Saint Gregory the Theologian
Publish Date: 2025-02-16
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

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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

Beloved Parishioners and Friends:

Well, we survived the anti-climactic Super Bowl last weekend and, because of the weather, had to postpone our own “Souper” Bowl until March 2nd. Please keep bringing non-perishable goods to church for Mansfield Food Pantry and some extra funds for the Souper Pot on the 2nd.

The Philoptochos Cookie Walk has also been postponed, and we look forward to this event on Feb. 23rd. Thanks to our Philoptochos members for all they do for those in need.

Finally, please keep in mind that the 23rd is also Godparent Sunday. I hope our children, and as many of us as possible, will invite their Godparents to Divine Liturgy on this special day. Together, we will pray over the powerful bond between Godparents and Godchildren and also celebrate these relationships.

Of course, if you’re remaining local this Sunday, Feb. 16th, please join us at Saint Gregory. If you’re traveling for the school holiday, do so safely. For our children participating in MBC Winter Camp Session 2, enjoy and have a wonderful time.

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday at our parish home,

Fr. Alex

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Sunday Notes

TODAY'S ALTAR SERVERS: Team Archangel Gabriel.
Parish Altar Team Members
Altar Team Archangel Michael: Matthew Cromack, AJ Georgilas (Asst. Cap.) and Matthew Georgilas
Altar Team Archangel Gabriel: Eliot Hess, Leland Hess, Linus LaFond (Asst. Cap.) and Mark Saad
Cap., Mario Salzillo

TODAY'S MYRRHBEARER: Nomiki Steeves.
Cap., Eleni LaFond.

HOMILY: “And Why Has Your Countenance Fallen?”

TODAY'S EPISTLE: Parish Chanters.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Following Divine Liturgy, join us for refreshments and friendship in the parish hall. This month and beyond, Fellowship Hour sponsors are welcome and needed. Please sign up in the hall this weekend or use our SignUpGenius link. 

ALTAR FLOWERS: 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. 

KOLIVA PREPARATION: Parishioners often ask for help in preparing Koliva and may contact Gina Drugas to order a plate for a memorial ($100 per Koliva).

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

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

Epistle Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

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Saints and Feasts

February 16

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.

Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.

February 16

Pamphilus the Martyr & his Companions

This Martyr contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290, in Caesarea of Palestine, and was put to death by command of Firmilian, the Governor of Palestine. His fellow contestants' names are Valens, Paul, Seleucus, Porphyrius, Julian, Theodulus, and five others from Egypt: Elias, Jeremias, Esaias, Samuel, and Daniel. Their martyrdom is recorded in Book VIII, ch. 11 of Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, called The Martyrs of Palestine.

February 16

Flavianos, Patriarch of Constantinople

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Thank God every day with your whole heart for having given to you life according to His image and likeness - an intelligently free and immortal life...Thank Him also for again daily bestowing life upon you, who have fallen an innumerable multitude of times, by your own free will, through sins, from life unto death, and that He does so as soon as you only say from your whole heart: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee!' (Luke 15:18).
St. John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ: Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery pgs. 104-105, 19th century

But if he had despaired of his life, and, ... had remained in the foreign land, he would not have obtained what he did obtain, but would have been consumed with hunger, and so have undergone the most pitiable death: ...
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

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Ministries, Programs & Parish Updates

SERVICES FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH, THE PRODIGAL SON
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 FOR THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH
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" 

ORTHODOXY 101: “THE BIBLE & OUR SAINTS,” TODAY
Join Fr. Alex for this final session of Orthodoxy 101 during Fellowship Hour. We will wrap up our study of Introducing the Orthodox Church (begun last fall), reflect upon the place of scripture and the saints in our faith and make plans for post-Pascha sessions. All are welcome, and we will be focusing on pgs. 197 - 240 of our book.

GODPARENT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD
Our Sunday Schoolers are busy writing invitations to their Godparents for this special day, and we can all participate. Please make an effort to bring your Godchild or Godparent to Divine Liturgy. Fr. Alex will lead us in a special prayer for Godparents, and every one will receive a witness pin to remember this day of hope and faith at Saint Gregory.

PHILOPTOCHOS COOKIE WALK, FEBRUARY 23RD
During Fellowship Hour, our table will be filled with a variety of cookies for purchase. Take a delicious walk along the table, selecting a 1/2 dozen, dozen or more treats, knowing that the money raised will go directly to local charities and service programs. See you on the 23rd, and bring your sweet tooth!  

“SOUPER” BOWL, MARCH 2ND
This nationwide event gives us an opportunity to reflect on the needs of those in the greater community—and to take action. Please see below for our “souper” details:  
***Until March 2nd, drop food donations in the Narthex bin (our GOYAns will deliver them to Mansfield Food Pantry)
***As the “Souper” Pots make their way around the Nave and our campus on the 2nd, we hope you will give generously for the benefit of IOCC

GOYA FOOD PANTRY OUTING, MARCH 2ND
After Sunday School, all GOYAns are invited to join Mr. Christo for a trip to Mansfield Food Pantry. We will drop off the loving donations we have collected for the Souper Bowl and spend time with the dedicated staff at the pantry.

HOPE/JOY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY EVENT, MARCH 22ND
Children grades K - 6th are invited to join us for learning, enrichment and lots of fun. We will take a look at the real-life story of Saint Patrick, enjoy a pizza lunch, decorate cookies and much more. See our flyer and save the date.

SAINT GREGORY ORATORICAL FESTIVAL, MARCH 30TH
Plans are being made for our parish festival, and many thanks to Brian Hess for once again serving as chair for this exciting youth event. Topics and materials will be shared with our Sunday School classes this week. Parents, please save the date and encourage your children to participate fully.

PARASCO SERVICE/ENRICHMENT SCHOLARSHIP APPS., DUE MARCH 31ST
High schoolers and graduating high school seniors interested in participating in Orthodox service or enrichment programs are invited to apply for this scholarship. The details and approved institutions are outlined here, and the application is due by March 31st. Please contact Fr. Alex with any questions.

STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY 2025 
As we move into the new year, we hope and pray God will help us embrace parish giving with renewed enthusiasm and commitment. With this year’s theme in mind (“Your Own of Your Own”), may we all discover the love and dedication to offer our heartfelt gifts to the Lord’s church. Visit the Stewardship pages of our parish website to learn more about Stewardship and to access our 2025 materials:
Stewardship Program 2025 | Saint Gregory the Theologian

2025 PARISH COUNCIL OFFICERS
Congratulations to our 2025 Parish Council officers: Steve Drugas, President; Lou Douvris, Vice President; Phil LaFond, Treasurer; Joe Cara Donna III, Assistant Treasurer; Kristin Lewis, Secretary; and Frank Sousa, Assistant Secretary. We wish our entire Parish Council a spiritually fruitful year of service at our parish home.

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]; 781.769.2085.

LOST & FOUND
When parishioners find items about the church, they leave them with the church office. You will find a mail tray labled for lost and found. If you have misplaced a small item, or found one, please stop by the office.

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.

Church Secretary Gina Drugas: Monday, Thursday, & Friday: 1 - 3 pm; Wednesday: 7:30 am - 11:30 am. Contact Gina: [email protected]; 508.337.9986.

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Calendar: Next Two Weeks

  • Saint Gregory Parish Calendar

    February 16 to March 2, 2025

    Sunday, February 16

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    11:15AM Orthodox Life: The Bible & Our Saints

    Saturday, February 22

    1st Soul Saturday

    8:45AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy & Memorial

    Sunday, February 23

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    11:15AM Philoptochos Cookie Walk

    11:15AM Godparent Sunday event

    11:15AM Knitting Ministry

    Saturday, March 1

    2nd Soul Saturday

    8:45AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy & Memorial

    Sunday, March 2

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    10:45AM OCF Visit

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Coming Events & News

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Archdiocese News

Metropolitan Sevastianos of Atlanta Enthroned

01/26/2025

https://www.goarch.org/-/metropolitan-sevastianos-of-atlanta-enthroned?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss%3F_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_gt9jYZFyZyFT_currentURL%3D%252Fnews%252Frecent-news%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_gt9jYZFyZyFT_portletAjaxable%3Dtrue

Exclamations of “Axios!” were cried as His Eminence Metropolitan Sevastianos of Atlanta was enthroned today, January 25, 2025 at the Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and in the presence of hundreds of faithful. Metropolitan Sevastianos, has served as a beloved hierarch in the Metropolis of Atlanta since December 2018. He succeeds Metropolitan Alexios, who served as presiding hierarch of Atlanta since 1997 until November 2024. Metropolitan Sevastianos is the 2nd Metropolitan for the Metropolis, which covers more than 70 parishes in the states of Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina.


Empowering Voices: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese’s Girl Delegates to the United Nations

02/11/2025

https://www.goarch.org/-/empowering-voices-the-greek-orthodox-archdiocese-s-girl-delegates-to-the-united-nations?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss%3F_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_gt9jYZFyZyFT_currentURL%3D%252Fnews%252Frecent-news%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_gt9jYZFyZyFT_portletAjaxable%3Dtrue

In the rich history of the Greek Orthodox Church in America (GOA), the role of girls is both vibrant and multifaceted. And in today’s increasingly interconnected world, the importance of youth engagement in global discussions cannot be overstated. The Girl Delegate Program to the United Nations (UN) stands as a beacon of empowerment, providing young women with the opportunity to represent their faith and culture in the international arena.


"Catch Me": A Landmark Exhibition by Greek-American Artist Nicholas Kontaxis at Goulandris Museum in Athens

02/11/2025

https://www.goarch.org/-/kontaxis?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss%3F_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_gt9jYZFyZyFT_currentURL%3D%252Fnews%252Frecent-news%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_gt9jYZFyZyFT_portletAjaxable%3Dtrue

The B&E Goulandris Museum is proud to present "Catch Me," a groundbreaking exhibition by internationally acclaimed Greek-American artist Nicholas Kontaxis, running from March 18 to May 18, 2025. Born with significant physical and developmental challenges, including a seizure disorder, Nicholas has defied the odds to become a celebrated artist whose work transcends boundaries. This transformative event marks a cultural milestone, offering audiences a unique experience that blends art, resilience, and inclusivity.


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