Monday, October 20th, 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Jonah of Manchuria. The parish of St. Jonah, in Spring, Texas marked this special observance of their patronal feast with services presided over by Archbishop Gabriel, who is the Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, and was concelebrated with 12 priests, and 5 deacons, and approximately 200 of the faithful. During the services, Daniel Gonzales and Paisios (Shane) Martin were ordained as readers; Paisios Martin and James Hall were ordained as Subdeacons, and then James Hall was ordained as a deacon. The parish choir director, Demetra Durham was also honored with a Gramota, for having served as a choir director for 50 years, and for her service to the diocese in helping other parishes and missions establish and improve their own choirs.

By God’s providence, it was Archbishop Gabriel who first blessed the parish to be established in 1998, and that it be named in honor of the then recently glorified St. Jonah (who was glorified in 1996). He also ordained Fr. John Whiteford to the priesthood to serve the parish in January of 2001.

After the services, the parish unveiled their capital campaign, which hopes to expand their current Church building to accommodate their flock which has out-grown their current church, to expand their parking, and to eventually build a larger Church. You can read about the capital campaign here: https://saintjonah.org/building-campaign/