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Saint Gregory the Theologian
Publish Date: 2021-04-11
Bulletin Contents
A Word from Father Alex
Sunday Notes
Ministries, Programs & Events
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Archepiscopal Message
Ecumenical Patriarchate News
Metropolis of Boston News
Climicus
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Saint Gregory the Theologian

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (508)337-9986
  • Fax:
  • (508)337-9987
  • Street Address:

  • 1007 West Street

  • Mansfield, MA 02048
  • Mailing Address:

  • 1007 West Street

  • Mansfield, MA 02048

Services Schedule

Sunday & Weekday Services
Orthros/Matins: 8:30 am
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 am

Youth Religious Education Ministry is currently offered Sundays in person and remotely. Please see weekly updates from our ministry leaders for updates on each class.

Past Bulletins


A Word from Father Alex

Saint Gregory Parishioners & Friends:

I hope this greeting finds you well and enjoying some excellent spring weather. Each year during Lent—when we actually get spring-like weather—it’s so striking to witness the parallel between the spring season and what’s occurring in our hearts. To again invoke the title of Fr. Hopko’s The Lenten Spring, Great Lent is a true springtime of our hearts. As early spring flowers gradually begin to rise in our backyards, so our Lenten strivings slowly bloom into flowers of spiritual endurance, forgiveness, hope and, of course, a greater understanding of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection.  

As part of this ongoing spiritual process, I invite you to join us for PreSanctified Liturgy on Wed., April 7 and the 4th Salutations on Fri., April 9. Both services will begin at 6 pm and both will be in person as well as streamed.

Of course, we also have this Sunday, April 11, the 4th Sunday of Great Lent to look forward to—this is the Sunday of Saint John of the Ladder. Saint John’s sacred text (The Ladder of Divine Ascent) and immense spiritual vision remind us that striving toward the Kingdom is no easy task—it’s hard work each and every day, but we have God and one another to guide and encourage us. Youth Religious Education classes will meet in person and via Zoom, immediately following Holy Communion. Parents, please look for an email with further information from our teachers.

I’m very proud of our middle and high school students for carrying on with the Saint John Oratorical Festival during this challenging time, which will take place via Zoom Sunday at 6 pm. Many thanks are also due Festival Chair Chris Mellen and his team of inspirational teachers, mentors and judges. Despite the restrictions and challenges caused by COVID, the creative approaches utilized by our youth ministers have enabled religious education and spiritual enrichment to continue at Saint Gregory. This is a blessing, and we’re all invited to witness our youth witnessing their Orthodox Faith. Please see the Zoom invitation within this bulletin and join in supporting our speakers.

Finally, our Philoptochos is very grateful to our entire parish for the support of the Dignity Matters collection effort. This month’s Philoptochos project will be the Feed the Hungry Initiative, focusing on alleviating local food insecurity through food and monetary donations. Please see the giving box in the Narthex, and details on other ways to give are forthcoming. Considering and acting upon the needs of others is a major part of our Lenten journey—let’s do everything we can to help this ministry effort.

May your Lenten Spring continue to be a time of refreshment and hope—and good strength to you, and yours, this week.  

In Christ,

Fr. Alex

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Sunday Notes

EPISTLE READER: TBA. Our youth are especially encouraged to contact Fr. Alex to read on a coming Sunday, in person or remotely. Parents, please let Father know if your daughter or son might like to read.

ALTAR SERVERS: Chris Botchis and Peter Botchis. Contact Fr. Alex if your son is interested in Altar service--we'd love to grow this ministry.

MEMORIALS: Fokion Kalogeras (7 years), Maria Kalogeras (5 years) and James Osborne (4 years). May their memory be eternal!

PRE-REGISTRATION: Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience with the pre-registration process. We will continue with this practice, for the well-being of our parish family, this month. Please register as space is limited.
Pre-register each week right here:
https://signup.com/group/52966497203

ACCESS SERVICES VIA FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/saintgregorythetheologian

ACCES SERVICES VIA YOU TUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvnXFV6xK1Nhm8ID84jFNg

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Ministries, Programs & Events

PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY, APRIL 7
PreSanctified Liturgy represents an opportunity to receive Holy Communion during the week--spiritual food for us all during our Lenten journey. The service will begin at 6 pm and will be offered in person and via streaming. If you're joining us in person, please make sure to pre-register. 

4TH SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS, APRIL 9
Join us for this beautiful service celebraging the mystery of the Incarnation during this most holy time of year. The service begins at 6 pm, in person (see pre-registration link below) and streaming. 

ORTHROS & DIVINE LITURGY, APRIL 11
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory, whether in person or remotely. Orthros, 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am. Youth Religious Education classes continue this week following Holy Communion (in person and via Zoom); parents, please see this week's emails from your child's teacher for details. If you plan to worship with us in person, make sure to pre-register early in the week
Please note that in accordinace with Gov. Baker's latest COVID-19 restrictions, Saint Gregory's maximum capacity limit is now up to 50%. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding. 

Pre-register each week right here:
https://signup.com/group/52966497203

Access Services via Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saintgregorythetheologian

Access Services via You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvnXFV6xK1Nhm8ID84jFNg

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL, APRIL 11
This year's festival will be held via Zoom, beginning at 6 pm. Our middle and high school classes have been working very hard toward this day--we are so proud of them for pursuing learning and spiritual growth in the Orthodox Faith! Our entire parish family is invited to witness the festival via Zoom--please see the invitation link within this week's parish email. 

MYRRHBEARING GIRLS FOR HOLY WEEK
Parents with girls (up to about age 10) interested in participating in our liturgical services as myrrhbearers on Holy Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and, of course, Friday are asked to contact Fr. Alex. This is a wonderful way to involve our children in the services of Holy Week. 

SAINT GREOGORY PARISH BOOKSTORE
Parishioners are invited to visit our bookstore by appointment or otherwise receive assistance by contacting the Church Office. Cathy or Fr. Alex would be happy to help you find that encouraging book or meaningful gift for a loved one during these unique times. 

LENTEN AND HOLY WEEK FLOWER DONATIONS
As we do indeed look toward Great Lent and Holy Week, donations are welcome and needed for the decoration of our sacred space during this Holy time. A host of icons will be decorated with flowers (Virgin and Child for the Salutations, the “Great Humility,” the Resurrection, etc.); other needs include the wreath for the Lord’s Cross, palms, laurel leaves, lilies and, of course, the adornment of the Kouvouklion (the wooden structure that houses the Epitaphios icon). Please contact Cathy Cooper to support these worthy efforts. 

CANDLESTICK DONATION
Several weeks ago, our parish received a generous donation of two new candlesticks for our Holy Altar from an anonymous donor. Some time ago, the same donor presented us with the brilliant Tabernacle that also rests upon the Altar; the Tabernacle and candlesticks are a perfect match! We are so grateful to this donor for these thoughtful and prayerful gifts—they were given from the heart and for the glory of God!

WHAT'S NEW ON OUR WEBSITE?
Have you seen our excellent Stewardship Parishioner Testimonials page yet? If you haven't, it's right within our Stewardship page, and it is a reminder of just how important our Saint Gregory home is to us all. Check it out the first testimonial today:
Parishioner Testimonials | St. Gregory the Theologian (saintgregorythetheologian.org)

NEW DIVINE LITURGY TEXTS DONATION OPPORTUNITY
As we look forward to a time when we will once again be able to sing together and utilize service books at Saint Gregory, the time has come to consider updated texts, reflecting the latest and official English translation of the Divine Liturgy. The Archdiocesan Dept. of Religious Education has updated hymnals and Divine Liturgy books our parish is interested in utilizing. Fr. Alex is still studying the options before us, but any parishioners interested in learning more about this undertaking and perhaps becoming financial sponsors of the news books are invited to contact Father. 

 STEWARDSHIP IN 2021
We are all grateful for the moving, inspiring testimonials of both Chris Botches and Kathy Kalogeras (videos soon to be available to our parishioners), as well as the leadership of Stewardship Chair Phil LaFond on Stewardship Sunday in December. Many thanks to all of our Saint Gregory parishioners who have already committed for 2021--we're off to a great start! 2021 Commitment Cards have been mailed to all our Stewards and are available via the Church Office. You can also fill out yours, and give online, via our website Stewardship Page: ​www.saintgregorythetheologian.org/stewardship/. GivePlus is another great option for giving--see the GivePlus app within our weekly parish email. 

SUNSHINE COMMITTEE MINISTRY: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
In coordination and support of the pastoral efforts of Fr. Alex, this ministry has been formed to communicate with parishioners who may be homebound, hospitalized, nursing facilities or otherwise unable to regularly make it to Saint Gregory. If you are aware of a parishioner who would welcome such communication and support, or if you would like to connect yourself, please contact the Church Office.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex
Tue (9 am - 1 pm), Wed (11 am - 3 pm) & Thur (9 am - 1 pm); or by appointment anytime.
In person or via Zoom. With the COVID situation please contact Father ahead of time to help keep our campus safe.
General Office Hours/Cathy Cooper
By appointment: stgregorytheologian@earthlink.net

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eleventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:14-25

At that time, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead, and he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So, the word went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die; but Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Epistle Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

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Saints and Feasts

Climicus
April 11

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.

Antipas
April 11

Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

Saint Antipas was a contemporary of the holy Apostles, by whom he was made Bishop of Pergamum. He contested during the reign of Domitian, when he was cast, as it is said, into a bronze bull that had been heated exceedingly. The Evangelist John writes of him in the Book of Revelation, and says (as it were from the mouth of Christ, Who says to the Angel [that is, the Bishop] of the Church of Pergamum): "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My Faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth" (Rev. 2:13). The faithful pray to this Saint for ailments of the teeth.

Allsaint
April 11

Pharmuthios the Anchorite

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

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Archepiscopal Message

Homily on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross

04/04/2021

Today, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross, marks the midpoint in our journey together to Pascha. Today, the Church brings forth the Cross and offers it to us as a Staff upon which we may always lean and find comfort, as the Psalmist sings: Ἡ ῥάβδος σου καὶ ἡ βακτηρία σου αὐταί με παρεκάλεσαν.
https://www.goarch.org/-/homily-veneration-holy-cross
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Metropolis of Boston News

MBC Summer Camp 2021

04/05/2021

https://boston.goarch.org/news/metropolis_news/2020/2559.html
The Metropolis of Boston Camp is open for Summer 2021! Click here to learn more about the summer offerings and the virtual open house taking place on Sunday, April 11th at 7pm.

Metropolitan Methodios Offered Greetings to Cardinal Sean O'Malley and the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston during the Chrism Mass celebrated at the Holy Cross Cathedral

03/31/2021

https://boston.goarch.org/news/metropolis_news/2020/2550.html
The Chrism Mass is one of the principle expressions of the fullness of your priesthood Cardinal Sean, and signifies the closeness of the priests of the Archdiocese with you. Today they renew their priesthood and dedication to the Risen Lord and His Holy Church.
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