First Visit of His Grace, Bishop Michael

On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, our parish was blessed to celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts with our diocesan hierarch, His Grace Bishop Michael, on the occasion of his first visit to our parish. The liturgical celebration was solemn and beautiful, and the warmth and love exchanged between His Grace and the parishioners was uplifting. The temple was full, and many stayed late into the evening to share a meal and meet with His Grace. The community at St. Andrew’s is so glad to have had this chance to meet our archpastor, and we eagerly await the chance to be with him again, when he will celebrate with our parish in July. Photos of the visit may be viewed here.

Fr. John shared the following correspondence with His Grace, expressing his gratefulness and joy:

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Prayers, Aid, Requested for Japan

The Holy Synod of Bishops of our Church has requested all parishes to remember the victims of the ongoing disasters in Japan, and to request financial aid for relief efforts there. Additionally, the OCA’s Metropolitan Council has earmarked an initial $5,000 contribution to the work of the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). All parishes have been requested to aid the IOCC in its work. Collections towards the IOCC’s relief efforts will be taken up at St. Andrew’s during the next two weeks – the funds of which will go directly to the IOCC’s Japan Relief fund. You may read more about the IOCC’s request for aid here.

Although our aid and generosity should be given freely to anyone who is suffering, regardless of race or religion, it is important to note that the Orthodox Church of Japan is a sizable community, with 20 parishes in the affected areas. Currently, one Japanese Orthodox priest is among the many missing victims of the disaster. (Update: Fr. Taguchi and his wife have been located, although their parish and rectory were flooded by the tsunami.)

May our Lord grant peace and healing to all those who are afflicted and suffering. May the souls of those whose lives have been lost find rest in a place of peace, where all sickness, suffering, and sighing have fled away — and may their memories be eternal!

Image: Shiho Fukada (International Herald Tribune) reposted under fair use (non-profit/educational).

Great Lent Has Begun

This Sunday, our parish community celebrated the first Sunday of Great Lent – the Sunday of Orthodoxy – with a procession with icons, recalling the triumph of holy images over the iconoclasts in the Early Church. (Photos from our procession may be seen here.)

During the entirety of Great Lent, the Presanctified Liturgy will be celebrated every Wednesday night at 7pm. Confessions may be heard before this service, and may also be heard following Vespers on Saturday evenings. Please speak with Fr. John if you would like to arrange a confession at an alternate time.

To assist in our Lenten effort, the Sisterhood of our daughter parish, St. John the Theologian (Shirley, NY) has organized a Lenten Retreat at the Orthodox Monastery of All Saints (Calverton, NY). It will be held Saturday, March 26, 2011, from 9:00am to 3:30pm. Reservations are requested; you may contact Elaine DelGigante at 631-846-4739 for more information.

Finally, it is with great sadness that we learned that Mark Guyer’s mother, Mary, reposed in the Lord on Sunday, March 6, 2011. Please remember her, Mark, and the Guyer family in your prayers. Grant rest eternal in blessed repose, O Lord, to the soul of the newly-departed handmaiden of God, Mary, and make her memory to be eternal!

Mother Raphaela Leads Retreat

As pilgrims on life’s journey, we are occasionally aware – sometimes by surprise – of Christ’s presence in our midst. Other times, we become aware only when reflecting back to an extraordinary experience. So it was with our retreat, “Living and Growing in Christ,” lead by the Abbess of Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery, Mother Raphaela.

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