On the weekend of All Saints of North America, Archbishop Mark visited St. Mark's in Wrightstown for his official Annual Pastoral Visit. During remarks at the conclusion of Great Vespers he commented on the physical and spiritual growth that is now found in so many of our parishes and the importance of all of us meeting the moment. His homily at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday focused on the call of Christ to "Follow me," and how that call is for all of us according to the gifts bestowed upon us for the building up of the Church, which is primarily the faithful. During the Divine Liturgy, HIs Eminence ordained Marek Szeliga to the Holy Diaconate to serve as second deacon at St. Mark's. A longtime parishioner with his wife Renee, Deacon Marek is a recent graduate of the St. Tikhon's Diaconal Program at St. Stephen's Cathedral. Axios and Many Years to the newly ordained Fr. Deacon Marek and Mat. Renee!
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy presentations were made to parishioners celebrating major wedding anniversaries in the upcoming year, among them Protodeacon Gregory & Mat. Martha Moser, Subdeacon Sergei and Irene Arhipov, Deacon Marek and Mat. Renee Szeliga, Melissa and Matthew Bennett, and Nicholas and Jamie Bendas! Many Years!
Parish graduates, including the newly ordained deacon, Reader Sam Regen, Kevin McCullough and Kaitlyn Talj were given cards and icons as recognitions of their accomplishments and blessings for their future endeavors.
Following the services in the church, a procession to a cross planted on the site of the future altar of an expanded church took place with the blessing of the cross and the area.
A plentiful and tasty luncheon was served in the church hall following the liturgical services, combining catered and home made dishes of fast-friendly entrees and dessert.
The parish is blessed by many faithful who made this weekend possible in every way; logistics, preparation, presentation, of food, furnishings both in the temple and the hall, not to mention an excellent choir, readers, altar servers and our hierarch and his subdeacon, Reader Nicholas. Glory to God for all things!
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St. Mark's Orthodox Church
452 Durham Rd
Wrightstown, PA 18940
