July 04, 2021

Respond to Responsibility
Sunday Sermon

- Fr. Ernesto Obregon -


Today in the United States of America we are celebrating Independence Day. We are grateful for the religious freedom, that has been defended by so many and guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. As Orthodox Christians and citizens of the United States there comes a responsibility to participate in public life and to have an influence toward justice and equality. Father Ernesto shares with us his love for our parish and how it exemplifies America, because it has welcomed so many people from different backgrounds. As American citizens we often disagree and have differing views, but as Orthodox Christians we are united by family, faith and the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. In today’s Gospel lesson taken from Matthew 4:18-23 Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James and John to make them fishers of men. Jesus recognizes in these two sets of brothers a willingness to respond to the responsibility previously given and He gives them more. As Orthodox Christians, we should ask ourselves are we responding to the responsibility that God has given us and are we ready to take on more responsibility?



The Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Obregón was born in Cuba, sent to the USA as a refugee child and grew up in north-central Ohio. He was drafted during the Viet Nam era and served

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Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej





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The Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Obregón was born in Cuba, sent to the USA as a refugee child and grew up in north-central Ohio. He was drafted during the Viet Nam era and served in the Army as a Medical Laboratory Specialist. After discharge, he finished his Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at Kent State University (KSU), a Master of Arts in New Testament and Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS), and a Master of Arts in Philosophy at Cleveland State University (CSU). He met his wife of over 40 years, Presvytera Denise, at KSU. They and their children served as missionaries in Bolivia and Perú for 10 years, 1990-2000, where Fr. Ernesto was ordained as an Anglican priest. Upon their return, Fr. Ernesto served as the Hispanic Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. In 2004, Fr. & Presvy. converted to Orthodoxy. Fr. Ernesto was ordained an Orthodox priest in 2007, and served a mission parish in Melbourne FL from 2007-2010. Fr. Ernesto returned to Birmingham in 2010, and worked at the VA hospitals in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa until his retirement. During this time period he finished a Master of Science in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). During that time he was, and continues to be, attached to this parish.