The Early Years

From 1932 to 1938, various priests served our church at various times. They were Fathers Bahhah, Michael M. Yanney, Agapios Gholam, Methodius Shalhoub, Andrew Nasser, George Trad, Nicholas Nahas, and Gerasimos Yared.

During the years of 1938 and 1945, our spiritual leader was the V. Rev. Father Nicholas Husson. He who started our first choir and helped them sing the church songs in the Arabic language.

Then, V. Rev. Father Basilios Mahfouz came to St. Mary from 1947-1950. In 1946, the Young People’s Club (YPC) was formed, and took part in and promoted many activities, such as plays, carnivals, picnics, sports programs, raffles and parties, and helped to reestablish the Sunday School. The YPC also began to publish a newsletter called the Orthodox Crusader, edited by Ernest Namee. Other newsletters that followed through the years were: The Trumpet, by Father Michael Husson, St. Mary’s Scroll by Tom Laham, St. Mary’s Monthly News by Linda Ferris, and The Scroll by Jana Laham.

As we moved into the 50s, the V. Rev. Father Michael Husson became our priest, and served us from July, 1950 until September, 1958. In 1950, we held our first Maharajan (when the people come from all over and gather together for Arabic food, fellowship, and dancing) with Archbishop SAMUEL (David) present. It was in 1953 that we received the beautiful new stained glass windows from Czechoslovakia, which took two years to obtain. They replaced the original plain windows in the church.

The Consecration and Beyond

Our present church building was consecrated by Metropolitan SAMUEL, Archbishop of Toledo, Ohio, in 1956 after it was completely free from debt. He was assisted by the Rt. Rev. Ananias Kassab, the Vicar General of the Toledo Archdiocese, our pastor Father Michael Husson, and other visiting clergy.

Because priests were hard to come by at times, we often had help from others cities, such as the Rt. Rev. Father Michael Howard from Toledo during 1958 & 1959. In January of 1959, the Rt. Rev. Basilios Saffi served our community until the Rev. Father George Lambros came to Wichita to be our priest from February 1959 until May 1962. Father George’s wife, Khouriya Mary, was quite dedicated with our Sunday School, and she  helped raise our attendance to a new level.

It was in 1960 that the YPC was reorganized and called the Teen Club, and in 1961, the ever-active Belles of St. Mary came into being, gradually relieving the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the great efforts they made through the years.

During the years of 1962 and 1963, St. Mary Orthodox Church was served by the Rt. Rev. Father Anthony (Antoun) Malik, Father Nicholas Nahas (again), and Rev. Father George David.

By 1963, enough money was pledged to pay for a new hall and kitchen which were badly needed. In May of 1963, the Rev. Michael Father Hadad came to serve us until July of 1966, with Father George David helping to finish out the month of July. The Rev. Father Nicodeme Joseph then came in August 1966 and served until April 1967.

From this time on, though, as priests became more available, those assigned to us would come to stay for more than simply a few years. During the next two decades, our pastors were the V. Rev. Father John Essa from May 1967 until February 1972, the V. Rev. Father Anthony Sabbagh from 1972 to 1979, and the V. Rev. Father Jason DelVitto from 1979 to 1984 (the usual transfer of priests now taking place in the summer).

In 1980, at the time of Father Jason, the interior of the sanctuary was completely renovated, including a new iconostasis (the icon stand in the front of the church sanctuary) and icons, as well as the icon of the Pantocrator (all-ruling Christ) on the ceiling, and a new altar. Metropolitan PHILIP, came in May of 1982 for the consecration of the new altar and the celebration of our 50th anniversary, at which time the charter members of the parish were recognized.

Our next pastor was the V. Rev. Peter Leigh who served from 1984 until 1996. During the late 1980’s, icons of the twelve apostles were added to the arch above the altar, and in 1989 we began our St. Mary 2000 Building Program and Spiritual Revitalization with the establishment of the Long Range Planning Committee. In January, 1993, we bought the property across the street from the church (the Abdayem house), as well as the house beside it in March 1994. The new parking lot was completed there by September that year, with one of our founding members, Sam Laham, cutting the ribbon at the dedication.

Then, from 1996 to 2001, the Rev. Father Stephen T. Ziton came to us after assisting the community at St. George Cathedral. One year after his arrival, we purchased the property next to the church and had the groundbreaking ceremony on December 13, 1998 (the Feast of the Repose of St. Herman of Alaska). Construction of the new offices and Sunday School rooms began in February 1999 and were completed with the hall and church renovations by December for the Dedication ceremony in January, 2000!

After Fr. Ziton’s departure, Christopher Holwey served St. Mary from 2001 through 2003. From 2003 to 2004, St Mary had an interim pastor, the Rev. Father John Mefrige. In 2004, the Rev. Father Peter Smith arrived and served as our pastor until late 2009. During Father Peter’s tenure, St. Mary saw an influx of new converts to the faith. Most of these converts came from traditional American Christian churches and decided to join our church because of our connection with the ancient Christian faith of the Apostles. They found in St. Mary a church that is both relevant to modern society and culture, yet grounded in the ancient beliefs and practices of early Christianity.

When Fr. Peter Smith was commissioned to continue his missionary work in Dripping Springs, Texas (a suburb of Austin), St. Mary received its current pastor, the Rev. Father Aaron Warwick. You may read more about Fr. Aaron on our Clergy page. Since Fr. Aaron’s arrival, St. Mary has dedicated itself to continuing the development of both the spiritual and familial atmosphere that makes it unique among Wichita-area churches. Currently, our church offers many weekday worship opportunities, social and fellowship activities, and has increased its mission to serve Christ through serving the physically and spiritually poor through local and international humanitarian activities and mission trips such as Family Promise. We invite you to join us in this work on behalf of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Our Growth

Since our beginning in 1932, after a group of men formed a club to start a new church, and the ladies helped to support it with their dinners, our church continues to grow. Over 180 members of varying ethnic backgrounds and Orthodox traditions worship at St. Mary. With revitalized and renewed vision, St. Mary is dedicated to spiritual growth, fellowship, outreach, and a modern facility dedicated to the glory of God.

The Challenge

St. Mary Parish is growing! Over the last decade, we have experienced a “baby boom” and an influx of converts to and serious inquirers of the Orthodox faith. Currently, we have over 40 teens and children in our parish and an active youth group. Many individuals and families have joined us in holy Orthodoxy from various backgrounds. They include those who were raised in our parish and have returned to Wichita, those who were raised in the Orthodox Church and moved to Wichita, and those who have converted to the Orthodox Faith from other religious traditions.

With this growth comes excitement and challenges. In addition to the continuance of successful existing programs, a growing and vibrant parish increases the demand for new organizations and activities.

St. Mary Envisions and Provides:

• Growing church school and adult education programs, including periodic retreats and vacation bible schools in the summer months.
• Growing teen program/youth ministry including retreats, lock-ins, sports activities, and educational seminars.
• Active charity, prison, and street ministry.
• Active mission and outreach program.
• Study groups, small groups, and activities for young adults, married couples, singles, college students, etc.
• Fund raising that brings the parish family together including church dinners, bake sales, food sales, festival, and other similar events that take advantage of our unique talents.

Each week, our church offers us the Divine Services, discussion groups, and Bible studies led by our pastor, Father Aaron Warwick. We serve the community at large through our ongoing Outreach and Humanitarian ministry programs such as the Lord’s Diner, Family Promise, our Mediterranean Festival, and our Food Pantry that is stocked by St. Mary members and serves more than 550 people every year with more than 2,000 pounds of food. We also have many social events for fun and fellowship.

We give thanks to God for all of the priests and laity who have served and given of themselves here at St. Mary and for the wonderful blessings He has bestowed upon us through the years. With your prayers, in all that we do, may we always be able to glorify the God who has given us Life!