All-Texas Byzantine Liturgy and Picnic

On May 6th our three Texas parishes came together in Austin to attend the divine liturgy and then party hearty at a local park. I, of course, forgot my camera so I am just now receiving pictures from those who took pity on this poor scrivener.

The Austin mission celebrates at Our Lady's Maronite Church on Sundays and that is where we were for the all-Texas meet-up. The church is gorgeous and quite large. I quite enjoyed being in such a beautiful church with so many people. Pews also helped me to rope in the children. Even with their depleted numbers (only three came with us), my children managed to use their amateur ninjitsu training to get passed our ever vigilant (while still remaining appropriately contemplative looking) eyes once or twice.

I could recount from memory, but the parish website quite a good job on their own

Nearly half of St. Basil's parishioners made the 7+ hour round-trip drive to Austin to attend the First Annual All Texas Byzantine Liturgy and Picnic. Through the gracious generosity of Monsignor Don and Our Lady's Maronite Church, we had a beautiful worship space. Cantors from the Austin mission and St. John Chrysostom led us, a reader from St. Basil's intoned the Epistle, and Father Deacon Ramon (a Dominican brother with bi-ritual faculties) made his liturgical debut. Brother Ramon is studying musicology at UT Austin for his second Master's degree. He will provide a constant clerical presence to the Byzantine community in Austin.

We had BBQ chicken, beans, potato salad, bread and butter, and tea--just like any good Texan picnic would. A Houston family kept us all entertained with balloon animals, rope puzzles, face paint, and an eating contest. Congratulate Ana for winning the strawberries and cream contest when you see her! (Don't mention the teenage boys having extra food put on their plate though!) While Laurel had to have one of the teens show her how to get out of the rope puzzle, word is that her husband had it solved in seconds. The Ellis' football and baseball were put to good use while Viki supervised the children climbing trees and bug hunting.

There was accordian music in the background as we caught up with old friends and made new ones. The time passed too quickly and the hope of doing it again soon could be heard from all corners as we picked up to head back home.