St. Mary Orthodox Church

Diocese Update - December 2025

More than 50 dedicated and talented singers from the Diocese of Worcester and New England (DOWNE) gathered for a vocal workshop at St. John of Damascus Church in Dedham, Mass. The chairwoman of the Dept. of Sacred Music, Mareena Boosamra Ball, led attendees through vocal warm-ups and technique, followed by singing the famed Anaphora by Fr. James Meena and new music with attention to details like blend, phrasing and dynamics. Enjoy!

Christmas Market of Hope - Thursday, December 4 in Norwood

St. George Church in Norwood invites you all for a Christmas Market of Hope, Thursday, December 4 from 6:30-9:30 pm at the Church (6 Atwood Ave, Norwood). By purchasing fair trade and survivor made products you are helping to empower artisans and women in other countries. As well as the women at Living Hope Farms and their Social Enterprise, Hope Milk & Honey.

Jasmine Grace Marino, founder of Beauty from Ashes Ministry, will share her testimony and talk about her mission of helping other women find recovery and healing from addiction and human trafficking. She aims to raise awareness and draw attention to the realities of human trafficking in New England and sees each victim as a person completely worthy and loved by God and deserving of help.

Appetizers will be served. Please RSVP by December 1 to NorwoodLadies@gmail.com

Celebrating OCMC's 40th Anniversary - Tuesday, December 9 @ St. Demetrius Weston

When: Tuesday, December 9, 2025from 6 to 8pm

Where: St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church 57 Brown St, Weston, MA 02493

With: OCMC Senior Development Officer Dan Christopulos & OCMC Board Member Fr. Luke Veronis

For questions email Sophia Kyrou at events@ocmc.org

This is a FREE Event! Offerings in support of Orthodox missions are welcome - Reserve your FREE tickets here!

Diocese Council Zoom - December 9 @ 7pm via zoom

The next Diocese Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. All clergy and laity are invited to attend to help His Grace Bishop John in the planning of events for our Diocese. For more information, please contact Bishop John. 
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7817624396?omn=86467682042

Meeting ID: 781 762 4396
Passcode: 51519

Diocesan Young Adult Ministry Coordinator Announced

We are excited to announce our new Diocesan Young Adult Ministry. Cintia Khouzami from St. George West Roxbury is leading this initiative, working closely with Diocese Youth Director, Billy Ozone. This new ministry ensures programming for our youth from ages 7 to 35, keeping our youth in the life of the Church through adulthood. If you have any questions about our Diocesan Youth & Young Adult Ministry please email Billy Ozone at wozone@campstjoseph.org

Follow us on Instagram:@AntiochianYoungAdults

Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting - January 10 in Norwood

The Diocese Antiochian Women will hold their next meeting on Saturday January 10 at St. George Church in Norwood beginning at 10:00 am. Future meeting schedule:

• April 18 @ 10 am: St. Mary Church in Pawtucket
• PLC Meeting TBD 

Please contact Rima Audy (Rimadaudy@gmail.com) with any questions.

Diocese Young Adult Social - December 20 in West Roxbury

All young adults ages 18-35 are invited to join us for our first Young Adult event of the new year! The social includes dinner, fellowship, and a talk from our guest speaker, Father Milad Selim from St. George Worcester. The cost is only $10! Please signup by December 13th.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNkzkbNACbAMTbsdmuzzocac3Bbf2K12msy7quP4Rj3DjwjQ/viewform
 

Diocese Youth Retreat - January 31 in West Roxbury

Our seasonal retreat is back! Please join us on Saturday, January 31st at St. George West Roxbury! Admission is $15 per child with breakfast, snacks and Chick-Fil-A catering included! Check in opens at 8:15AM with our day ending at 5PM! Our retreat will focus on our Liturgical Feasts, our children will learn about each of our 13 major feasts! Ages 7-17 are welcome to join!

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGrlkXuHhxvJDyceb8Isj7_M-SL1NBKf3d63sZP50E0O1HVQ/viewform
Tentative Schedule:

• 8:15-9:00AM Check in/Registration
• 9:00-9:45 Orthros
• 9:45-10:30 Breakfast
• 10:30-12:30PM Celebration of Feasts Rotations
• 12:30-1:15 Chick-Fil-A Lunch
• 1:15-3:15 Game Time!
• 3:15-4:00 Snack Time
• 4:00-4:45 Vespers
• 4:45-5:00PM Clean up/Goodbye

Please join our Orthodox Parents Network WhatsApp Group Chat for more information: 
https://chat.whatsapp.com/EeSyodXRrglK9YUdWzu5ZI

Camp St. Joseph of Damascus - Lenox, MA

Tentative Dates for 2026: August 10-15, 2026. Visit www.campstjoseph.org for more details. Registration will open in late January.

Join the Camp St. Joseph Mailing List!

Diocese Antiochian Women Book Club

The new book for the Diocese Antiochian Women Book Club is "The Art of Myrrh Bearing: Encountering Christ through Serving Others" by Elissa Bjeletich Davis. They will host a discussion with the author on zoom in February. 

Please contact Rima Audy (Rimadaudy@gmail.com) with any questions.

Save the Date! Men's Retreat - February 28 in Worcester

What it Means To Be a Man - An Orthodox Christian Perspective. Join the men of our Diocese for a full day retreat at our Cathedral on February 28th. The retreat will utilize the Lionheart Sessions produced by Faithtree Resources. Please mark your calendars and spread the word. More information to follow.

Orthodox Volunteer Corps

OVC is a year-long immersive program for young adults ages 21-29 to serve with our neighbors on the margins. At the same time, you live in community with other young adults, explore topics of the faith and leadership, and root yourself in the Orthodox Church. 

Applications for our fall 2026 program in Boston and Pittsburgh are now open! Our program dates run August 25, 2026 – June 30, 2027. 

Save the Date! Diocese PLC June 20, 2026

St. George Church in Lowell will host the Diocese PLC on Saturday June 20, 2026. Location and more details to come soon!
2025 PLC Photo Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCmCK1

2026 PLC Theme & Oratorical Theme:

Oratorical Theme: "You Shall be to me a royal priesthood and a holy Nation." Exodus 19:6
Bible Bowl Topic: Book of Exodus
Church School Curriculum: A People Set Apart: Book of Exodus Curriculum
Creative Festivals: Theme and Resources

Upcoming PLC Host Parish Schedule

2026: St. George Church, Lowell
2027: St. George Church, Boston
2028: St. Mary Church, Pawtucket
2029: St. George Church, Lawrence
2030: St. George Cathedral, Worcester

November 2025 E-News from the Antiochian Archdiocese

View the November E-Newsletter with announcements from around the Archdiocese! 

Iconography Project at Our Cathedral

Our Cathedral in Worcester is in the midst of a historic iconography project, and you have the opportunity to be part of it in a lasting way. This is a unique chance to have an icon of your patron saint, or a large Biblical scene placed in the Cathedral of our Diocese, where it will inspire generations to come. For more information or to reserve an icon, please contact Fr. Milad at fr.milad.selim@gmail.com 

Image above is a digital rendering of the icons and not the exact background color or icons.

Save the Date!

• December 9: Diocese Council Meeting (Zoom)
• January 10: Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting in Norwood
• January 20: Diocese Young Adult Social in West Roxbury
• January 31: Diocese Youth Retreat in West Roxbury
• February 28: Men's Retreat in Worcester
• March 7: Diocese Lenten Retreat in West Roxbury
• April 18: Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting in Pawtucket
• June 14-26: Antiochian Village Session 1
• June 20, 2026: Diocese PLC hosted by St. George Church in Lowell
• June 28-July 10: Antiochian Village Session 2
• July12-24: Antiochian Village Session 3
• July 26-August 7: Antiochian Village Session 4
• August 8-15: Teen SOYO Special Olympics Sports Camp
• August 10-15, 2026: TENTATIVE Dates for Camp St. Joseph of Damascus
• July 2027: Archdiocese Convention in Anaheim, CA