Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

It is truly my honor and privilege to serve as the National Chairperson for the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch.  As a member of the Order for over 10 years and a member of the governing council for the past 5, I have not only learned more about the Order each year but I have experienced its impact on countless lives.  The Order goes beyond the red ribbon that holds the cross we wear.  And contrary to what some may perceive it to be … the Order is not a club.  It’s not a group providing special treatment to its members like a country club.  It’s not something people join to receive something in return.  In my view, it isn’t only a charitable organization either.  It is a responsibility.  It is a dedication to our faith and to those in need. 

Your support of The Order is …

Act Of Faith Rooted In Love &  Compassion

All the way back to our earliest years as a child we are taught to share with others, especially those less fortunate.  When we share, we give up what we believe to be control in our lives and put our faith in God that He will provide for our needs in abundance.  Through your financial commitment you are allowing God to work through you for the benefit of others.  Your gift to the Order is an expression of love and compassion for countess lives and even more … it is an act of Faith.

A Sacrifice Immeasurable In Its Capacity 

To sacrifice for one another is to love.  Deciding to “do without” for the benefit of someone you don’t know is the beginning of a true sacrifice.  Your sacrifice helps a struggling family send their children to camp enabling them to experience God's world even if only for two weeks.  It provides reassurance to a new parish, that it can meet its monthly financial obligations and continue its ministry.  As a member of the Order you may consider your sacrifice to be small, but it is immeasurable in its capacity to change people’s lives and further strengthen our Orthodox Faith here in North America.

Infinite in its effect as we make a difference together.

Your annual gift, less than the cost of your daily cup of coffee, is merely a drop of water in a vast ocean of need.  However, the ripple from your gift never ends.  It expands to enrich the lives of our youth strengthening their hearts and minds as future leaders of the Faith.  It multiplies to help care for our retired clergy and their families as well as our devoted seminarians. The ripple from your annual gift of $500/year $1.37/day, touches the lives of so many that you never would have been able to reach alone.

So as you contemplate your support of the Order over the years or consider becoming a part of The Order’s Ministry, please hold in your heart  the words of St. Ignatius.  The words that guide us in our work for the Order and are the teachings of St. Ignatius himself.

“Let no man's place, or dignity, or riches, puff him up; and let no man's low condition or poverty abase him. For the chief points are faith towards God, hope towards Christ, the enjoyment of those good things for which we look, and love towards God and our neighbor.”

In HIS Service,

Roger J. David

North American Chairperson

The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch