Words from Father Yohanes: A Grateful Servant

By Father Yohanes Akoit

My heart overflows with gratitude. As I reflect on the journey  

that brought me to Middlesboro, Kentucky. I am filled with won-

der at how every step, every prayer, every encounter, and every

quiet moment was gently guided by God's hand. This deep sense

of gratitude is not only because I have arrived here, but because I

believe that God has led me to this place with love and purpose. I

thank the Lord who, in His infinite goodness, has chosen and sent

me to serve this special and wonderful parish community of St.

Julian and St. Anthony. The moment of my installation as parish

priest was more than just a formal ceremony. It was a powerful

 reminder of God's love and His gentle presence among His people.

To express the joy I feel, I imagine myself as a corn seed gently

falling onto fertile soil. This soil is rich, not just in nutrients, but

in the living qualities of faith, love, generosity, maturity, and ded-

ication. It is the kind of soil that welcomes growth and nurtures

 life. For me, this soil is the Church of St. Julian and St. Anthony.

 Being planted here is a true blessing. And I find myself sur-

rounded by a family in Christ who love God deeply and care for

one another with sincerity and warmth. I believe that God never

sends His disciples by accident. He knows exactly where each

one will grow strong, take root, and bear fruit in His name.

There are many reasons why these two churches can be called

fertile ground, but allow me to share two that have deeply

touched me:

First, when I arrived at the Middlesboro rectory last June, I was

moved by a line in that week’s bulletin: “Let us welcome the new

 pastor with our renowned Christian Southern hospitality.” Curi-

ous, I sought to understand what Southern hospitality truly meant.

 I discovered that one of its defining traits is to never regard a

stranger as a burden, but as a blessing. I have experienced that

spirit firsthand through your kindness and warmth. You greeted

me with open hearts and generous words: “If you need anything,

don’t hesitate to let us know.” Thank you for making me feel so

welcome.

Second, if we look at the history of this parish, I am

the thirty-second priest who has been given the chance to serve

here. This role is a special honor for me. Why? Because the

priests who came before me have planted strong seeds of faith

 and love for God and for one another in the lives of all the parish-

ioners. Today, I can see the results of their work in all of you. You

live your faith with maturity and confidence. You show

kindness and warmth to others, and you are deeply committed to

the prayers and traditions of the Church. You understand what

needs to be done, and you do it with love, not because you have

to, but because you truly care and love our church. I am very

proud of you.

With all these blessings from God, I want to say thank you to

each one of you. Thank you for welcoming me into our churches,

into your homes, and into your hearts. Although I cannot men-

tion every name, please know that each of you reflects the good-

ness of God. Every time we meet, I see that goodness in your

 warm greetings, in your love, in your prayers, and in your con-

stant desire to help. Thank you very much. I truly mean it from

 the bottom of my heart. Let us continue to build our parish as a

place where every person feels welcomed, valued, and loved.

May our community always be rooted in humility and prayer.

Let us stand before God not with pride, but with the honest and

 simple words from the Gospel: “O God, be merciful to me, a sin-

ner” (Luke 18: 1-9).

Father Yohanes Akoit is pastor of St. Julian and St. Anthony Catholic

churches in Kentucky.