The annual Parish Life Conference for the two dioceses of the Eastern Region was held at Antiochian Village June 28 to July 2. Representatives from parishes from Connecticut to West Virginia gathered for fellowship, study, and worship, including a Western Rite Vespers service led by members of St. Gregory’s and the other three Western Rite parishes in our region.
Representatives of the entire Archdiocese met in Phoenix, Arizona, July 24-30, with Patriarch JOHN X present. Reports from Archdiocesan departments were presented and the church family worshiped together with our Bishops, our new Metropolitan SABA, and the Patriarch in daily services. Despite temperatures above 110 degrees, several clergy were able to dine in restaurants near the hotel without melting thanks to Karl Tsuji, the delegate from St. Gregory’s, who rented a car for the week!
There are three holy days in the month of September which we will celebrate in addition to our normal schedule of services. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday, September 8, will be observed with II Vespers at 6PM that evening. We will have Vespers at 6:30pm and Mass at 7:00 on the Eve of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Wednesday, September 13 with a pot-luck supper following. On Thursday, September 28, the Eve of the feast of St. Michael, Mass will be at 7pm, preceded by Vespers at 6:30 and followed by a pot-luck supper.
On Saturday, September 30, St. Gregory’s will host the second gathering for people in our neighborhood, which is known as ‘Paint Branch Farms’. A cook-out/picnic has been planned for that afternoon. Parishioners are invited to attend and meet some of those who live near our church. We are happy to show Christian hospitality and to share our beautiful building and grounds with others. Details to be announced.
St. Gregory’s will be represented this year at the Antiochian House of Studies, sponsored by our Archdiocese. Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Monica Burnett will be teaching courses in the Western Rite track offered for students in the general St. Stephen’s Course, Master of Theology, and Master of Divinity programs. A two-week residency is held at Antiochian Village August 28-September 8, and classes throughout the year are given on-line. There are courses in theology, Scripture, church history, liturgics, pastoral care, and other subjects. Fr. Nicholas will be teaching classes in Liturgics (including the liturgical year and seasonal services, Holy Week, …) and Church History in the West (including Orthodoxy in America and the history of the Western Rite). Monica will be teaching a course on the Latin-Speaking fathers of the Church (including Ss. Ambrose, Gregory, Hilary, Augustine, etc.)
Read the full September newsletter here.