His Eminence Metropolitan SABA Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America         His Grace Bishop Alexander

Pastor: Fr John Vazquez| fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com | stgeorgealbany.org | 1 St George's Pl Albany

Office Hours: Mon/Fri 10am-5pm/Confessions: After weekly services or by appointment

Parish Council Leadership: Chair—Michella Rizk, Treasurer—Ranya Palmer, Secretary—Daniel Palmer, Vice Chair—Linda Grady

Beloved, 

Very often people point out the statistic that around 60% of kids who go off to college leave their faith behind. Of course, statistics can always be manipulated and most of the time do not tell the full story but nonetheless the stat is alarming. I think we can all acknowledge that there is a problem in making the faith real enough in the lives of our children so that they will decide to hold onto it when it comes time to make their own decisions. 

If we think about our day, how much of it is geared toward cultivating the virtues of self-control, patience, humility and love so that we can come to know Christ better? We are all always experiencing something and either that experience is drawing us nearer to God or it is not—we do not have neutral experiences. Part of the key then is to offer the kind of experiences that cultivate the virtues and offer an experience of Christ. These experiences are how the faith becomes real, tangible and valuable enough so that our children (or anyone for that matter) desire to hold onto it. 

Learning together while experiencing fun, fellowship and worship all centered on, and pointing to Christ, is what we are after with these "Youth Days" that we are hosting once a month. The kids have time to be with a priest (usually me but not always) and ask questions or to be taken through a lesson, they have time to play fun games together, there is a service (usually vespers) and there is time to talk and enjoy each other's company over food. 

It is through this lived experience that faith can begin to become something real, tangible and valuable—God-willing valuable enough to hold onto. Of course these youth days are not enough but they can be a help.

We will be doing these events once a month so keep an eye out for the schedule and join us. This Saturday August 16th is our next one (starting at 9am at Christ the Savior in Ballston Spa) followed by September 13th. 

With Love in Christ,

Fr John