WHEATON, IL [MW Communications] -- On
Saturday, July 25, 2009, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, accompanied by His
Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago, joined the clergy and faithful of Saint
Joseph Church here for the celebration of Great Vespers for the seventh Sunday
of Pentecost and the Feast of Saint Jacob Netsvetov.

The visit coincided with the ongoing celebration of the parish's 20th Anniversary, and marked Metropolitan Jonah's first visit to a parish church in
the Chicago Deanery.

After Vespers, Metropolitan Jonah blessed the parish's newly completed deacons'
doors, which feature icons of the Wise Thief and the Righteous King and Priest
Melchisedek. The Very Rev. John Matusiak, rector, presented Metropolitan Jonah
with an icon of Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam as a memento of his first
visit to the parish.

Over 230 faithful welcomed the hierarchs and enjoyed a festive pot luck dinner
after the service.

Father John presided at Great Vespers, assisted by the parish's associate
pastors, the Very Rev. Mykola Bodnarchuk and the Rev. Joseph Kopka;
Protodeacons Joseph Matusiak and John Coleman, and Deacon Lawrence Dugoni. Also
in attendance were clergy from parishes in the immediate area, including the
the Very Rev. Myron Manzuk, rector of Saint Panteleimon Church, Summit, IL; the
Rev. Herman Kinkaid, rector of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Burr Ridge, IL;
Rev. Jeremiah Loch, rector of Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Church [ROCOR],
Carol Stream, IL; Rev. Elijah Mueller, rector of Saint Macarius Mission, Hyde
Park/Chicago; and the Rev. Pawel Falkowski, rector of Saint George Byelorussian
Orthodox Church, Chicago.

Click here to view a photo gallery of His Beatitude's Visit

Click here to view a video of His Beatitude's Visit