St. Nicholas Church in Shrewsbury, MA celebrated its 75th anniversary on Sunday, June 23rd. In an atmosphere of celebration, His Eminence, Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae, was welcomed with bread and salt according to the ancestral custom.
The event began with Vespers on Saturday evening. On Sunday, at the Divine Liturgy, after the prayers of the bowing of the knees, a memorial service was held for the founders and benefactors of our holy church. In his sermon, His Eminence urged us to meditate on the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are poured out at Pentecost, gifts mentioned by St. Paul in the Epistle to the Galatians, chapter 5, to the example of the founders and benefactors of the parish of 75 years, and to the legacy we pass on to our children. His Eminence offered the community an icon of St. Nicholas, the patron of our church, and an anniversary award.
The agape meal was attended by many faithful animated by this important anniversary, with traditional dishes and the extraordinary presence of Mrs. Iuliana Roata and her husband Felix. Their presence warmed up the atmosphere and augmented the joy of being together on this anniversary.
Joining His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae were Fr. John Downie of Southbridge, MA and Deacon Sergiu Concu. Fr. Vasile Aileni presented anniversary trophies to Metropolitan Nicolae, Deacon Sergiu Concu and members of the Parish Council and emphasized the importance of their love and devotion to St. Nicholas Church in Shrewsbury, MA.
Fr. Vasile thanks all those who were involved in making this event possible: parish council members, ladies committee, sponsors, donors and participants!
The next event will be the installation of the metal Holy Cross in place of the wooden one on September 7, 2024, an event we wholeheartedly invite you to attend!
Together we'll make it happen!
St. Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Church was founded by a group of Macedo-Romanian Orthodox in Worcester, MA in 1949. On November 9, 1950 the first priest, Fr. Petru Avram. On December 7, 1951, His Grace Andrei Moldovan consecrated the new parish church. Later, in December 1965, the renovated church was reconsecrated.
The parish continued to grow in numbers and diversity in the 1970s and 1980s. In the spring of 1997, a parcel of land was purchased in Shrewsbury, and on June 20, 1999, the 50th anniversary of the parish, the cross and cornerstone were blessed on the site of the future church. In the spring of 2003, the first phase of construction was completed and the congregation moved into the new home where it exists to this day.
With loving embraces yours,
Fr. Vasile Aileni
Parish Council
Ladies Committee
