On Wednesday, November 23, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph presented Marcia Terry, sister of the late Archdiocesan Trustee Sondra Murr Love, and Sondra's sister-in-law Charlotte Murr, with the Cross of the Gold Order of St. Raphael. The Cross was given as a posthumous honor in recognition of Sondra's "distinguished service of exceptional merit, rendered with generous and unselfish dedication" on behalf of and to the Archdiocese. Sondra reposed in the Lord in September of this year.
The Cross commemorates the 100th year of the repose of St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn (1915–2015), whose life exemplified tireless labor for the Church's mission in North America. While presenting the award, Metropolitan Joseph also visited with Marcia and Charlotte at the West Coast Chancery. The two sisers were accompanied by their pastor, the Very Rev. Timothy Baclig of St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church of Van Nuys, California. Marcia, Charlotte, and Fr. Timothy were grateful for Sayidna Joseph's tribute to their beloved sister.
Sondra served as a member of the Archdiocesan Board of Trustees from 2009 to 2015 and was a Lifetime Member of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch. She had also assisted Sayidna Joseph in numerous capacities since his ministry began in the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West in 1995, and had coordinated special events honoring his episcopate.
Sondra's service to St. Michael Church included fifteen years as a parish council member, ten of which she served as the parish treasurer. She held offices with the Antiochian Women and helped planned annual parish fundraisers. She is surely missed by her family, parishioners, co-workers, and friends. Blessed be the memory of our sister-in-Christ, Sondra, worthy of blessedness and eternal memory!