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Saint Gregory the Theologian
Publish Date: 2024-03-17
Bulletin Contents
A Word from Father Alex
Sunday Notes
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Ministries, Programs & Parish Updates
Calendar: Next Two Weeks
Coming Events & News
Metropolis of Boston News
Archdiocese News
Allsaint
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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:

  • PO Box 293

  • 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 following Holy Communion. Please see weekly updates from our ministry leaders for updates on each class. All are welcome to join us for Fellowship Hour after Divine Liturgy. 

Past Bulletins


A Word from Father Alex

Fellow Parishioners:

This Sunday, I’ll continue my multi-part sermon series focused on the major pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I’ll move from our abstention and fasting traditions to our third and final segment: almsgiving. I’ll explore the profound scriptural and historical reasons for our almsgiving and help us apply it to daily life right here, right now.

Also this Sunday, I’ll continue with Orthodoxy 101. Please join Saint Gregory friends and me after Divine Liturgy in the parish library. This Sunday and throughout the month, please be generous with the Philoptochos Dignity Matters collection. A Narthex bin awaits your donations, and complete details are available within this eBulletin.

Believe it or not, it is also time for us to start thinking about Lenten, Holy Week and Pascha flower donations. There is a form in the Narthex, and please check in with Gina, in the church office, within any questions.

Finally, as I mentioned the last several weeks, I am still blessing homes for the new year and will continue until everyone who’d like a blessing receives one. Little by little, I’m contacting all of our Stewards, but don’t wait for me—send me a note or grab me at church, and we’ll make a plan convenient for you and your family.

Yours in Christ,

 Fr. Alex

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Sunday Notes

EPISTLE: Nicole Riley.

MYRHHBEARER SERVICE: 
March 17th: Sydney LaFond
March 24: Callie LaFond

TODAY'S ALTAR TEAM: Team Archangel Gabriel (Elliot Hess, Leland Hess and Linus LaFond). Captain, Mario Salzillo.

FATHER'S HOMILY: Lenten Pillar 3: “Blessing Other with Our Bread.”

MEMORIALS: Helen Simmons (16 years) mother to Diana and Marylin, grandmother to Andrea and Gina, great grandmother to Anastasia & Nicholas. Irene (26 years) and William O'Connor (32 years), parents of Rich. Constantine (57 years) & Maria Barkas (47 years), Andromache Adasis (65 years) and George Simmons (65 years). Haralambos Dimitriou (3 years), brother of George and Angelo. Lou (Elias) Demas (5 Years) loving husband of Carol. May their memory be eternal!

ALTAR FLOWERS: This week's Altar flowers are sponsored by the O'Connor & Drugas Families in memory of Helen Simmons, and Mary Kostaras in memory of Athanasios Kostaras. Please consider sponsoring altar flowers for a coming Sunday. The donation for flower sponsorships is $75. Please contact Gina in the church office to learn more or sponsor. 

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: This week's fellowship hour is sponsored by the O'Connor & Drugas Families. All are welcome to join us following Divine Liturgy. This month and beyond, Fellowship Hour sponsors are welcome and needed. Please sign up in the hall this weekend or use our new SignUpGenius link. 

WORSHIPPING FROM HOME: STREAMING AND INTERNET MINISTRY:

ACCESS SERVICES VIA FACEBOOK:
St. Gregory the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church | Facebook

ACCESS SERVICES VIA YOU TUBE:
St. Gregory The Theologian Live - YouTube

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus has lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and she told them that He had said these things to her.

Epistle Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Gospel Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
March 17

Paul the Righteous Martyr

Eden
March 17

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.

Allsaint
March 17

Patrick the Enlightener of Ireland

Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish, was seized from his native Britain by Irish marauders when he was sixteen years old. Though the son of a deacon and a grandson of a priest, it was not until his captivity that he sought out the Lord with his whole heart. In his Confession, the testament he wrote towards the end of his life, he says, "After I came to Ireland - every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed - the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was so moved that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many at night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountain; and I would rise for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm." After six years of slavery in Ireland, he was guided by God to make his escape, and afterwards struggled in the monastic life at Auxerre in Gaul, under the guidance of the holy Bishop Germanus. Many years later he was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland once again, about the year 432, to convert the Irish to Christ. His arduous labours bore so much fruit that within seven years, three bishops were sent from Gaul to help him shepherd his flock, "my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord - so many thousands of people," he says in his Confession. His apostolic work was not accomplished without much "weariness and painfulness," long journeys through difficult country, and many perils; he says his very life was in danger twelve times. When he came to Ireland as its enlightener, it was a pagan country; when he ended his earthly life some thirty years later, about 461, the Faith of Christ was established in every corner.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Spiritual delight is not enjoyment found in things that exists outside the soul.
St. Isaac of Syria
Unknown, 7th century

Do we forgive our neighbors their trespasses? God also forgives us in His mercy. Do we refuse to forgive? God, too, will refuse to forgive us. As we treat our neighbors, so also does God treat us. The forgiveness, then, of your sins or unforgiveness, and hence also your salvation or destruction, depend on you yourself, man. For without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation.
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Unknown, 18th century

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Ministries, Programs & Parish Updates

SERVICES FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 17TH, FORGIVENESS SUNDAY
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory: 
Orthros, 8:30 am
Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am
Each week, Sunday School classes begin immediately after Holy Communion. All are warmly invited to join us for refreshments and fellowhip after Divine Liturgy. 

STREAMING DETAILS/MEDIA CONNECTIONS FOR TODAY, MARCH 17TH
Access Services via You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvnXFV6xK1Nhm8ID84jFNg

Access services and join our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintgregorythetheologian

Join our community on Instagram:
@saintgregorythetheologian"

PHILOPTOCHOS DIGNITY MATTERS DRIVE, NOW - APRIL 7TH
Please support Philoptochos' drive for Dignity Matters, a non-profit organization supporting women and girls who are homeless and disadvantaged. Now through the 7th, we can help in three ways: 
*** Purchase and drop off needed items in the Narthex
*** Purchase items via Amazon for direct shipment to Saint Gregory   
*** Make a financial donation to Philoptochos and we will purchase items for you. Make your offering through Vanco, mail a check to the church or give funds to any Philoptochos member

ORTHODOXY 101, MARCH 17TH
Join Fr. Alex after Divine Liturgy for our next session of Orthodox Life. Whether you’ve joined us in the past or not, all are welcome (we can catch you up if you’re new). Participants who have Introducing the Orthodox Church are asked to read from pgs. 93 - 109 for the 17th. Contact Father for further details or to receive your copy of our book.

PARISH SURVEY, NOW THROUGH MARCH 22ND
Our parish survey (the Effective Parish Assessment) is now available and open to all our parishioners. This is a professional survey offered by Orthodox Ministry Services (OMS) and supported by our archdiocese and metropolis. Please take the survey today. It will be available until March 22. Fr. Alex and your Parish Council thank all our parishioners for making the time for this important effort.

SOUL SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD
There is a listing form for our departed loved ones in the Narthex, and names may also be emailed to Fr. Alex or Gina in the church office (please do so by the Friday before the service). If you would like to offer a small koliva for the 23rd, please contact Father. 

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL, APRIL 7TH
Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, April 7th, we will be having our St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. We're hoping to have many of our youth share their talents and insights with us!
All participants will need to register here prior to the event. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Hess at bhess0529@gmail.com

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILD, APRIL 13TH
As part of our Thriving Congregations Initiative (TCI) grants, we will once again participate in a house build—this time in Norton, MA on the 13th. We will have room for about twenty volunteers. Please contact Fr. Alex or Gina, in the church office, to learn more or reserve your spot for the day. See our flyer for further details. 

LENTEN, HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA FLOWER DONATIONS
During this holy season, there a host of donation opportunities, from decorating the “sweet kissing” icon of Christ and the Theotokos to flowers for the Kouvouklion. There is a donation form in the Narthex, and please check in with the church office with any questions.

CHURCH WORDS: “PETITIONS"
The word “petition” derives from a Greek word meaning “diligence.” So when we say our petitions as a parish family, we are doing our prayerful diligence concerning the world: the welfare of the Church, and of us individually and as a community, our town and cities, all nations, those who suffer, our metropolitan, etc. We’ll share more interesting church words in the weeks to come. 

PARASCO SERVICE & ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS SCHOLARSHIP, APPS. DUE MARCH 31ST
Through the generosity of the Parasco Family, our parish will offer a new scholarship opportunity beginning this spring: The Parasco Family Service & Enrichment Programs Scholarship. High schoolers (including those approaching their summer after graduation) are invited to apply for this award, which will offer financial support for Orthodox Christian enrichment or service programs. Approved programs are CrossRoad Institute, IOCC Service Trips, Orthodox Youth Mission Team, and Project Mexico; other programs will need to be approved by Fr. Alex. Learn more by viewing our flyer, and you can apply here. The deadline for application for 2024 is March 31st.

SAINT GREGORY BOOKSTORE LENTEN OFFERINGS
With Great Lent approaching on March 18th, we have wonderful offerings related to the upcoming Lenten season. These featured books are available now (some in very limited quantities), and our flyer offers more details and lists even more offerings. Visit the bookstore today:
-The Lenten Spring, by Fr. Thomas Hopko
-Great Lent: Journey to Pascha, by Fr. Alexander Schmemann
-Fasting Food, by Katie Mantzarides
-Food, Faith and Fasting: A Sacred Journey to Better Health, by Rita Madden

NEW KNITTING MINISTRY
Calling all knitters and crocheters in the Saint Gregory Parish: We are looking to start a group that meets once a month to create items such as baby blankets and hats. This would be to benefit our own parishioners as well as those in area hospitals, shelters, and veterans homes that are in need. Contact Kristin Lewis  (kristinblewis@gmail.com) if interested and provide proposed times/days to meet. 

FELLOWSHIP HOUR SIGN-UP RESOURCES
All parishioners are invited to host Fellowship Hour on a coming Sunday. In addition to the sign-up poster in the hall, we can now easily learn more and sign up online. Fellowship Hour is a beloved, significant tradition at our parish that speaks to Christian fellowship and hospitality. Thanks in advance for your support, and contact Fellowship Hour Chair Brian Kaufman with any questions: bvkaufman@gmail.com

ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM
Parishioners who would like to try out our Assistive Listening System are welcome to use the receivers on our Narthex Welcome Table. The receivers are easy to use: just place the ear device on your ear, and turn on the “on/volume” on top of the receiver.

RIDES TO CHURCH
George Dimitriou, our Driving Ministry chair, would be happy to help you or a loved one make it to Saint Gregory for worship and events. Contact George directly: gdimitriou@yahoo.com; 781.769.2085.

LITURGICAL SINGING 
This ministry engages musical leadership not only for Sunday liturgy but all the liturgical needs of the year, from Vespers services to Great Lent and Holy Week. Your time and talent are most welcome within our Liturgical Singing Ministry. Please contact Kathy Kalogeras to learn more: kalogeras1@earthlink.net. 

MYRHHBEARERS MINISTRY
Within the context of our fledgling Myrrhbearers Ministry, our girls, and young women are invited to hold Antidoro during Divine Liturgy, read the Epistle, and otherwise participate in the entire life of the Church. Please contact Eleni LaFond to pick a date for Antidoro service and Fr. Alex to plan a date for an Epistle reading. 

WHAT'S NEW ON OUR WEBSITE?
Within our Youth Ministry pages, you'll see a new February "Saintly Lives" entry, focusing on Saint Theodore the Recruit (celebrated Feb. 17). Check it out today and share with family and friends.  

PARISH LIBRARY
Along with our bookstore, the Parish Library (just across the hall from the store) is a tremendous resource for our parishioners seeking to learn more about the faith. Within, we can find thoughtful books on the sacraments written from a pastoral perspective, many writings from the Church Fathers, books on prayer, and much more. Please take a look at the volumes adorning the shelves when you can and ask Fr. Alex for guidance on what you might like to borrow any time. Further, these shelves are in great need of refreshing and organization. Likewise, please check with Father if you might like to help with this project—or even become our librarian!

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex: Tue. & Thur., 9 am - 1 pm. Wed., 1 - 4 pm; or by appointment when convenient for our parishioners. Please note that on occasion, Fr. Alex may be seeing to a pastoral situation, visiting with another parishioner, attending a Metropolis event, or otherwise engaged in Church life during office hours.
General Church Office Needs: Gina Drugas is in the office Mon - Fri from 8 am - 11 am. If you need Support outside of these hours, please email Gina at stgregorytheologian@earthlink.net.
Email is monitored throughout the day outside of normal office hours. 

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Calendar: Next Two Weeks

  • Saint Gregory Parish Calendar

    March 17 to March 31, 2024

    Sunday, March 17

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School classes

    11:30AM Philoptochos Mtg (hybrid)

    11:30AM Dignity Matters Drive

    Wednesday, March 20

    6:00PM PreSanctified Liturgy

    Friday, March 22

    6:30PM Salutations Service

    Saturday, March 23

    Soul Saturday

    8:45AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy & Memorial

    Sunday, March 24

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School classes

    11:30AM Myrrhbearer/Altar Server Mtg

    11:30AM Dignity Matters Drive

    Monday, March 25

    Annunciation of the Theotokos

    8:45AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    Wednesday, March 27

    6:00PM PreSanctified Liturgy

    Friday, March 29

    6:30PM Salutations Service

    Sunday, March 31

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School classes

    11:30AM Dignity Matters Drive

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Coming Events & News

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Archdiocese News

Metropolitan Methodios Welcomes His Clergy for Their Monthly Brotherhood Meeting

03/11/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/metropolitan-methodios-welcomes-his-clergy-for-their-monthly-brotherhood-meeting?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

On Tuesday, March 5th, the Metropolis of Boston hosted the monthly Clergy Brotherhood meeting with over 45 of our clergy in attendance.  These monthly gatherings serve as an opportunity for the Metropolis clergy to engage in continuing education, discussion, worship, and fellowship.


Women's History Month Highlight: Maria Anna Kassomenakis, Executive Administrative Assistant/Greek Translator

03/11/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/women-s-history-month-highlight-maria-anna-kassomenakis-executive-administrative-assistant/greek-translator?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

March is International Women’s History Month, and it would only be proper to celebrate it by honoring the women of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. We want to showcase the wonderful women who work for our beloved Archdiocese and its Affiliated Institutions this March to celebrate their contributions and the talents they bring to our Church. This second week we present the resilient women of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.


SATURDAY OF SOULS SERIES In the Hope of the Resurrection of Christ Part I: Department of Religious Education (DRE)

03/11/2024

https://www.goarch.org/-/saturday-of-souls-series-in-the-hope-of-the-resurrection-of-christ-part-i-department-of-religious-education-dre-?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

In the Greek Orthodox Church, there is an important and long-standing tradition of praying for our departed brothers and sisters. Saturday (except for Lazarus Saturday and Holy Saturday) is the day of the week that is traditionally reserved for those who have fallen asleep because our Lord’s own salvific passing took place on Great and Holy Saturday.


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