Novena to St Michael

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To prepare for the Patronal Feast of the parish, this novena (nine day prayer) is prayed from September 20-28.

Saint Michael the Archangel, loyal champion of God and His Catholic people, I turn to thee with confidence and seek thy powerful intercession. For the love of God, Who hast made thee so glorious in grace and power, and for the love of the Mother of Jesus, the Queen of the Angels, be pleased to hear my prayer.

Thou knowest the value of my soul in the eyes of God. May no stain of evil ever disfigure its beauty. Help me to conquer the evil spirit who tempts me.

I desire to imitate thy loyalty to God and Holy Mother Church and thy great love for God and men. And since thou art God’s messenger for the care of His people, I entrust to thee this special request:

The Intention for the Particular Day

On September 20: For our Patriarch, His Beatitude John X, our Archbishop, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, our Local Bishop, His Grace Bishop John, and for all the bishops of the Antiochian Archdiocese.

On September 21: For the parishes, monasteries and clergy of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

On September 22: For the parishes, monastery and clergy of the Western Rite Vicariate.

On September 23: For the parishes and clergy of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West.

On September 24: For the increase of clergy and monastics in our Archdiocese and Vicariate.

On September 25: For the parishioners, past and present, of St Michael’s Church.

On September 26: For the repose of the souls of the faithful departed parishioners of St Michael’s Church.

On September 27: For the repose of the souls of Fr Michael Trigg, and other departed priests, deacons and subdeacons who have served St Michael’s Church.

On September 28: For Fr John, Deacon Lazarus, and all the priests, deacons and subdeacons who serve, and have served, St Michael’s Church.

Include also each day an intention for the increase of faith and holiness for the clergy and parishioners of St Michael’s Church.

Daily Conclusion

Saint Michael, since thou art, by the will of the Creator, the powerful intercessor of Christians, I have great confidence in thy prayers. I earnestly trust that if it is God’s holy will, my petition will be granted.

Pray for me, St. Michael, and also for those I love. Protect us in all dangers of body and soul. Help us in our daily needs. Through thy powerful intercession, may we live a holy life, die a happy death and reach Heaven where we may praise and love God with thee forever. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle: Be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil.

We humbly beseech thee, O God, to command him; and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who roam through the world seeking the destruction of souls. Amen.
O Prince most glorious, Michael the Archangel, keep us in remembrance. Here and everywhere, always entreat the Son of God for us. Amen

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7th Home

After many years of toil, the parish finally founded their present home in 1990, and His Eminence Metropolitan Philip Saliba consecrated the new building to the glory of God.

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The Chancel Arch Mural depicting Jesus Christ as Savior and Judge accompanied by the angels of the last judgment was completed and dedicated on March 3, 2002.

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Second Home

June 5 – July 3, 1977

Second temporary home of St. Michael’s Mission was the Mr. & Mrs. Frank Cunard Sr. residence, 13461 Downey Ave, Downey, California. Services were held here June 5, 1977 through July 3, 1977. We also enjoyed a potluck dinner here during June.

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First Home

April 10 – May 29, 1977

First temporary home of St. Michael’s Mission was a building formerly St. Michael’s Monastery, 6567 Fry Street, Bell Gardens, California. St. Michael’s Mission held services here starting Easter Sunday (April 10, 1977) through May 29, 1977.

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Fr. Michael Trigg, Memory Eternal

Fr. Michael Trigg

Fr. Michael Trigg was born Elwood Bellew Trigg on March 23, 1940 to Earle Bellew Trigg, MD and Emily Daley Trigg, RN of Inglewood, California. He had one sibling, his older brother, Earle, who died in middle age.

Deeply religious from his youth, Fr. Michael showed a passion for reading, research and scholarly pursuits, especially in the fields of science, religion, and anthropology. He graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in 1961 and from USC with a Master of Arts in 1964. He completed the normal two-year course of seminary training at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, Yorkshire, England, before graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford University in 1968. After such intense studies, his parents gave him a year simply to stay in London and enjoy life.

His formal ecclesiastical life began with ordination as Deacon in 1970 and Priest in 1971 in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. He served as Assistant first at St. Alban, Westwood, and then at St. Mary of the Angels, Hollywood. In 1977, he joined the Anglican Catholic Church, and, in 1978, founded St. Michael Anglican Catholic Church, Downey.

He brought St. Michael Church as a Western-Rite parish into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America in 1980. Now in its seventh home, the St. Michael Orthodox Church we know today was consecrated by Metropolitan PHILIP in Whittier, California, on September 9, 1990, as the result of the hard work an sacrifice of many devoted people.

Fr. Michael paid attention to every detail of the facilities, especially the aesthetics and acoustics. He gave icons, vestments, and chalices for the church, and together with his father gave the organ in memory of his mother. Along with others, he acquired the very fine Stations of the Cross that adorn the walls of the Nave. More recently, he gave the patio fountain and statue of St. Michael in memory of his parents.

Fr. Michael was among those making sacrifices, as he did not draw a normal priest’s salary during his ecclesiastical career. He depended upon secular work for his livelihood. In addition to owning a small real estate investment company, he served for eight years at California State University, Los Angeles, where he rose to be Associate Dean of Student Affairs, and nine years at Biola University, where he served as Dean of Student Affairs until his retirement in 2002. He was able to travel extensively to Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, South America, and the Orient. He also authored the book Gypsy Demons and Divinities, described as the “Opus Magnum” on the subject of Romany magical and religious beliefs, a subject related to his doctoral studies at Oxford University.

The focus of Fr. Michael’s life, however, remained service to Our Lord and His Church. A humble man, he truly loved serving others. His greatest joys were in gathering sheep to Our Lord’s flock, administering the Sacraments, developing new clergy, and serving as a spiritual father to so many, always in accordance with the highest standards and finest traditions of the Church. Metropolitan PHILIP recognized this service when he elevated Fr. Michael to the dignity of Archimandrite on August 15, 1993. Even as Parkinson’s disease ravaged his body in his later years, Fr. Michael continued to served his flock with gentle strength and grace until he peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on May 12, 2007, a week after having been named Pastor Emeritus by Bishop JOSEPH.

Those whose lives he touched will sorely miss him.

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