Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Blessed repose to the servant of God, Fr. John Guy Winfrey

A very enjoyable man to speak to with the added glorious benefit of Texan roots. Most decidedly a very surprising and sad event for his family, friends, and parishioners. My prayers for all who were blessed to have known him. Please consider helping with their GoFundMe.

(Antiochian) - Christ is risen! With great sadness, yet with hope in the Resurrection, Fr. Thomas Zain, Vicar General of the Antiochian Archdiocese, announces the sudden passing of Fr. John Guy Winfrey, 58, the pastor of St. Katherine Mission in Burleson, Texas. Father John’s passing on Monday, May 25, 2020 marks the third death of a priest of the Archdiocese in the past week.

“Father John was a good friend who goes back to the beginning of my priesthood in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Although a few years older than me, he came to St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary with his wife Beverly and three young children – Danielle, Gregory and Mary – when I was a new priest. We formed a lasting friendship and shared a love of liturgics. I was blessed to sponsor him in ordination and he became my successor at St. Mary Church in Wilkes-Barre when I moved to Brooklyn. Later, he became the priest at St. George Church in my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan so we would always get together when I would visit my family. Finally, he returned to his home state of Texas to start a mission parish a couple of years ago.

“Father John’s love of Texas was only behind his love of God and his family. He was a great asset to our Archdiocese as the compiler and professional typesetter of many books including our Holy Week book, the funeral service book and the more recent editions of the Liturgikon, all for no charge. We were in the middle of working on many projects including a new service book for the clergy of the Archdiocese. No one can replace his graphical skills coupled with his knowledge of liturgical typesetting in English. This is a huge loss for our Archdiocese. May God rest Fr. John’s soul with the saints and may his memory be eternal!”

His ​Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, primate of the Antiochian Archdiocese, offers his condolences to Kh. Beverly and their children and grandchildren. He asks that the clergy and laity pray the Trisagion Prayers of Mercy for Fr. John for the next 40 days.​

SERVICE SCHEDULE

The schedule of services is as follows:

Vesting of Fr. John on Wednesday, May 27 at 3 p.m.

Funeral Service of a Priest on Wednesday, May 27 at 6 p.m. at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2020 NW 21st Street in Fort Worth, TX 76164

Orthros and Divine Liturgy for Ascension on Thursday, May 28 at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. 
Funeral Service at 11 a.m. all at  St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, with Interment following at Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Monastery in  Kemp, TX

NOTE: His Grace Bishop Basil reports that the State of Texas has no number limit to a congregation, but each household must social distance at least six feet apart.

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