Diocese Update - September 2026
Camp St. Joseph of Damascus - Staff Photo 2026
visit https://downe-antiochian.smugmug.com/CSJOD-Summer-Camp-2026 to see more photos from this summer's camp session or www.campstjoseph.org to find out more about CSJOD
Church School Curriculum 2026-2027: One Body, One Spirit
The Archdiocese Christian Education Ministry of the Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministries is proud to present the 2026-2027 Church School Curriculum: One Body, One Spirit exploring I & II Corinthians.
In the lessons, students will encounter St. Paul as an apostle, teacher, and spiritual father. They will explore his teachings about unity, holiness, humility, spiritual gifts, love, forgiveness, generosity, the Holy Eucharist, and the Resurrection. Through age-appropriate lessons, discussions, activities, crafts, and prayers, we aim to help children understand that they are valued members of the Body of Christ and that God has given each of them gifts to use for His glory and for the good of others. I & II Corinthians Church School Curriculum
Antiochian Online Music School - Registration closes Sept 4
Registration for the Antiochian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Online Music School is open now through Friday September 4. Now in its third year, the School offers both Byzantine and Choral music education for new and experienced Orthodox church musicians. Classes for the Fall semester will start the week of Monday, September 7. For more information, visit http://musicschool.antiochian.org/
Please contact Charlie Marge (charlie.marge@verizon.net) if you have any questions.
Diocese Young Adult Bonfire Night - Sept 11 @ St. John Dedham
Please join us for our Diocese of Worcester & New England (DOWNE) Young Adults event on Friday September 11th at St. John of Damascus Orthodox Church! Orthodox Young Adults ages 18-35 will enjoy a night of fellowship, food and games!
When: September 11th – 6:00PM-9:00PM
Address: St. John of Damascus Church, 300 West St, Dedham, MA 02026
Cost: $5 Pay at the door or Venmo
Food: Pizza and S'mores
Register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqpj84-0j1Wsc-xBndmMznYpSX8neI6d2U0jWU28S2-sai6Q/viewform
Auditions for Archdiocese Concert Choir deadline Sept 11
The Department of Sacred Music announces auditions for theAntiochian Archdiocese Concert Choir.
This auditioned choir sings Orthodox hymns selected for each concert that require significant preparation and rehearsal. The 2026 - 2027 season starts with a Nativity Concert on Saturday, December 12, 2026 at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Potomac, Md., followed by a concert at the 2027 Winter Sacred Music Institute Saturday, February 6, 2027 hosted by St. James Antiochian Orthodox Church in Modesto, Calif., and culminating in the 2027 Biennial Archdiocese Convention in Anaheim, Calif. in July of 2027.
In accordance with the Antiochian Orthodox Department of Sacred Music Mission Statement, "…musical excellence in worship for the Glory of God," the Concert Choir brings together dedicated, advanced, proficient singers of Byzantine and Western Choral traditions. Singers who are selected must be well rehearsed in advance, to reflect the heavenly beauty of the ecclesiastical music of the Orthodox Church.
Those interested in auditioning for the Byzantine Choir, the Four-part Choral choir, or both, should visit https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2896 with specific directions on how to audition. All recordings must be submitted no later than Friday, September 11, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting at St. Mary Cambridge - Saturday Sept 19
Upcoming Antiochian Women Diocese Meetings:
- September 19 @ St. Mary Church (8 Inman St, Cambridge, MA)
- January 23 @ the Chancery (2 Lydias Path, Westboro, MA)
- April 17 @ St. John of Damascus Church (300 West St, Dedham, MA)
- June 12 during the PLC
Contact Diocese President Rima Audy (rimadaudy@gmail.com) with any questions.
Accessible Divine Liturgy at St. Mary Cambridge - Saturday, Sept 26 at 11 am
St Mary's in Cambridge is hosting an Accessible Divine Liturgy on Saturday, September 26th at 11:00am, with a focus on providing accessibility and accommodations for those with disabilities. The purpose of the Accessible Divine Liturgy is not to segregate those with disabilities into a separate service, but to include the whole community, highlighting our commitment to every member, and to teach those who have not yet been affected by disability to step outside their lived experience. This service is meant for all to meet one another in love, worship Christ in unison, and to build our Orthodox community in prayer.
If you know of anyone who has difficulty attending the Divine Services due to disability, caregiving, or for any other reason, please let them know that they have a seat at St. Mary's; and if none of those experiences apply, you are also welcome to attend!
For more information, to RSVP, or to request accommodations, please visit our landing page by scanning the QR code in the flyer, or by clicking this link: https://tinyurl.com/stmarysaccessible
Promotional Flyers: PNG PDF
2026 Archdiocese Youth Survey
The Archdiocese Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministry wants to hear from you! If you are a Parent, Teen, Clergy member, Youth Worker with Teens, Sunday Church School Teacher, or Young Adult, please visit youth.antiochian.org to complete the short survey to help us better understand the needs, hopes, challenges, and opportunities facing our parishes and communities across the Archdiocese. Your feedback will directly help shape future resources, training, events, and ministry support.
Please go to youth.antiochian.org to complete the short survey. Thank you for helping us strengthen Youth & Young Adult Ministries together!
Connect Conference - Orthodox Young Adult Conference - Oct 2-4 near Chicago, IL
Connect is an annual gathering for Orthodox young adults from across the country. Through worship, fellowship, and teaching, we come together to deepen our faith, strengthen our community, and discern our calling as Orthodox Christians in the modern world.
Connect is an inter-jurisdictional conference run by Orthodox Youth and Young Adult Ministries (OYM), under the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States welcoming Orthodox young adults ages 21–29. We are united by our shared Faith and the desire to grow deeper in Christ through prayer, fellowship, and the teachings of the Church.
Visit https://connectorthodox.org/ for more information and to register.
Feed My Starving Children - Oct 9-10 @ St. George Worcester
The Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event is a community event with a goal to pack 100,000 meals, raise $30,000, and welcome 500 volunteers to feed malnourished children in over 70 countries. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate however they can. People of all ages can help. We raise money to pay for the raw materials and then pack the bags of food.
Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God's children, who are hungry in body and spirit. The event is very rewarding and a whole lot of fun. Plan to bring a group and enjoy spending the day having fun and helping a great cause.
Click here to sign up: https://give.fmsc.org/campaign/2610-091mi-worcester-ma-st-george-orthodox-cathedral/c740220
St. Emmelia Homeschool Family Conference - Oct 17 @ St. George Worcester
Saint Emmelia Ministries invites anyone interested in Orthodox Christian homeschooling to our Homeschool Family Conference October 17th at St. George Cathedral in Worcester. Get more information and register here: https://www.saintemmelia.com/massachusetts.
Antiochian Youth Summit - Oct 22-25 @ Antiochian Village
In October, for the first time, lay and clergy leaders and workers, camp directors, church school directors and teachers from all four ministries impacting the lives of our youth and young adults will meet at the Antiochian Village for a Youth Worker Summit.
The first event of its kind, the Summit will connect, inspire, and provide resources for those who joyously labor for the young people of our Archdiocese. If you are one of the people serving in these vital ministries, we want you to join us. If you are not, please help us get the leaders in your parish to attend!
This summit will be a vital opportunity to enhance our common vision, build relationships, learn, grow, and be refreshed together. There will be sessions that include all of the ministries and breakout sessions for the individual ministries. We are pleased to share that the keynote addresses will be offered by the Rev. Dr. George Parsenios, and the workshop addresses will include V. Rev. Fr. Michael Nasser, Rev. Dr. Greg Abdalah, Dr. Ann Bezzerides and Sh. Shell Keim.
Promotional Flyer - JPG
Register today at https://registration.antiochianvillage.org/summit2026
St. George Classical Academy - Employment Opportunities
Saint George Classical Academy, a Christian classical school serving families on the North Shore of Massachusetts, is currently hiring an Administrative Assistant and Receptionist.
If you would like to be considered for future opportunities, please feel free to reach out to Head of School, Juliana Joyce, for more information (Juliana.Joyce@stgca.org).
Upcoming PLC Host Parish Schedule
2027: St. George Church, Boston - June 11-13, 2027 in Plymouth, MA
2028: St. Mary Church, Pawtucket
2029: St. George Church, Lawrence
2030: St. George Cathedral, Worcester
2027 PLC and Oratorical Theme: By one spirit we were all baptized into one body - 1 Corinthians 12:13
2027 Bible Bowl: I & II Corinthians
Save the Date!
- September 4: Online Music School Registration closes
- September 11: Deadline for auditions for Archdiocese Choir
- September 11: Diocese Young Adult Bonfire @ St. John Dedham
- September 19: Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting @ St. Mary Cambridge
- September 26: Accessible Divine Liturgy @ St. Mary Cambridge
- October 9-10: Feed My Starving Children @ St. George Worcester
- October 17: St. Emmelia Homeschool Conference @ St. George Worcester
- October 22-25: Antiochian Youth Summit @ Antiochian Village
- November: Archdiocesan Young Adult Retreat in Livonia, MI with a visit to Holy Dormition Monastery
- January 23: Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting @ the Chancery in Westboro
- April 17: Diocese Antiochian Women Meeting @ St. John Dedham
- June 11-13 - Diocese PLC hosted by St. George Boston - please note the updated dates!
- July 19-25: Archdiocese Convention in Anaheim, CA