Dear Father, Church Council and Parishioners,

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

With the help of God and His mercy, in the beginning of September a year ago, the Holy Cross Orthodox Monastery was started. This was a blessing for the former Holy Trinity Parish in Niagara Falls, because unfortunately, the church faced many difficulties in the past, and many parishioners left the church or moved out of Niagara Falls.

The church property has all the potentials of being transformed into a monastery. God willing, I would like this project that I have in mind to be a great witness to others about Orthodoxy. Since I started the monastery I have been working day and night to accomplish this spiritual goal for this blessed place.

Thank God we have completed a lot of work in just one year and I am thankful to our Diocese, to many friends and to my former parishes who have helped me out so far. At the present time, however, I feel that I have used up all my resources, and I kindly ask your church if it would be possible to make a donation, or to hold a special collection, or to place in your church bulletin and on your bulletin board, an appeal to those who understand the importance of a monastery to kindly help us out.

I feel that a monastery should not have jurisdictional boundaries on a spiritual level but that it be open to serve anyone who will come and pray, or participate in our spiritual activities. We open our doors to welcome everyone, so that they may be able to return to their own family and community spiritually strengthened and share our great joy with others.

I am positive that America needs many monasteries which will give us more opportunities to further unify us for such an important and divine cause as our Orthodox faith. However, we have needs to be met before we can start generating some income for the monastery. We have to complete the front part of the building in which the pierogie manufacturing for the monastery will take place.

In order to get a $10,000 grant from the city for this project, we have to come up with $10,000 more. In addition, we need a 60 QT mixer that costs about $8,000. We also have to insulate the cargo van and install a refrigeration system that costs $10,000. All this is desperately needed to enable us to begin our work. Finally, we have to complete the renovations to the main building where the monastic brotherhood will live. If you would like to get more information, please go to our web site: www.holycross-niagarafalls.org.

Along with your donation, please send us the names of your loved ones to be remembered in our services and daily prayers.

Thank you and may God abundantly bless you.

In Christ,

Archimandrite Nicholas, Abbot