Update for the week Thursday, April 25 - Wednesday, May 1, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
HOLY THURSDAY 4/25 – Vesperal Liturgy 7:00 am
+ Washing of the Feet 6:45 pm, 12 Gospels 7:00 pm
Note: Bring flowers to adorn the cross, if you wish
HOLY FRIDAY 4/26 – Children’s Retreat 9:30 am
+ Royal Hours 1:00 pm
+ Unnailing Vespers 3:00 pm
+ Lamentations 7:15 pm, followed by Procession to Central Square with the bier
Note: Children ages 7-12 are invited to process in front of the bier, strewing flower petals along the way. Participants should be dressed up (white dresses are the tradition for girls as "myrrhbearers" but not required). Plan to be in the church by 8 pm. Please contact Shannon Sakellariou (srsakellariou@gmail.com) if you plan to participate or have any questions.
+ Teen SOYO All-Night Vigil at the Church following Lamentations and Procession. All youth ages 13-18 (grades 7-12), are encouraged to participate in reading Psalms, keeping watch at the tomb. The Vigil culminates Saturday morning with Vesperal Liturgy at 9:00am. Teens across the Diocese will participate in similar vigils at their respective churches. The Church will be locked and several chaperones will remain with the Teens throughout the night, into the morning.
HOLY SATURDAY 4/27 - Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 am, with Coffee Reception to follow
SATURDAY-SUNDAY 4/27-28, Great and Holy Pascha – Vigil/Rush Service 10:00 pm,
+ Resurrection Matins 11:00 pm,
+ Divine Liturgy 12:00 midnight, followed by Paschal Feast in the Church Hall (buffet hosted by Mary Winstanley O’Connor for the continued good health of her mother, Selma Winstanley)
+ Joint Agape Vespers (Baouth) at St. John of Damascus, Dedham 11:00am
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
NO FASTING - After Pascha, there is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday, not only during Bright Week (4/29-5/4) but for the entire forty days from Pacha until the Feast of the Ascension, June 6. (This is the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch.) This cessation of fasting, however, is purely voluntary; you may fast if you wish.
RESERVATION DEADLINE – Wednesday May 1 is the deadline to reserve your spot for the 90th Anniversary Celebration on May 18.
CHURCH SCHOOL END – The last Church School class of the year will be Sunday, May12.
REMINDERS
SERVICE BOOK AVAILABLE – The book “Services of Holy Week and Pascha,” as used in the Antiochian Archdiocese, can be obtained from the Church Office for $32.00. The book is a hard cover with gold gilded pages and double ribbon markers.
CDs FOR LENT AND PASCHA – Three recordings from the Boston Byzantine Choir, Lenten Journey, Thy Passion, and Thy Resurrection, are available from the Church Office or from Charlie Marge - $15 each or all three for $40.
HIERARCHICAL VISIT - His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH will be at St. Mary’s Friday-Sunday, May 3-5 for a Hierarchical visit to celebrate Divine Liturgy and our 90th year anniversary.
YES in PROVIDENCE – Join teens and college students from the Diocese Friday-Sunday, May 10-12 for an opportunity to serve the people of Providence, RI. Register online at www.yesnorthamerica.org Any questions? Please contact our Trip Leader, Michelle Hourani: mhourani@focusna.org or Katrina Bitar, YES Program Director: Kbitar@focusna.org
SUNSET CRUISE GALA - Theophany School Sunset Cruise Gala aboard the Lexington riverboat on Saturday, May 11, 6:30pm-8:30pm. Cost: $125. If interested in tickets visit https://theophanysunsetcruise.eventbrite.com. Note: Seats are limited; sign up by Saturday, May 4.
ST. MARY’S ANNIVERSARY – On Saturday, May 18 we will celebrate our 90th Anniversary at the Crown Plaza in Woburn. Plan to join us for cocktails 6:00-7:00pm, dinner and dancing 7:00-11:00pm.
Adults $60, children 12 and under $30. Reservation deadline: Wednesday, May 1.
WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS! - The Young Adult Ministry is collecting photos of St. Mary's from past and present for the 90th Anniversary Celebration in May. If you have photos of family, relatives and friends from events at St. Mary's, please email to stmarys90thphotos@gmail.comor share them through GoogleDrive. Suggestions are photos of Holy Days, sacraments or other milestones; however all photos are welcome!
SCHOLARSHIPS - The Archdiocese will be awarding several Francis Maria Scholarships of $2500 each to students attending an accredited 4 year college. This scholarship is available on the Archdiocese Scholarship page, www.antiochian.org/scholarships. Applications must be postmarked by May 15.
+Antiochian Women’s Scholarship: Scholarships are available to females 26 years of age and older in good standing of the Antiochian Archdiocese, actively involved in their parish and who demonstrate need. The application deadline is June 1, 2019. Applications are available at the Bengarri and in the Church Office. E-mail lferris130@yahoo.com with any questions.
+ Nicholas Beram Scholastic Achievement award: applications are available for high school seniors of our Arab American Community planning to attend a 4-year college full time. Applications are available on-line at www.stjohnd.org/ngberam/index.htm and in the church office. Application must be postmarked by June 1, 2019.
PARISH COUNCIL – The next meeting of the Parish Council is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22.
FAMILY CAMP - Register now for Family camp at Antiochian Village, Friday-Monday, May 24-27. The theme is “Fostering a Healthy Family” with Speaker Fr. Nicholas Louh. Visit www.avcamp.org for more information.
ORATORICAL FESTIVAL - The Diocese of Worcester & New England Oratorical Festival will be held on Saturday, June 8 at St. George, Norwood
+ The Diocese of Worcester & New England Parish Life Celebration will be held this year on Saturday, June 22 at St. George, West Roxbury, hosted by St. Stephen Church, Springfield and Emmanuel Church, Warren. Register online at www.antiochianevents.com/worcesterhtml. Registration forms are also available at the Bengarri.
CROSSROAD SUMMER INSTITUTE - CrossRoad Summer Institute, a 10-day academic summer institute for Orthodox high school juniors and seniors to help them grow closer to Christ, will be held June 15-25 and July 2-12 at Hellenic College Holy Cross. Apply today at www.crossroadinstitute.org
ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CONVENTION – This year’s Convention will be in Grand Rapids, MI, July 21-28, 2019. Hundreds of Antiochian Orthodox have already registered and purchased tickets. See https://ac2019gr.org
HOSPITALITY GROUP – The St. Mary’s Donald DiFiore Memorial Hospitality Group works to build community among the larger St. Mary’s Congregation, so that we can come together in service, celebration and fellowship outside of liturgy and coffee hour. We need members to join us, and help with planning fellowship events such as Lenten Potluck Suppers, the Dormition Feast, our annual Picnic, etc. Even if you could commit to just one event per year, this would help strengthen the sense of community and family in our parish. We also welcome new ideas for fellowship gatherings. If interested, please email Tiffany Conroy (dr.taconroy@gmail.com)
JOIN US ONLINE - St. Mary’s Church services are broadcast live each week through an internet video stream. If you can't attend a service in person, or want to share this ministry with a friend or loved one, the live stream can be viewed at www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live during regularly scheduled service times (see the schedule of services or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
REFLECTION
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
- Paschal Troparion
Paschal Greetings:
English: Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!
Albanian: Krishti u Ngjall! Vërtet u Ngjall!
Amharic: Kristos Tenesa! Bergit Tenesa!
Arabic: Al Maseeh Qam! Haqan Qam!
Cantonese: Gaydolk Folkwoot Leew! Ta Koksut Folkwoot Leew!
French: Le Christ est ressuscité! En vérité, il est ressuscité!
Greek: Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!
Romanian: Hristos a Înviat! Adevǎrat a Înviat!
Slavonic: Khristos Voskrese! Vo Istinu Voskrese!
Spanish: Christo ha Resucitado! En Verdad ha Resucitado!
Tigrinian: Kristos Tensiu! Behake Tensiu!