Diocese Update - January 2026
Online Music School - Registration closes January 9
Enrollment for the Spring, 2026 semester opens Dec. 15, 2025 and closes on Jan. 9, 2026. The spring semester starts on Jan. 12. Courses that run ten weeks will conclude on March 27. Courses that run fifteen weeks will conclude on May 8. All courses will take breaks for the first week of Great Lent and Holy Week. Classes will meet once weekly. More details here: https://www.antiochian.org/dashboard?name=Antiochian%20Orthodox%20Ecclesiastical%20Online%20Music%20School
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 Council Zoom - January 27 @ 7pm via zoom
The next Diocese Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27 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
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
Young Adult Retreat: Becoming Truly Human — An Orthodox Christian Perspective - February 7 in Worcester
Join us for a full-day retreat designed to help young adults step out of the noise and rediscover what it means to live fully, authentically, and spiritually awake.
Centered around Becoming Truly Human — a compelling, conversation-driven film exploring the search for meaning in a fragmented world — this retreat creates space for honest dialogue, connection, and a deeper understanding of the Orthodox Christian vision of the human person.
Whether you’re navigating faith, purpose, or identity, this retreat offers a grounding, welcoming environment to explore what it means to become truly human in Christ.
SCHEDULE
- Divine Liturgy – 9:00 AM
- Breakfast – 10:30 AM
- First Session – 11:00 AM
- Second Session – 12:00 PM
- Lunch – 1:00 PM
- Third Session – 1:45 PM
- Q&A – 2:45 PM
- Great Vespers – 4:00 PM
Link to Register: https://giving.myamplify.io/App/Form/8cba3bcb-a1cb-4941-a8e6-7123bea74fd1
Cost: $25 per YA
When: Saturday February 7th, 2026
Where: St. George Orthodox Cathedral
Who: Young Adults ages 18-35
Camp St. Joseph of Damascus - Lenox, MA
Now a full 6-night camp experience! Camp St. Joseph returns August 10-16, 2026, offering Orthodox youth a full week of faith, fellowship, and fun—close to home. Registration opens January 30. Visit www.campstjoseph.org for details and updates. Stay informed about camp announcements by joining our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/jovyyA.
Antiochian Village - Pennsylvania
Visit www.avcamp.org for more details. Registration will open in late January.Session 1: June 14-26
Session 2: June 28 - July 10
Session 3: July 12-24
Session 4: July 26 -August 7
Special Olympics Sports Camp: August 8-15
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.
Winter Sacred Music Institute: February 5-8 in Phoenix, AZ
Make your plans to join the Department of Sacred Music in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona for the Winter Sacred Music Institute from Feb. 5-8, 2026. When most of North America is enduring frigid temps, St. George Church and this desert oasis await church musicians! Palm trees, beautiful terrain and, likely, no ice and snow are good reasons to travel, but even more appealing is the joy of voices joined in praise, learning together and the fellowship in the Lord that naturally follows.
Register now for the WSMI and book your hotel at the special rate by Jan. 5, 2026. We cannot wait to see you in Phoenix!
Men's Retreat - February 28 in Worcester
What it Means To Be a Man - An Orthodox Christian Perspective
Join us for a full-day men’s retreat designed to cut through the noise and rediscover what godly manhood truly looks like. Built around Lionheart Sessions — a powerful, video-based small-group experience — this retreat creates space for real conversation, brotherhood, and spiritual clarity.
Register by February 27 either online here, use the QR code on the flyer or call the Cathedral office at 508-752-9150 to reserve a spot!
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
December 2025 E-News from the Antiochian Archdiocese
View the December 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!
- January 10: Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting in Norwood
- January 27: Diocese Council Meeting (Zoom)
- January 30: Camp St. Joseph registration opens
- January 31: Diocese Youth Retreat in West Roxbury
- Febuary 7: Young Adult Retreat in Worcester
- 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