My sincere thanks to a friend who recently returned from Our Lady of Wisdom Byzantine Catholic Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, with two beautiful prayer cards: one honoring the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the other commemorating the Protection of the Mother of God. The gift was especially thoughtful, coming after he learned of my growing appreciation for the Byzantine Divine Liturgy and my recent discovery of my Arbëreshë ancestry in San Costantino Albanese, Potenza, Lucania. Such small acts of friendship often carry significance far beyond their size, serving as quiet reminders of the spiritual and ancestral ties that continue to enrich one’s journey.
~ By Giovanni di Napoli, July 13th, Feast of Santa Trofimena

