Members of our parish family gathered together on Saturday, April 16, 2016, for a Lenten Retreat with the theme The Spirit Within Us (Duhul dinăuntru nostru).
The day began with the Divine Liturgy, during which a general memorial service (parastas) was served in commemoration of Memorial Saturday (Sâmbăta Morților). Immediately following, a Lenten buffet meal was shared by everyone in the social hall. In addition to dishes brought by several of the ladies, pasta and salad were also donated by the Szegedi Family (our hall caterers) in memory of deceased family members.
After the meal, presentations on the retreat theme in both the English and Romanian languages were offered. Many thanks to our special guest Mother Macrina of Holy Dormition Monastery, as well as to our assistant priest Fr. Horatiu Balanean, for their reflective and inspiring words.
Activities and religious lessons were also offered during the adult presentations to the large group of younger children present.
The day concluded with Great Vespers and Confessions.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event another success as we increase our effort to focus on our spiritual lives in preparation for the Feast of Christ’s Resurrection!
