His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros
Invocation, Closing Remarks, and Benediction
33rd Annual Leadership 100 Conference Grand Banquet
March 2, 2024
The Ritz-Carlton Naples – Ritz-Carlton Ballroom
Naples, Florida
Let us pray to the Lord. Kyrie Eleison.
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, You have gathered the Leaders of this superb organization together for the sake of ministry and fellowship. We ask your holy blessings on us we bow our heads before you.
Grant us gratitude heart and soul for all the blessings with which You inspire us, for You are the Provider of everything that is good and holy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Kyrie Eleison. Kyrie Eleison. Kyrie Eleison.
Holy Master – give the blessing.
My Beloved Family of Leadership One Hundred:
I call you “family,” because that is what we are. One family in Christ and one family in our mission to advance the cause of Orthodox and Hellenism in America.
Our time together has come to another happy conclusion, but certainly not to an end. We will carry on from these meaningful days in the beautiful city of Naples with our mission of service that is the brand, if you will, of Leadership One Hundred.
I congratulate all of you for your commitment to this mission, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your dedication to the future our Sacred Archdiocese of America.
Leadership 100 is blessed with a truly visionary governance, led by your Chairman, Jim Logothetis, the Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees, and the most excellent staff, commanded by the inimitable Paulette Poulos. Let’s give them all and one another a rousing round of applause!
My Friends,
We have been blessed to celebrate this Fortieth Anniversary of the founding of this remarkable organization. As I said before, our founders have passed on to glory, but the foundation that they laid remains as solid as ever, and ready to hold the new edifices of ministry and mercy that we construct upon them.
Our future is bright, because each of you is a star in the firmament of our Church.
We have much to look forward to, so that whatever challenges come our way, we will act on hope, and not helplessness. On faith, and not futility. On love for God and love for each other. Against this kind of love, no obstacle will abide.
As we leave our festivities, let us re-commit ourselves to bringing the very best of our Greek Orthodox Faith and traditions to even more exalted heights – in our communities, our institutions, and our society.
Thank you all for your wondrous dedication and devotion. I am very proud indeed to be your Archbishop, and to minister with you in this beloved Archdiocese through the good works of Leadership 100.
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Let us close our fellowship this evening with a prayer of thanksgiving.
Heavenly Father, glorified with your Only-Begotten Son and Holy Spirit – we give You thanks and praise for these days of fellowship and ministry.
Protect and guide the precious Members of Leadership One Hundred and their families as they return to their homes. Let ministering Angels keep them safe and sound, and bring them to their loved ones with rejoicing.
For You are our God – the God Who shows mercy and saves, and to You we ascribe all glory, honor, and worship – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.