Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Two New Western Rite Missions in Massachusetts

On Saturday, October 18, the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate received two new missions into the fold: Emmanuel Orthodox Church in Warren, Massachusetts; and St. Stephen's Orthodox Church in Springfield, Massachusetts.

More than 100 faithful from the two churches were chrismated at Emmanuel Orthodox Church on that date, while other members who could not attend were scheduled to be chrismated later. The Very Reverend Fathers Edward Hughes and Michael Keiser presided at the combined service, which lasted 2.5 hours. Both Emmanuel and St. Stephen's were formerly part of the Charismatic Episcopal Church and have been in formation for approximately a year. Both parishes will celebrate the Liturgy of St. Gregory. Please click on the pictures below to see them full-size. (Story continues below.)

Chrismation Service of Emmanuel and St. Stephen Orthodox Churches,
Oct. 18, 2008

A Side View of the Church, During the Service
More of the Congregation

The Very Rev. Fr. Edward Hughes
Entering the Kingdom of Heaven
The Very Rev. Fr. Michael Keiser
The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit
Except Ye Become as a Little Child
(Some of) the Newly Chrismated Servants of God


The former CEC priest Fr. Ken DeVoie and the former CEC deacon Chris Nerreau will be ordained to the diaconate on Friday, November 21, and to the priesthood on Saturday, November 22, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Ad multos annos to all their flock, and our prayers for their impending ordinations!

(I had this information quite some time ago but wanted to make sure I could post the pictures correctly...and it took me forever. Mea culpa! I hope the new impending ordinands will forgive me. Maybe after November 22, I can receive formal absolution?)

Update: OK, let's see if the pictures work now....

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6 Comments:

Blogger Matthew the Curmudgeon said...

MANY YEARS! And Welcome home!

Couldn't view pictures on 3 browsers-MOZILLA, IE GOOGLE & MSN.

8:28 AM  
Blogger Dn. Lucas said...

From Emmanuel's Website:

"Sunday Contemporary Praise: 9:30 a.m."

Contemporary Praise?! What in the world is this?

10:34 AM  
Blogger VSO said...

May there be a thousand more!

2:50 PM  
Blogger John (Ad Orientem) said...

From the website of Emmanuel Orthodox Church...

"Contemporary Praise: 9:30 a.m."

I must confess that I find that rather disconcerting.

ICXC
John

6:18 PM  
Blogger Matthew the Curmudgeon said...

MUCH BETTER! Thank You.
Usually the Bishop attends the
reception of new congregations. I know He is not a necessity for Chrismations but usually attends to give the Blessings. Just curious.

Again, MANY YEARS and Blessings and growth in the Faith.

12:55 PM  
Blogger Dn. Lucas said...

John (ad orientem),

Having, myself, also found the contemporary worship reference disconcerting, I re-read the following from this blog's posting on these parishes from last January:

"However, there are still areas of the website not yet edited from their old CEC days, so don't go ballistic on them if you see something you feel is off-base. They have more on their minds than updating their websites these days." -Ben Johnson

Perhaps we may presume that this listing falls under this heading of obsolete information. God send these communities a rich entrance into His Kingdom!

mone me si erro,
Sbdn. Lucas

9:35 AM  

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