Update for the week Thursday, May 2 - Wednesday, May 8, 2019
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 3-5 – 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.
SUNDAY 5/5 - Orthros 8:45am, Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 10:00am; no Church School.
+ Church School Parents – If your child participated in the Music Lesson on Orthodoxy Sunday, please bring them to the area outside the church office immediately after Divine Liturgy to practice “Christ is Risen” again before the coffee hour.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEWLY ILLUMINED – Welcome our newly illumined Orthodox Christians, who were chrismated on Holy Saturday: Peter Arsenault, Landon Diaz, and Christina Phillips.
THANK YOU! – St. Mary’s would like to thank those parishioners and friends who made donations for Holy Week. We also would like to thank those who colored Easter eggs and provided any service to the church during Holy Week. St. Mary’s is truly blessed.
YOUNG ADULT NIGHT – On Saturday, May 11, our sister parish of Sts. Constantine & Helen, 14 Magazine St, will be hosting the young adults for “Ain’t No Party Like a Resurrection Party.” Vespers 5:00pm, Food & Dancing 6:00pm
REMINDERS
NO FASTING – 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.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – The Food for Hungry People 2019 program began with the start of Great Lent and continued through Palm Sunday, April 21. Collection boxes are due - please pass them in at the Bengarri.
CHURCH SCHOOL END – The last Church School class of the year will be Sunday, May 12.Church School Recognition and Parish Picnic will be Sunday, June 2.
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 Wednesday, 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 Saturday, June 1. 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 Saturday, June 1.
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. 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
Divine compassion brought it about in a wonderful way that when the doubting disciple touched the wounds in his Master's body, he cured the wounds of our unbelief. Thomas' unbelief was of more advantage to our faith than the faith of the believing disciples, because when he was led back to faith by touching Jesus our minds were relieved of all doubt and made firm in faith. And so after His resurrection Jesus allowed His disciple to doubt. But He did not desert him in his doubt.
- St. Gregory the Great, Forty Gospel Homilies
While the tomb was sealed, you shone forth from it, O Light. While the doors were closed, you came in to thy disciples, O Christ God, Resurrection of all, renewing in us through them an upright spirit, according to the greatness of Your mercy.
- Troparion for St. Thomas
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!