Mark your calendars, people: January 24 is officially Diocese of Central Florida Day in the City Beautiful.

Orlando Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem Robert F. Stuart made it official at this year’s annual convention, held at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Jan. 23 and 24.

“You are an important part of our fabric, whether you’re from Ocala or from downtown Orlando, we join together to serve God’s people and I’m honored to be a part of that today,” said Orlando Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem Robert F. Stuart.

The dedication follows over 45 years of Diocese support in the Central Florida community, from outreach ministries to missionary projects — including the Hope and Health center, founded in 1988, one of the first organizations to provide resources to those in the Orlando community afflicted with AIDS.

Stuart, who also serves as executive director of the Christian Service Center for Central Florida, led the ceremony with poise as he listed the various accolades that make the Diocese so worthy of this prestigious honor.

Such accolades include the establishment of “I-Dignity,” created to help homeless people in Orlando obtain identification documents, as well as the Diocese’s “Be A Player” event, which provides sports physicals to local youth and has grown so large that it must now be held at the Citrus Bowl.

“It is worth it to build partnerships with government and city officials in your communities to see what God might want to do to use you to make a difference,” Bishop Brewer told the convention attendees. “And thank you very, very much, Commissioner Stewart, my brother in Christ. I appreciate you coming today.”