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St. Mary’s & St. Bishoy’s – Allentown, PA
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History of the Church
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Initiation
Several families, all from St. George of Philadelphia, were asking Fr. Roufail to start praying in Lehigh valley area and establish a new church there. Other people were asking other priests to start the service in Lehigh. Since most of the congregation in Lehigh and the closest church is St. George, Fr. Roufail accepted to take the responsibility to establish a church and to serve the congregation in Lehigh. In May-June 2004, Fr. Roufail invited the families in Lehigh to a meeting in St. George and informed us that he will ask the approval of Bishop David for this new service. During this meeting we talked about:
- the name of the church (no name was even propose at this meeting)
- number of service during the month (once a month)
- who will be the board members (no names were suggested)
- the church will be independent financially but under St. George financial entity
- start looking for a church to do the services
Bishop David approved the church.
The name of the church is to be St. Mary and St. Bishoy.
The chosen board members were: Noha Hakim, Reda Hana, Adel Kamel, Hani Sawares, Yaser Yacoub and Tharwat Youssif.
First Mass
It was held in Nativity Lutheran Church (Tilghman St., Allentown) Bishop Makarious came and prayed the first service with Fr. Roufail. The first service was held on August 28th, 2004.
We started to have:
- mass every the 3rd Saturday of the month
- Sunday school
- Socializing after the mass
The church was serving about 20-25 families at that time.
Bishop David visit to St. Mary and St. Bishoy
Bishop David came for the first time and prayed the mass with us on January, 2009. He tried to organize the service to make it more active.
- start praying mass every Saturday
- assigned some servants to the Sunday school
Praying a mass every Saturday
Starting February 7th, 2009, we have started to pray weekly in St. Michael Lutheran Church (9th & Turner St, Allentown). Also, we started to have:
- an organized Sunday school services,
- after mass socialization,
- visitation,
- one gathering for Easter, and organized one picnic.
A new acting board was appointed: Ehab Bassily, Hayman Salib, John Tawfik and Rahma Zhakaria.
We continued to pray at St Michael till they sold the Church in June 2009. After 2 months with no services, we started to pray at Hope Church (Flexer Ave, Allentown) on August 29th, 2009.
First Christmas, Epiphany and Easter mass calibrations
We prayed the first Christmas and Epiphany of 2010, Fr Rewais Aziz and Fr Boules Serour participated in these services.
We prayed the first holy Pascha and Easter of 2010, Fr Rewais Rewais blessed us with these services.
Bible study was added as a new activity by Fr. Shinouda Awadala, it started once a month and had 2 of them.
Meeting with Bishop David in St. George Philadelphia
The acting board met with Bishop David in February 2010 in the presence of Fr. Roufail, and the following were agreed on:
- Bishop David recommended Mr. Nazeeh Awad (Fr. Bishoy) to be our priest and we initiate contacts with him to introduce the church and the congregation to him
- we contacted Fr. Isac and Mr Mazeeh
- Mr Nazeeh came for the first time on the Good Friday (April 2nd 2010)
- He continued to come, helping in service, and meet with the people
- Get complete financial independence from St. George (done in May 2010)
- Ask Fr. Bolus Serour to come and make the Easter 2010 service for us (did not happen)
Bishop David visit in June 2010
Bishop David asked the people to vote if they in favor that Mr. Nazeeh Awad to be ordained a priest on St. Mary and St. Bishoy. Majority, if not all, of congregation was in favor to have Mr. Nazeeh Awad as their priest. Bishop David announced that Mr. Nazeeh Awad will be ordained during Pope Shinouda’s next visit US. Also, he said Fr. Youssef Shehata will take responsibility of the church.
Fr. Youssef Shehata appointed a new Acting board was formed and the members are Hayman Salib, Hani Sawares, John Tawfik, Tharwat Youssef and Rahma Zhakaria.
Ordination of Fr. Bishoy
On August 7th 2010, Fr. Bishoy was ordained on St. Mary and St. Bishoy as the first priest.
On September 24th 2010, Fr. Bishoy was enthroned and he prayed the first vesper “ashia” and he prayed the first mass on September 25th 2010.
Now we have the following services:
- weekly mass on Saturday
- weekly vesper on Friday
- weekly bible study on Friday
- regular Sunday school service
- Christmas, Epiphany, holy Pascha and Easter
- devoted priest for the spiritual and social need for the congregation
- visitation by Fr. Bishoy (including the anointing the sick service)
- socialization after the mass
- spiritual and social days
Fr. Bishoy Awad appointed a new Acting board and the members are Ehab Bassily, George Mikhail, Hayman Salib, Hani Sawares, John Tawfik, Cherine Youssif and Tony Zakaria.
The number of served families in the area is increasing; we are about 50 families.
The church made an offer to buy the church located at 5042 Schantz Road, Upper Macungie Township (Allentown), PA 18104. The offer was $ 750K (the asked price) and it was accepted on July 15, 2015.
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Address
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5042 Schantz Road,
Allentown, PA 18104
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