Wives Endowment

Dn. Peter Samore, Director of Communications

The Antiochian Women, with the blessing, direction, and encouragement of His Eminence Metropolitan SABA, have dedicated their current project to build an endowment fund for the widowed clergy wives across the Antiochian Archdiocese.

In his love and care for the widowed clergy wives, and to show the archdiocese’s gratitude for their sacrifices,

His Eminence asked to infuse this endowment with a transfer of Archdiocese funds to help the Antiochian Women meet their $1 million goal faster.

Now, Ms. Sheryl Vanderwagen, President of the Antiochian Women, and Mr. Salim Abboud, chief financial officer of the archdiocese, are delighted to report that the fund has exceeded its goal to support the dedicated women who labored with their late husbands in the vineyard of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“This is a project that is so near and dear to my heart,” Ms. Vanderwagen said. “It’s one of the most important projects the Antiochian Women have ever sponsored.” But His Eminence and the sisters of charity won’t rest on this laurel. They want our help to continue building the endowment to provide even more support for these mothers of our parishes.

Thanks be to God, in the first year of the project, the Antiochian Women sought to raise $150,000. Their extraordinary fundraising efforts, coupled with a $150,000 matching donation, brought their total to nearly $396,000.

With the blessing of Sayidna SABA, the archdiocese’s Board of Trustees infused this endowment fund with a transfer of $645,000, raising its total to more than $1 million.

In December, this group of dedicated wives will receive nearly $40,000 in financial support.

“I’m very thankful to Sayidna SABA, the Board of Trustees, the hardworking Antiochian Women, and our generous, anonymous donor for teaming up to help us exceed our goal so quicky,” Ms. Vanderwagen added.

His Eminence commends the Antiochian Women and all those who felt the calling of generosity in their hearts to give in support this worthy endeavor.

The service project will continue into 2026. Please consider contributing today through your parish’s Antiochian Women chapter if you feel the prompt of the Holy Spirit in your heart to donate.

Twin Falls

During the weekend of December 15–17, 2023, St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church in Twin Falls, ID, celebrated its 30th anniversary. His Grace Bishop Anthony graciously joined Fr. Michael and Kh. Maria Habib, clergy, parishioners, friends, and family members from local and surrounding communities for the celebration.

With festivities beginning on Friday night, the parish warmly received Sayidna for vespers that night, which was followed by an encouraging talk from Sayidna and wonderful fellowship over dinner. “There’s a simmering arrogance in our world that wants to take on the role of God and rely on science and technology to give us our meaning,” His Grace shared. “The American dream has changed from seeking virtue to seeking self… The Church does not believe in the progressiveness of society that comes via science and technology. We believe this life will end. We believe in the Kingdom. Historical progress is not the answer; the mystical progress –process – of growing into the likeness of Christ is the life we follow… All of us come here with different histories and they’re melted together into the history of the Church. We should love the time we’re in and not wish we were in a different time. God knows better than we do.”

Sayidna was also kind enough to meet with the parish’s growing young adult group for a questionand-answer session, in which he shared additional wisdom: “A mistake is something you did; it’s not who you are. If you sin, confess it and move on. Leave it alone… Christ has always been turned toward you. He’s just waiting for you to turn toward Him.”

Two parishioners, Brent (Theodore) Butler and Stephen Basaraba, were tonsured readers at Sunday’s hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Finally, at the banquet that followed, several parishioners, including one of the parish’s 10 current catechumens, shared their stories of coming to Orthodoxy and how they came to call St. Ignatius their home parish. May God grant St. Ignatius Orthodox Church – along with the other parishes of our great and growing Archdiocese –many, many years!