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The Stream
From Around the Diocese
Houston-Regional MGOCSM Women’s Retreat -
Christina Cheriyan, St. Gregorios, Houston
The MGOCSM of St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Houston held
the first Women’s retreat of the Houston-regional MGOCSM on
October 12, 2013. The clergy present were: Rev. Fr. P.M Cheriyan
(Vicar, St. Gregorios Houston), Rev. Fr. Joel Mathew (DSWA
MGOCSM General Secretary and Asst. Vicar, St. Thomas
Houston), and Rev. Fr. Jake Kurian (South Region MGOCSM Vice
President & Asst. Vicar, St. Stephen’s Houston). This retreat
aimed to educate women about what they can do for the church
since they do have specific roles that they are not aware of.
Young men have privileges to serve the church by entering the
altar or by influencing the decisions made by the church. After
the retreat was over we hoped to encourage women to be more
active.
Our main speaker Mrs. Promila Eapen talked about her past experiences and what influenced her to be an active
member of her church. Our workshop speaker Mrs. Jaimy Varghese talked about St. Mary of Egypt, who was so far
from God, but came back in just an instant. We were told to use her life as an example because no matter how low
we may seem or feel, we can always return to God. Along with the retreat being an educational event, it was also a
social event. It gave the young women attendees from the local Houston parishes the chance to build stronger
relationships with each other, in addition to with meeting new people and making friendships. It gave the young girls
a chance to know that there are older “chechis” in the church who will always look out for them, and that they will be
there to help and guide them, instead of having to turn to outside influences that might give them the wrong idea The
overall point to the retreat was to let women know that they do have a strong role in the church and their
community. The theme of the retreat was taken from Proverbs 31:20: "She extends out her hand to the poor, yes,
she reaches out her hand to the needy." The reason for this theme was because the retreat was charity based. The
surplus money, along with donations generated from the retreat will go to a young girl’s education in India. She is a
19 year old , studying in the 12th grade at PTM Higher Secondary School in Pampady, Kerala. She was severely burned
at the age of three, and her mother passed away when she was in 1st grade. She currently gets by on the funds
collected by the sisters at St. Mary’s Convent Kozhimala, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India.
Oklahoma Liturgical Music Retreat - Clara Thomson, OK MGOCSM -VP
On October 25-27, a Liturgical Music Retreat was hosted by the Oklahoma MGOCSM, for the
Dallas/OK MGCOSM area. This liturgical music retreat did not resemble a typical song camp,
but spiritually made the participants aware of the importance of the eight liturgical tones
(Ekkara) of our church. Rev. Fr Mathew T. Mathew (Shaun Achen) led this retreat and
enlightened the attendees on the history and technique of mastering the precious melodies
of our Church. Friday began with a unique history of our church’s music and the explanation
of West Syriac Liturgical Music and its characteristics. The retreat continued on Saturday with
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