Mary Barber

Mary Barber has been part of Holy Apostles for about three years. A cradle convert having been Chrismated at the age seven in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. she has always felt a deep connection to the Orthodox faith. She started attending the Greek Orthodox Church in college and fell in love with Hellenic culture. Her patron saint is the Theotokos, our Panagia. She was first drawn to Holy Apostles after experiencing Fr. Tom’s sermons and the beautiful Choir while watching services online. She got a sense that there was genuine love and authenticity in the community and she couldn’t have been more right!

One of her earliest memories at Holy Apostles is a simple but defining moment: after Liturgy, she nearly left right after church, as she often did due to shyness, but instead found herself in conversation with Dana and Josh discussing the e‑bulletin. Their warmth made her feel instantly at home, and it became one of many moments in that first year when she felt God telling her, “This is your home.” It was a challenging transition coming back to the Church after many years away. This is why St. Mary of Egypt holds a special place in her heart. She sees in St. Mary a mirror of her own journey. From stepping away, wrestling with unworthiness and fear, and then discovering that God was waiting with open arms despite everything.

Pascha has been Mary’s favorite feast day since she was a little girl, especially the midnight service. She laughs remembering that, as a child, she loved it mostly because she got to stay up late—though she usually ended up falling asleep in church. She treasures not only the beauty of the Resurrection but also the way Holy Apostles celebrates as a big family.

This is Mary’s first year serving on the Parish Council. She is the Parish Council's Building Project Liaison, motivated by a desire to strengthen communication and keep the community connected as we continue to Grow Christ’s Church. Mary also chants and helps produce the monthly e-bulletin and podcasts with a wonderful team. Professionally, she is a Senior Manager of Operational Technology, overseeing a team that handles employee lifecycle processes. She loves using her digital creativity for the parish, finding it both grounding and spiritually renewing. Outside of church, she enjoys adventuring with her dog Charlie.