On Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of April, the 3rd Sunday of Great Lent, that of the Veneration of the Cross, and when the Holy Church also celebrates the great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos this year, His Grace, Bishop Jerome (Shaw) paid an archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ, where he officiated the divine services.

Serving alongside His Grace were the clergy of the cathedral: Archpriests Serge Lukianov (rector), Vasily Andrejuk, Luka Novakovic, and Boris Slootsky, Priest Anthony Williams, Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski, and Deacons Alexandre Sarandinaki and Dimitry Lisan.

Singing at All-Night Vigil was the parish male choir under the direction of Alexandra Lukianov. Divine Liturgy was sung by the full parish choir, conducted by Andrei Roudenko.

Many of the faithful confessed their sins and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Bishop Jerome delivered two sermons: the first, in English, on "Where is the True Cross"; and the second, in Russian, on how "the Annunciation shows that the Most Holy Theotokos did have the gift of free will."

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, His Grace blessed the freshly baked cross buns specially prepared by the sisterhood, which were then distributed to the faithful as they came up to venerate the Cross of the Lord.

A festal luncheon was organized by the sisterhood in the lower cathedral hall, during which the clergy discussed various ecclesiastical and liturgical matters, and the Polychronion was intoned for Fr. Serge Lukianov on the occasion of his birthday. Many parishioners offered gifts and words of congratulation.