ORANGE — St. Mary’s Women’s Club of Orange is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, marking the occasion with a special Club Meeting Tuesday, April 11, at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be open to the public, and will feature a slide show celebrating the history of the club, with many photos of activities over the past 50 years.
Catholics in Orange began celebrating Masses in private homes around 1881, and St. Mary’s Parish was founded in Orange in 1903, with an altar on the stage in the Orange Town Hall until the former Fraternal Hall on School Street was purchased and used as the church from 1904 until the present church at the corner of Congress and Cheney Streets was built in 1953. Women of the parish formed the club in 1922 “to do welfare work, and to promote spiritual and intellectual advancement.
The women of St. Mary’s have continued in that direction for the past century, and the club has been doing good work throughout the community, using funds raised through an annual fair held each October. Everyone is invited to this celebration, which will be held in the Parish Center at the corner of Cheney and West Myrtle Streets in Orange.
NEW SALEM — This coming Tuesday, April 4, from 6:30-8 p.m., Old Time Radio will return to the library after its winter hiatus. Listen to the shows on a fully restored 1936 Crosley radio using a Bluetooth device. For this month’s presentation, Brian Casey will discuss and select episodes from one of the most popular shows on radio – Fibber Mcgee and Molly.
PHILLIPSTON — Senator Anne M. Gobi (D-Spencer), has announced office hours for the month of April. She will be represented by Communications and District Director Lucas McDiarmid.
Members of the public are invited to meet with McDiarmid to discuss issues, request assistance with state government agencies and for general inquiries.
Office hours for Region One Phillipston, Templeton, and Gardner, will be held on April 3 at Phillipston Town Hall, from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Office hours are open to all residents regardless of which community they live in. No appointment is needed to attend. For more information, residents my contact the district director at 413-324-3082 or Lucas.McDiarmid@MAsenate.gov.
ORANGE — The Orange Senior Citizens Club will meet on Thursday, April 6, at 1 p.m. at the Senior Center, 62 Cheney St., Orange.
This is a regular monthly business meeting, and all members are invited to attend. Guests are always invited and new members are always welcomed. Any local resident, age 50 or older, is eligible to become a member of the Orange Senior Citizens Club. Dues are only $5 per year. Dues will be due and payable at this meeting.
The agenda includes minutes of the meeting of March 2, the Treasurer’s Report, and Committee Reports including Fair Committee, Program Committee, and Trip Committee. Plans for Fall Apple Harvest Fair, to take place on Sept, 23, are underway and more information will be available as time passes. Tickets for the raffle will be available.
The Program Committee has scheduled a special presentation, Grow Great Gardens Q & A presented by Deb Habib, Ed.D of Seeds of Solidarity. The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments and beverages will be provided.
PETERSHAM – The Petersham Interfaith Committee announces the schedule of events for Holy Week of the six religious organizations in Petersham:
Benedictine—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery, 271 N. Main St.
Catholic—St. Peter’s Church, 18 North St.
Congregational—Orthodox Congregational Church, 21 N. Main St.
Maronite—Most Holy Trinity Monastery, 67 Dugway Road
Unitarian—First Unitarian Parish,1 Common St.
Maundy Thursday/Thursday of the Mysteries
5 p.m.—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Mass of the Lord’s Supper
6 p.m.—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Divine Liturgy
7 p.m.—Orthodox Congregational – Rev. Geoffrey Smith – Tenebrae
8 p.m.-12 a.m.—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Compline & Watch
8:30 p.m.—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Gospel & Night Prayer
Good Friday/Great Friday of the Crucifixion
5 a.m.—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Tenebrae
2:30 p.m.—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Adoration of the Cross
3 p.m.—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Passion Service
6:20 p.m.—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Evening Prayer
7 p.m.—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Compline
8:40 p.m.—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Gospel & Night Prayer
Holy Saturday/Great Saturday of the Light
5 a.m.—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Tenebrae
11:15 a.m.—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Prayer of Forgiveness
5 p.m.—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Vespers
5:50 p.m.—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Evening Prayer of the Resurrection
8 p.m.—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection
9 p.m.—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Holy Saturday Vigil
Easter Sunday/Great Sunday of the Resurrection
6:15am—Orthodox Congregational – Rev. Geoffrey Smith – Sunrise Service (North Meadow)
8am—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Lauds
9am—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection
9:30am—St. Peter’s – Fr. Thien Nguyen – Easter Mass
10am—Orthodox Congregational – Rev. Geoffrey Smith – Easter Service of Songs & Readings
10:30am—First Unitarian – Easter Service
11am—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Easter Mass
11:30am—First Unitarian – Egg Hunt
4pm—St. Scholastica’s Priory & St. Mary’s Monastery – Benedictines – Vespers & Benediction
6:20pm—Most Holy Trinity Monastery – Maronites – Evening Prayer