noah Plasek; Brody Buechner; Domanic Barras; Alexis Prater; Zoe Michelle Lewis; Caleb Mendez; Christian Chacon; Michael and Grace Venegas; Danielle Meese; Peter Demny, Jon Daniels, Juan Rodriguez, Andrew Skellie, Alejandro Najera, Lucy (Lulu) Berard, Charles Jones, Nolan Jones, Daniel Hoosier, and Elijah Masick.
Non-Orthodox:
For the Servants of God, Aiden, Shawna Hiu; Misty; Harold Wren; Melissa Munster (Moses Munster’s mother); Heather Tolliver (Melissa Holloway’s daughter); Gene and Beth Beggs, Scott and Carol Phillips, Ana Crespo, Liza, Aida Diaz, Antonio, John Lay, Kathleen Sorrentino, Andrea Engelke, Robin Nicole Thomson McMillin, Julie Nelson, Charlotte LeBlanc, Kent and Nicoline, Lara Regis, Ana Maria, Sean, Audrey, Bob Richardson, Dylan DeRosia, Phillip and Barbara Rice, Tony Beavers, Steven Jimenez, Kara Mahand, Carla, Dorothy Daniel, Beth Willis, Liam, and the children Evan-Marie, Ava and Evelyn, who are ill.
For the Bruto da Costa family, Ken, Christina, Aki and family; and Johnnie, Damon and Elisabeth Myers, and their child, Dorothy, James Franklin and his family, Marcie Dark, Tim, Karen, Taylor, Lindsay, Jon, Alex, and Andrew Burns, Audrey and Michael Morgan, Michelle Brazzil, Robbin Russell, Naseem Bhatti, and Hurucaan Valerio.
The newly departed: Ronald Hale (Dionysius (Mason) Boren’s grandfather).
If you have prayer requests you would like announced, please e-mail frjohnwhiteford@gmail.com
Sunday School:
Children, Ages 3-4: Taught by Matushka Genevieve and Elizabeth De’Carion.
Children, Ages 5-6: Taught by Iryna Chebotko and Monica Moreno.
Children, Ages 7-9: Taught by Mat. Sara Shephard and Angela Daniel.
Children, Ages 10-12: Taught by Agustin Rafaelano.
Teens and Adults: Taught by Fr. John Whiteford.
Schedule for Bright Week through July 2026:
https://saintjonah.org/bltn/april-july2026.htm
You can also see our online parish calendar of events and services here:
https://saintjonah.org/calendar/
Fasting in the Coming week: On Wednesday, May 20th; and Friday, May 22nd, fish, wine and oil are permitted. All other days are fast free.
Click here for Miscellaneous Items of Interest.
St. Jonah Orthodox Church
2910 Spring Cypress Rd, Spring, TX 77388
www.saintjonah.org
281-467-0264
