LADIES AUXILIARY:
The women association of our church is part of the national organization of our Episcopate, the so-called A.R.F.O.R.A. (The Association of Romanian Orthodox Ladies Auxiliaries of North America). The name of our local chapter, here at Saint Mary Church is “CREDINTA” which means “THE FAITH”.
The main purpose of this association is strengthening the faith among the sisters-in-Christ, while providing the necessary assistance in growing their local Church-Communities.
We encourage the ladies of all ages to be part of this important auxiliary of our church. We admire their fellowship; we support their projects and enjoy their most delicious meals!
Religious Education/ SUNDAY SCHOOL:
Saint Mary’s Sunday School offers to its students an age-based religious education program. While using Romanian and English language in teaching, the focus is on the message we send to our children: the love of God shared with us in the Person of the Resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ.
Sure we are concerned if they will stay in Church when they grow up, but also we are concerned with the reality of today’s world:
- If we want our children to remain in Church, we must be that Church through the Sacramental life, through the teachings, through the different programs, including sharing the Romanian Orthodox heritage brought from Romania long ago by our ancestors.
- If there is a future for our children, that should be the Church we became and the body of Christ they grew up to be.
Therefore, our main focus is on the religious education our children receive from an early age, building a strong Christian-Orthodox foundation.
In the past years, under the leadership of Fr. George and Preoteasa Ramona Ursache, the Sunday School program added a new dimension: every Friday night, all the students get a treat. At 7.00pm, in the small hall of the church, father and preoteasa are sharing with our children the so-called religious-cultural-social night, concluding with a Romanian dance class, led by our talented dance instructors.
The THREE SHEPHERDS Choir:
In the Orthodox Church, the priest leads the services in prayer, and the cantor, choir or both give the responses.
The Three Shepherds Choir of Saint Mary Church evolved along the years from very basic cantors responses to a more elaborate participation of the choir and the congregational singing.
During Pascha season of 2005, The Three Shepherds choir was formed as a necessity in assisting the priest trough the most beautiful services of the year. The enthusiasm of those young participants grew and became a solid foundation of a respectful choir today, with his own name and its very distinct reputation.
While our services are in both Romanian and English, we encourage all participants to come regularly to all the services and join us in praising the Lord.