The Role of Orthodox Mothers with Marinela Abele (AROLA Mother of the Year 2022)

Join us for a conversation between Marinela Abele and Fr. Chris Metropulos about the role of Orthodox Mothers: educating our youth, modeling the faith, working in the community, achieving balance, and managing commitments.

This year, The Association of the Romanian Orthodox Auxiliary of the Americas (AROLA) continued its annual tradition of honoring Christian mothers who are examples for those around them. Last month, five Romanian Orthodox Women, including today’s special guest, were awarded the title “Mother of the Year 2022”.

Marinela Abele is a member of the Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church in Philadelphia. She is a blessed mother of three, and a wife.

In March of 2020 Marinela lost her much loved Business Development role due to COVID-19. The next few months were eye opening to her and her husband, and led her to a new career in teaching— but not the kind you might think of! Her teaching role is in homeschooling her children.

Additionally, Marinela has been actively and increasingly serving her Church over the past six years. She currently serves as a Vice President for the AROLA committee, is involved with many of the larger programs, including the Romanian Festival, and most recently has been involved in the parish Sunday School. Having three little ones, it is very important to her now more than ever to be involved.

When she has free time (somewhat rarely as a mother of young children), Marinela has a passion for baking. In this phase of her life, she is very thankful for God providing what is needed in her family to make the right decisions.