CATHEDRAL NEWS Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral

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1 CATHEDRAL NEWS Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral Russell Street Worcester, Massachusetts September 2018 Parish Administration Fr. Dimitri Moraitis Cathedral Dean Fr. Nicholas Livingston Associate Priest Fr. Dean Paleologos Cathedral Dean Emeritus Dn. Andrew Giourelis Cathedral Deacon Alexandra Economou Cathedral Secretary Georgia Vanikiotis-Pechie Bookkeeper 2018 Parish Council Georgia Parafestas, President Michael Dionis, Vice President Efrosini Sue Kika, Secretary Nick Paleologos, Treasurer George Gourousis, Assistant Treasurer Dean Alexandrou Anthony Drapos George Fotos Aristotle Telly Kassos Christina Mitkonis Magdalini Moraitis George Panagiotopoulos Joan Theodoropoulos Mariana Vasilakeris Arthur Pirperis Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14) The Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross is celebrated each year on September 14. The Feast commemorates the finding of the True Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine. In the twentieth year of his reign (326), the Emperor Constantine sent his mother Saint Helen to Jerusalem to venerate the holy places and to find the site of the Holy Sepulchre and of the Cross. Relying upon the oral tradition of the faithful, Saint Helen found the precious Cross together with the crosses of the two thieves crucified with our Lord. However, Helen had no way of determining which was the Cross of Christ. With the healing of a dying woman who touched one of the crosses, Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem identified the True Cross of Christ. Saint Helen and her court venerated the Precious and Life-Giving Cross along with many others who came to see this great instrument of Redemption. The Patriarch mounted the ambo (pulpit) and lifted the Cross with both hands so that all of the people gathered could see it. The crowd responded with "Lord have mercy". This became the occasion of the institution in all of the Churches of the Exaltation of the Precious Cross, not only in memory of the event of the finding of the Cross, but also to celebrate how an instrument of shame was used to overcome death and bring salvation and eternal life. The Feast is an opportunity outside of the observances of Holy Week to celebrate the full significance of the victory of the Cross over the powers of the world, and the triumph of the wisdom of God through the Cross over the wisdom of this world. This Feast also gives the Church an opportunity to relish the full glory of the Cross as a source of light, hope and victory for Christ's people. It is also a time to celebrate the universality of the work of redemption accomplished through the Cross: the entire universe is seen through the light of the Cross, the new Tree of Life which provides nourishment for those who have been redeemed in Christ. (Continued on Page 2)

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Message From Father Dimitri 5....New Ministry Info Cathedral Calendar Parish Council & Financials Ministry Updates Summer Recap Altar Boys Fr. Nicholas Livingston Bible Study/Catechism Fr. Dimitri Moraitis Basketball George Leasca Helena Kiritsy Bookstore Dr. Matthew Panagiotu CARE Fr. Nicholas Livingston Georgia Kaouris Choir Nathan Reich Katherine Peepas Dance Program Olga Fotos GOYA Fr. Nicholas Livingston Georgia Parafestas Sophia Kimbouris Zoe Paleologos Greek School Rubina Kyriakidis MINISTRY LEADERS Holy Trinity Nursing Home Georgia Parafestas Michael Dionis Tina Niedbala Dean Alexandrou HOPE/JOY Ana Coulouras Colleen Giourelas Junior Choir Nathan Reich Little Angels Presvytera Flora Moraitis Orthodox Christian Fellowship Fr. Nicholas Livingston Philoptochos Jody Athanasiou Senior s Group Emmanuel Barris Sunday School Esther Comitas efstathia.comitas@eversource.com Stewardship Michael Moschos lawofficemcm@gmail.com Katina Cocavessis kcocavessis@gmail.com Young Adult Ministry Arsenia Moraitis Young Professionals Christina Mitkonis Continued from Page 1 The icon of the Feast of the Precious Cross tells the story of the finding of the Cross and of its Exaltation. Patriarch Macarius is standing in the pulpit elevating the Cross for all to see and venerate. On each side of the Patriarch are deacons holding candles. The elevated Cross is surrounded and venerated by many clergy and lay people, including Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine. On the day of the Feast at the conclusion of the Matins or of the Divine Liturgy, a special service is held. The Cross is placed on a tray surrounded by branches of basil and is taken in solemn procession through the church to the chanting of the Hymn of the Feast. The tray is placed on a table, and the priest takes the Cross and offers petitions from each side of the table, the four directions of the compass. This represents the universal nature of the offering of Christ upon the Cross. As the people respond by chanting "Lord have mercy", the priest raises and lowers the cross, a commemoration of its finding and exaltation. At the conclusion of the service, the people come and venerate the cross and receive the basil from the priest. The basil is used and offered, as it was the fragrant flower growing where the Cross was found. 2

3 FROM FR. DIMITRI Beloved, Do you know why September 1st marks the beginning of the church year? We are accustomed to think of January 1st as the beginning of the new year. But the tradition of computing the start of a new year with the fall season was common to the lands of the Bible and to all the lands around the Mediterranean. The summer harvest was at an end, the crops were stored, and people prepared for a new agricultural cycle. It was an appropriate time to begin a new year. When you think about it, this tradition still makes a lot of sense, at least for those who live in the northern hemisphere like us. The summer ends, vacations are normally over, schools open and we all get into the swing of another full year. The beginning of the ecclesiastical new year, should always prompt us to ask the question: What will this year bring? What opportunities and choices lie ahead? With what spirit, attitudes, values, and way of life will you meet the events and experiences of Fall, Winter, and the other seasons to come? One of the biggest obstacles we face in this world is complacency. We get comfortable in our ritualistic and routine lives, which is in conflict with the reality that we are in this world but not of this world. We are people created for the kingdom of God who are having an earthly experience. This is why the changing of the seasons and the festal season in the church year are always causing us to fast, or not to fast, to be joyous or to be sorrowful. They keep us on our spiritual toes and make us always ready to anticipate anything this world brings in a sense of preparedness for the Kingdom to come and eventually our earthly death. To this end, during this new ecclesiastical year we are introducing several new ministries in our cathedral community. First, we are starting a Care ministry. This ministry is geared to those who are in nursing homes or shut-in in their homes and cannot come to church. We are asking all who are interested in participating in visiting these souls to come to our first meeting, and be part of this outreach. Second, we are starting a ministry to young adults from college age to age 25. This will be an opportunity for our young people to participate in fellowship with each other, get to know each other, and grow in the faith. Third, we are also starting a young professionals ministry for those parishioners who have graduated from college, ages 26 and over, and are looking to meet other Orthodox Christians who share in their passion for the church and their Hellenic culture. Fourth, we are starting a junior choir, made up of our young people from third grade and on. They will be practicing twice a month following Sunday school and will learn the regular hymns of the divine liturgy. We are also starting 0CF ministries within college campuses here in Worcester, so those Orthodox Christians who are studying in our local institutions of higher learning will have the opportunity to grow in their faith as well. A blood drive has been scheduled for our community in September also. Please come and give the gift of life through your donation of blood or plasma. Finally, we are going to participate in a local Habitat for Humanity project for our young people and others who wish to come as well. These are just some of the many new ministries and activities that we will be participating in with our youth and with the rest of the community. As I mentioned before, we must never remain complacent in our faith and in our lives as Christians. May these new ministries and everything else we do in our community prompt you to become more active, not only in the life of our church, but in your own spiritual journey. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless you and your families with all the good things of this world and especially the wonderful blessings of the world to come. Father Dimtrios Moraitis 3

4 ΑΠΟ Π. ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙ Αγαπητοί Ξέρετε γιατί η 1η Σεπτεμβρίου σηματοδοτεί την αρχή της εκκλησιαστικής χρονιάς; Είμαστε συνηθισμένοι να σκεφτόμαστε την 1η Ιανουαρίου ως αρχή του νέου έτους. Αλλά η παράδοση υπολογίζει την έναρξη του νέου έτους στην φθινοπωρινή εποχή όπως συνήθως ήταν και για τη γη της Βίβλου και για όλη τη Μεσόγειο. Η καλοκαιρινή συγκομιδή τελείωσε, οι καλλιέργειες αποθηκεύτικαν και οι άνθρωποι προετοιμάζονται για ένα νέο γεωργικό κύκλο. Ήταν λοιπόν ο κατάλληλος χρόνος για να ξεκινήσει ένα νέο έτος. Όταν το σκεφτόμαστε αυτό με την παράδοση εξακολουθεί να έχει νόημα τουλάχιστον για οσους ζουν στο βόρειο ημισφαίριο όπως εμείς. Το καλοκαίρι φτάνει στο τελος, οι διακοπές τελειώνουν, τα σχολεία ανοίγουν και όλοι μας μπαίνουμε στην κούρσα ενός άλλου πλήρους νέου έτους. Η αρχή του νέου εκκλησιαστικού έτους πρέπει πάντα να μας παρακινεί να θέτουμε την ερώτηση: Τι θα φέρει αυτή η χρόνια; Τι ευκαιρίες και επιλογές βρίσκονται μπροστά μας; Με τι πνευματικές συμπεριφορές, αξίες και τρόπο ζωής θα αντιμετωπίσουμε τα γεγονότα και τις εμπειρίες του Φθινοπώρου, του Χειμώνα και υπολοίπων εποχών που θα έρθουν; Ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα εμπόδια που αντιμετωπίζουμε σε αυτόν τον κόσμο είναι ο εφησυχασμός. Γινόμαστε άνετοι στην τελετουργική και συνηθισμένη ζωή μας η οποία βρίσκεται σε αντίθεση με την πραγματικότητα το ότι είμαστε σε αυτόν τον κόσμο αλλά όχι για αυτόν τον κόσμο. Είμαστε άνθρωποι που δημιουργηθήκαμε για την Βασιλεία του Θεού με γήινη εμπειρία. Γι αυτο η αλλαγή των εποχών και της εκκλησιαστικής εορταστικής περιόδου προκαλεί πάντα τη γρήγορη ή μη γρήγορη, χαρούμενη η θλιβερή χρονιά. Τα πνευματικά μας καθήκοντά μας κάνουν να προβλέπουμε οτιδήποτε αυτός ο κόσμος φέρει σε μια αίσθηση ετοιμότητας για το οταν έρθει η Βασιλεία των Ουρανών και προφανώς ο γήινος θάνατος. Για το σκοπό αυτό η κοινότητα του καθεδρικού ναού μας κατά την διάρκεια αυτού του νέου εκκλησιαστικού έτους διοργανώνει πολλούς νέους οργανισμούς. 1) Φροντίδα για τους αδύναμους. Αυτός ο οργανισμός θα επισκέπτεται εκείνους τους ανθρώπους που βρίσκονται σε νοσηλευτικά ιδρύματα η στα σπίτια τους και δεν είναι σε θέση να έρθουν στην εκκλησία. Παρακαλούμε όλους οσοι ενδιαφέρονται να συμμετάσχουν σε αυτές τις επισκέψεις να έρθουν στην πρώτη μας συνεδρίαση 2) Οργανισμός νεαρών ενηλίκων. Αυτός ο οργανισμός περιλαμβάνει ενήλικες από ηλικία Κολλεγίου έως 25 ετών. Είναι μια ευκαιρία για τους νέους μας να γνωριστούν μεταξύ τους, να ανταλλάξουν γνώμες και ενδιαφέροντα και να αναπτύξουν την Ορθόδοξη πίστη. 3) Οργανισμός για νεαρούς επαγγελματίες. Αυτός ο οργανισμός είναι γι'αυτούς τους ενορίτες που έχουν αποφοιτήσειαπό το κολλέγιο ηλικίας 26 ετών και άνω και θέλουν να συναντήσουν άλλους ορθόδοξους χριστιανούς και να μοιραστούν το πάθος τους για την εκκλησία και την ελληνική κουλτούρα. 4) Οργανισμός νεανικής χορωδίας. Αυτός ο οργανισμός θα αποτελείται από παιδιά 3ης τάξης και άνω. Αυτά θα εκπαιδεύονται δύο φορές το μήνα Κυριακή μετά το κατηχητικό και θα μαθαίνουν συνηθισμένους ύμνους της Θείας Λειτουργίας. Επίσης θα αρχίσουμε τον οργανισμό OCF Αυτός ο οργανισμός θα γίνεται εδώ στο Worcester μέσα σε πανεπιστημιακά ιδρύματα και είναι για ορθόδοξους χριστιανούς ανωτέρας εκπαίδευσης και θα έχουν την ευκαιρία να αναπτύξουν την Ορθόδοξη πίστη. Επισης έχει προγραμματιστεί Αιμοδοσία τον Σεπτέμβριο στην κοινότητα μας. Παρακαλούμε να έρθετε και να δώσετε το δώρο ζωής μέσω της δωρεάς αίματος σας. Τέλος πρόκειται να συμμετάσχουμε σε ένα τοπικό έργο Habitat Humanity. Είναι για τους νέους μας και όσους θέλουν να πάρουν μέρος. Αυτοί είναι μόνο μερικοί από τους νέους οργανισμούς και μερικές δραστηριότητες στις οποίες θα συμμετάσχουμε με την νεολαία μας και την όλη την κοινότητα του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνος. Όπως ανέφερα προηγουμένως δεν πρέπει ποτέ να μείνουμε σε εφησυχασμό με την ζωή μας και την πίστη μας. Εύχομαι αυτοί οι καινούργιοι οργανισμοί και ότι άλλο κάνουμε στην κοινότητα μας να σας προτρέψει να γίνετε ποιο δραστήριοι όχι μόνο στην ζωή της εκκλησίας αλλά και στο δικό σας πνευματικό ταξίδι. Εύχομαι ο Κύριος και Σωτήρας μας Ιησούς Χριστός να ευλογεί εσάς και τις οικογένειές σας με όλα τα καλά αυτού του κόσμου και ιδιαίτερα για τον κόσμο που έρχεται υπέροχες ευλογίες Πατήρ Δημήτριος Μωραΐτης 4

5 NEW MINISTRIES Dear Parish Family, We are extremely excited to announce the formation of a number of new ministries. These will provide important demographics with opportunities to grow in their faith and continue to have the chance to be involved in the life of our community. If you feel inspired to help organize any of these ministries, please contact the office. We are always looking for loving and motivated volunteers to help run the wonderful ministries of our Church. CARE MINISTRY This Ministry will be an opportunity for our faithful and loving parishioners to take part in visiting members of our community who are unable to join us on Sundays. These people living in their homes or care facilities are important members of our parish family and deserve to be loved and cared for the same way as all of us. To this end, we will have a regular schedule for our lay volunteers to visit these people, bringing them a Sunday bulletin, antidoron, and companionship. Fr Dimitri and Fr Nicholas will be visiting periodically also, providing the sacraments to them. ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP We are excited to announce the formation of an Orthodox Christian Fellowship for the Worcester Area! OCF is an Orthodox campus ministry that provides social, liturgical, and educational opportunities for Orthodox Christians of all jurisdictions to come join together and grow closer to each other and Christ. We will be reaching out to all colleges in the area and can use everyone s help to identify and reach out to any college students you are aware of in the Worcester area. YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY Calling all college students through 25 year olds. The time has finally arrived...a youth program is finally here for you! A time and place where you can all meet, re-meet and have a great time getting to know one another in an environment where you are all comfortable and can relax and enjoy. What is the best place to meet other Greek Orthodox teens your age than through the church? There will be parties, bowling nights, movie nights and so much more! We need you to come by and tell us what you would like from this ministry. If you are a go-getter, join the committee to help with planning! Come by the Young Adult League table on Ministry Sunday, September 9th to sign-up, say hi. First meeting of the year will be held in October, so keep your eyes and ears open! YOUNG PROFESSIONALS You asked, and we have answered. A new ministry is beginning for those who are single, 26 years of age and older. It is the Young Greek Professionals. This ministry is for those young adults who have graduated from college and are working full-time, and are wanting to meet others who are young professionals, finished with school, and working full-time. Events planned will range from cocktails and hors d oeuvres at the church, concerts, parties, bowling nights, and any other events you wish to plan. We hope to have our first meeting in October, where ideas can be presented, you can meet the Board and volunteer to help with an event. Please come by our table on Ministry Sunday, September 9, to get more information, and fill out a registration form so we can be able to contact you. Please reach out to Presvytera Flora Moraitis for more information via at Presfloram@charter.net or by phone at (home) 5

6 Orthros 8:15am Divine Liturgy 9:30am Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:45am Sunday School Regis- Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:45am 1st Day Sunday School Boy s Basketball Boy s Basketball Boy s Basketball Greek School Agias- Boy s Basketball GOYA Board Meeting Philoptochos Welcome GOYA 6:30pm Girl s Basketball Little Angles 1:30pm Philoptochos Board Girl s Basketball 8pm Greek School Regis- CARE Ministry 6pm Bible Study/Orthodoxy Greek School Regis- Hellenic Arts Society Philoptochos Holy Parish Council 7pm Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am HOPE/JOY 5:30pm Food Pantry 10am Food Pantry 10am Hellenic Arts Icon Food Pantry 10am SEPTEMBER Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9 MINISTRY SUNDAY 16 tration 23 Divine Liturgy 9:45am GOYA Car Wash 30 Divine Liturgy 9:45am Practice 6:30pm Practice 6:30pm Practice 6:30pm mos Practice 6:30pm Nativity of Theotokos Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am Food Pantry 10am Feeding Ministry11:30am pm Back Dinner 6pm 8pm 6:30pm tration 4pm 101 7pm 26 John the Theologian Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am Stewardship 7pm tration 4pm 7pm Trinity Coffee 2pm 14 Exaltation of Holy Cross Outing 1pm 6

7 Boy s Basketball Church Office No Greek School Boy s Basketball Boy s Basketball Boy s Basketball GOYA 6:30pm Philoptochos 7pm Girl s Basketball Girl s Basketball GOYA 6:30PM Girl s Basketball Little Angels 1:30pm Girl s Basketball GOYA 6:30pm Philoptochos Board Girl s Basketball Bible Study 7pm Stewardship 7pm Hellenic Arts 7pm Parish Council 7pm Philoptochos Holy HOPE/JOY 5:30pm Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am Food Pantry 10am Food Pantry 10am Feeding Ministry Food Pantry 10am Food Pantry 10am Peter Leasca Charity OCTOBER Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Divine Liturgy 9:45am 14 Divine Liturgy 9:45am Project Mexico Lunch 21 Divine Liturgy 9:45am 28 FAMILY WORSHIP Divine Liturgy 9:45am Greek School OXI Day Celebration Philoptochos Bake Sale 1 6:30pm 8 COLUMBUS DAY Closed 6:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm pm 8pm 8pm 8pm 6:30pm 8pm Trinity Lunch 11:30am 5 6 APOSTLE THOMAS DEMETRIOS THE GREAT MARTYR :30am Basketball Game 12pm 7

8 NOVEMBER Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Divine Liturgy 9:45am 11 Divine Liturgy 9:45am 18 Divine Liturgy 9:45am GOYA Pie Bake Sale 25 FAMILY WORSHIP Divine Liturgy 9:45am 5 Boy s Basketball Practice 6:30pm No Greek School 12 Boy s Basketball Practice 6:30pm 19 Boy s Basketball Practice 6:30pm 26 Boy s Basketball Practice 6:30pm 6 GOYA 6:30pm Philoptochos 7pm Girl s Basketball Practice 8pm 13 John Chrysostom Divine Liturgy 9:30am Girl s Basketball Practice 8pm 20 Little Angels 1:30pm Girl s Basketball Practice 8pm 27 Philoptochos Board 6:30pm Girl s Basketball Practice 8pm 7 Bible Study 7pm 14 Ministry Leader s Meeting 7pm Stewardship 6pm 21 Entrance of Theotokos Divine Liturgy 9:30am No Greek School 28 1 Cosmas & Damianos Divine Liturgy 9:30am 8 Synaxis of Archangels Divine Liturgy 9:30am Hellenic Arts 7pm 15 Philoptochos Holy Trinity Coffee 2pm Parish Council 7pm THANKSGIVING OFFICE CLOSED Nektarios of Aegina Divine Liturgy 9:30am 16 Apostle Matthew Divine Liturgy 9:30am HOPE/JOY 5:30pm GOYA Pie Baking 7pm Food Pantry 10am Hellenic Art Dinner Dance 6pm 10 Arsenios the Great Divine Liturgy 9:30am Food Pantry 10am Feeding Ministry 11:30am Wedding Seminar 12pm Apostle Andrew Divine Liturgy 9:30am GOYA Boxing Pies 9am Food Pantry 10am Epirotic Dance 7pm Food Pantry 10am 8

9 HOPE/JOY 5:30PM DECEMBER Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Divine Liturgy 9:45am 9 Divine Liturgy 9:45am Parish Council Elections 16 Stewardship Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:45am Vasilopita Bake Sale 23 Divine Liturgy 9:45am Sunday School Christmas Pageant 30 Family Worship Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:45am 3 Boy s Basketball Practice 6:30pm 10 Boy s Basketball Practice 6:30pm 17 Boy s Basketball Practice 6:30pm 24 Royal Hours for Christmas Eve 8:30am Orthros 5:45pm Divine Liturgy for Christmas Eve 7pm 31 4 Barbara Great Martyr Divine Liturgy 9:30am GOYA 6:30PM Philoptochos 7pm Girl s Basketball 11 Great Vespers w/ Metropolitan Methodios 7pm 18 Little Angels 1:30pm GOYA 6:30pm Girl s Basketball Practice 8pm 25 CHRISTMAS DAY Divine Liturgy 9:30am 5 Nicholas Wonderworker Divine Liturgy 9:30am 12 Spyridon Wonderworker Divine Liturgy 9:30am Philoptochos Vasilopita Prep 4:30pm OFFICE CLOSED 6 13 Philoptochos Vasilopita Baking 8am Philoptochos Holy Trinity Luncheon 11:30am Parish Council 7pm Hellenic Arts 7pm 20 Greek School Christmas Program 4pm Food Pantry 10am Breakfast w/ Santa 9am Food Pantry 10am Food Pantry 10am Food Pantry 10am Food Pantry 10am 9

10 ST. SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL BURN THE MORTGAGE CAMPAIGN Burn the Mortgage Committee Rev. Dr. Dimitrios Moraitis, Dean Demetrios Moschos, Chairman Georgia Parafestas, Parish Council President & Co-Chair Dr. Matthew Panagiotu, Co-Chair Janice Dionis Michael Dionis George Fotiades George Gourousis Celeste Moschos Nicholas Paleologos $1,450,000 $514, Pledged $323, received Thank You! 3 Year Pledge Amount Annually Monthly $15,000 $5,000 $416 $3,000 $1,000 $83 $1,000 $333 $28 Total Cost of Family Center Renovation $4,100,000 Total raised by our community during first fund drive $2,650,000 Remaining Loan Balance to be paid $935,455 Treasurer s Corner: Dear All, We have completed the refinance of the Church Mortgage and paid the balance down to $900,000. Our new payment is $5,633 versus the old payment of $10,200. Although this gives us some needed breathing room in our annual budget, our goal will be to continue paying the principle down aggressively. Thank you to everyone that has contributed to either the original Family Center Capital Campaign or to the current Burn the Mortgage Campaign. Sincerely, Nick Paleologos 10

11 PARISH COUNCIL Dear Fellow Parishioners, I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather and is taking some time to rest and rejuvenate as we are approaching the beginning of the new school year. First and foremost, I wish to applaud all the volunteers who helped make this year s Grecian Festival one of the most successful ever, raising over $140,000! We were so blessed with three full days of sunshine and clear skies! Everyone was enjoying the traditional Souvlaki and Gyro for dinner with delicious loukoumades and ice cold Frappes for dessert! We could have not accomplished being so successful without the love, dedication and commitment from all of our volunteers, and for that we are forever grateful. This year, we have also been blessed to have ended the preschool year as one of its most successful ever this truly speaks to the hard work and commitment of the Preschool Director, Lori Picard and staff. Enrollment was higher than it has ever been which was clearly evident when you walked into the building. The Cathedral was filled with vibrant children laughing and playing. Their smiling faces added a warmth to the entire building. Additionally, our summer program has also enjoyed full enrollment. At this point, our Preschool is ready to open its doors to new and returning students in a clean, and welcoming environment; our wonderful cleaning staff and House Committee Chair worked diligently to make sure that the children are returning to classrooms with shining floors and freshly painted walls. Words of appreciation belong to Andreas, Joe, and Mike Dionis! This past May, we joined His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios at the Clergy-Laity Award Dinner to honor and celebrate our award recipient Maria Stefanakos, who has tirelessly dedicated her time and talents to our Cathedral over the decades. Congratulations Maria! In June, our Cathedral honored High School and College graduates and presented them with an icon that they can each keep sacred in their rooms. Best wishes for wonderful beginnings for all who graduated! On a final note, we urge you to consider joining the Parish Council as well as any of the committees that are being established to enhance the life of our church. In early September during Ministry Sunday, be sure to stop by and sign up for any of the committees which interest you. Parish Council elections are held in December and we would love to welcome new candidates joining in our pursuit to make our church community a better place to be. Yours in Christ, Georgia Parafestas Parish Council President Week 2018 Stewardship Progress Report 2018 Total Pledges Received: 461 *GOAL Stewardship Budget $ Average/Pledge: $ $ 198, $310, Similar things happen in almsgiving and in Holy Communion. In Holy Communion we receive the Living Lord Christ Himself, in the form of bread and wine; in almsgiving we give to the Living Lord Christ Himself, in the form of the poor and needy. + St. Nikolai Velimirovich 11

12 STEWARDSHIP Our Stewardship Committee is hard at work brainstorming new ways to ensure the future of our community. We meet regularly once per month and discuss what we have been doing, what we can do better, and what we can change. It is our hope to include as many people from across the various groups of our community as part of this committee so that we can gain a more complete understanding of the needs of our Cathedral Family and hear ideas from fresh and knowledgeable voices. If you are interested in joining this committee, please speak with Fr Dimitri or Michael Moschos to learn more about what we do and how you can offer your talents. ~ Stewardship Committee Please make every effort to complete your Stewardship commitment for 2018! The Lord tells us, It is better to give than to receive for in giving to the Church, we store up treasures in Heaven. May God bless your hands and grow our ministry! 12

13 GOYA Our GOYA had a wonderful time last year! We did many exciting events and learned a lot about our faith. We are always sad to say goodbye to our graduating GOYAns, but we know you are going on to exciting opportunities at college and life after High School. Looking to the coming year, we are proud to announce our new officers for : Dimitri Gaitanidis President, Christina Tonna Vice-President, Sophie Zahariades Treasurer, Effie Paleologos Secretary. Please congratulate these leaders of our community and encourage them as they grow. Our first meeting of the year will be on Tuesday, September 6:30pm-8pm. We will have some food, get to know one another, and just spend some time together. We hope you are all as excited as we on the GOYA Board are for this to begin! A message from our GOYA President: Hello Fellow Parishioners, GOYA or Greek Orthodox Youth Association is the ministry which helps teenagers further their relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and the Greek Orthodox Faith. GOYA meets twice a month on Tuesdays nights and is open to anyone in the grades 7 through 12. As a group we do a variety of religious, cultural and social activities to enhance our knowledge about our faith. Under the guidance of Fr. Dimitri and Fr. Nicholas and our advisors, GOYA has become a way for many to meet new friends, and for new experiences in a very warm and devoted environment. If there are any questions, please contact Fr. Nicholas Livingston frnicholas.livingston@gmail.com or Dimitri: dimitriosgaitanidis@gmail.com We hope to see you all this September! Dimitri Gaitanidis GOYA Pres DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE The Daughters of Penelope, a part of the AHEPA family, promotes hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence. The Daughters of Penelope not only helps through monetary contributions, they also organize educational programs, award scholarships, help the less fortunate, support their local church, and make a worthwhile difference within their community. The Worcester Chapter of the Daughters of Penelope welcomes women to join our chapter who are committed to our mission. We host two bake sales each year; poinsettia sales during the holidays in memory or in health of a loved one - we decorate our cathedral each year at Christmastime with these beautiful plants; we also host a fundraiser or two. We also have some fun and fellowship in between - an annual Christmas Party and year end dinner - held at various restaurant venues in the area. Last year a group of us attended "A Christmas Carol" at the Hanover Theater preceded by brunch at Via Restaurant". 13

14 HOPE/JOY Our JOY& HOPE ministries had a wonderful year so far. The youth were involved in some very special activities this Spring. We started off with preparations for Easter. Prior to witnessing the joy of the Resurrection, members of our group participated in the events of Palm crosses folding, decorating of Epitaphios and Holy week processions. Following Easter, we attended our annual field trip. This year's choice was sports day at Sky Zone. This was a real treat for all since the group worked hard at our October bake sale to raise funds for this trip. Our meetings for this calendar year ended earlier than usual due to the Grecian Festival. At our last meeting Father Nicholas taught us about the life of St. Constantine and Helen. Also, we planted seeds of the basil plant as a symbol of our growing faith. We will resume after the summer break, in September. You are welcome to join us, and if you would like more information, please contact Ana or Colleen The Junior Orthodox Youth (JOY) group of our Cathedral is a wonderful program for children in grades 3-6 (ages 7-12). The Hellenic Orthodox Primary Education (HOPE) group is open to children in grades kindergarten through second grade. The JOY&HOPE ministries meet together once a month, on Friday evening, for 1 1/2 hours. The JOY& HOPE meeting is an opportunity to participate in fellowship with peers and adult advisors who offer guidance in experiencing and exploring the orthodox faith. We begin each meeting with a prayer and lesson provided by Fr. Dimitri and Fr Nicholas. Usually snacks and refreshments are offered and a craft or activity that coordinates with the theme of the night. Besides regular meetings, we offer seasonal activities, field trips and community/charity projects. Currently, we have twenty eight children registered in our program and we are constantly growing. ALTAR BOYS Our Altar Boys have been dedicated to helping our clergy during the services. They come faithfully and serve with attention and interest. Please encourage them in this ministry. As always, we will be recruiting new altar boys at the Ministry Fair on Sunday, September 9th. Be sure to speak with Fr Nicholas about the possibility of joining the ranks of Altar Boys. Any boys 5th grade (13 years old) or older are welcome to involve themselves. We will be holding a training session in September to orient new Altar Boys and remind the current ones of how we serve. We will also be hosting an Altar Boy Retreat at the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross Seminary in Brookline, MA. The details are forthcoming, so look out for more information! 14

15 LITTLE ANGELS Dear Little Angels parents, Welcome to the ecclesiastical Little Angels year! For the current members, we look forward to seeing you again. For the new members, we look forward to meeting you and your child (ren). Little Angels is a youth group formed for our youngest members of the parish...birth through 5 years of age. As of now, we will be meeting once a month. However if we see a need to meet more often, we can certainly do that! Here is a list of our current meeting dates: Tuesday, September 25, 1:30 pm Tuesday, October 23, 1:30 pm Tuesday, November 20, 1:30pm Tuesday, December 1:30pm Come by our table on Ministry Sunday to say Hello, ask questions, and pick up/fill out a registration form. We are so thankful to Elizabeth Markopoulos for spearheading this ministry the past several years. She needs to focus on her schoolwork and is therefore unable to continue in this role. Your leadership has been inspirational and we will miss you! GOYA BASKETBALL Hello Basketball players! Boy s and Girls alike will have the opportunity to play basketball throughout the year with a few special events coming up. Once again, George Leasca will be coaching the boy s team and Helena Kiritsy will be leading the girl s team. We made a great start last year in our Metropolis GOYA league and hope to build on that experience with new players. GOYA High School Boy s Basketball Tryouts will be held Monday, September 6:30pm in the Church Hall. Also please save the date for the Peter Leasca Charity Game on Saturday, October 1pm & 2:30pm in our Church Hall. The JOY and GOYA boys from St. Demetrios in Weston, MA will be coming to join us at this great event. This year fund-raising campaign will be split equally between Assisting Victims of the Fires in GREECE & PENELOPE s PLACE, which is a Domestic Violence Shelter in Massachusetts for battered & Abused Women & families Please feel free to make a contribution to St Spyridon Cathedral, with a notation for the Charity Game. Thank You! 15

16 Αγαπητοί Γονείς και Κηδεμόνες, ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ ΑΠΟΓΕΥΜΑΤΙΝΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΊΟ ΑΓΙΟΣ ΣΠΥΡΙΔΩΝ ΣΧΟΛ. ΕΤΟΣ Με μεγάλη χαρά σας κάνουμε γνωστό ότι. Οι εγγραφές του Σχολείου μας θα γίνουν την Τετάρτη, 12 Σεπτεμβρίου και Πέμπτη, 13 Σεπτεμβρίου Εις την αίθουσα ΤΟΝΝΑ του Καθεδρικού μας Ναού. Το Eλληνικό σχολείο, όλοι ξέρουμε είναι το φυτώριο όπου το κάθε παιδί θα μάθει τις ρίζες και την ανεπανάληπτη ιστορία της Ελλάδας. Τα ήθη, τα έθιμα και την παράδοση των προγόνων του. Την πνευματική κληρονομιά της Ελληνικής φυλής. Σας Περιμένουμε! Σας Ευχαριστούμε Dear Parents and Guardians, We are pleased to announce that: GREEK AFTERNOON SCHOOL SAINT SPYRIDON The Registration of our Greek Afternoon School will take place on Wednesday, September 12 and Thursday, September 13, from 4:00-5:30pm, at the Tonna Room The Greek School, we all know is the nursery where every child will learn the roots and the unique history of Hellas. The customs and traditions of his/her ancestors. The Spiritual Heritage of the Hellenic Race. We are waiting for you!!! Thank You 16

17 GREEK SCHOOL GRADUATION Congratulations to our 2018 Greek School Graduates! We had a beautiful program filled with poems and singing by all the children. We are so proud of your efforts to learn our rich cultural history! ΜΠΡΑΒΟ ΣΑΣ! 17

18 CHOIR Our Cathedral senior choir was revived last fall and was under the capable direction of Nathan Reich. Rehearsals started last August of 2017 and continued throughout the year. Our small group of members were very dedicated and committed to singing on Sunday mornings. Senior choir will begin singing again on Ministry Sunday, Sept.9 th with a rehearsal at 9AM in the Preschool hall below the church. This upcoming year we hope to bring in more new members, both male and female. In addition to our senior choir, we have the goal of starting a youth choir. Sign ups for both will take place on Ministry Sunday, Sept. 9 th after the Liturgy. Come visit and meet our director and other members. All are welcome. The youth choir will first meet on Sept. 16 th after the Liturgy in the Preschool hall below the church. SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday School begins the school year on Sunday, September 16th. Our kids can head to their classes immediately following Communion. We are so excited to continue learning about our faith and how it can help us every day. A new part of our Sunday School offerings this year will be scheduled days for parents to join their children in class to see what and how they learn. Sunday School is a beautiful and important ministry of our community and we thank our teachers for their dedication to planning and teaching lessons. We also urge our parents to reinforce the lessons your kids learn in Sunday School, so that you can learn together and remember the lessons. Below is the Sunday School Schedule, including Family Worship Sundays, on which there will be no Sunday School, to allow families to worship together throughout the entire service. Sunday School Calendar: October 28th, Family Worship November 25th - Family Worship December 16th - Christmas Party December 23rd - Christmas Pageant December 30th - Family Worship January 27th, Family Worship February 17th - Family Worship March 17th - Icon Procession March 24th -Family Worship April 14th - Family Worship April 21st - Palm Sunday Activity April 28 - Pascha May 26th - Family Worship June 2nd - Last Day of Class June 9th - Graduation Let everything take second place to our care of our children, our bringing them up to the discipline and instruction of the Lord. If from the beginning we teach them to love true wisdom, they will have great wealth and glory than riches can provide. ~ St. John Chrysostom 18

19 PHILOPTOCHOS The Saint Spyridon Ladies Philoptochos Society celebrated year-end with a special dinner for all members acknowledging their hard work throughout the year. On May 1, we culminated our year with a potluck dinner prepared by our Philoptochos Board and special friends of the ministry. The resulting dinner was nothing short of outstanding and included specialty dishes prepared with love. It served as a gesture of gratitude to all of the generous volunteers who helped us all year. In July, Philoptochos leadership attended the 2018 Clergy Laity Congress in Boston. It was an opportunity to meet other chapters, network and exchange ideas. We returned with a renewed sense of purpose and practical ideas to implement for the coming year. The rest of the summer served as a brief respite for us before the start our official ministry year in September with a Welcome Back Dinner. The Welcome Back Dinner will be held on September 11, at 6:00 pm and is priced at a modest $10.00 for appetizers, dinner, dessert and beverages. We have much in store for the coming philanthropic year and I encourage you to watch for our new calendar as soon as it is finalized. Membership in Philoptochos is $35.00 per year. General meetings are on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm. Please find a membership application here or on our Philoptochos page on the St. Spyridon website. A heartfelt thank you to all who volunteered for our baking, the festival preparation and for our many fundraisiers. We are looking forward to another successful year so come join us! 19

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21 PROJECT MEXICO Our team from St. Spyridon joined up with several other groups at Project Mexico in Tijuana, Mexico to help build a home for a family in need. They had a great experience and were so honored to serve in this way, providing safety and housing for these people. We pray that the good people at Project Mexico will continue to be blessed by our Good God as they carry out His commands to love and serve His people. Thank you to everyone from our parish who went this year. Look forward to a presentation of pictures, videos, and testimonials from this trip! 21

22 CLERGY-LAITY CONGRESS This year the biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America came to Boston, Massachusetts. This event was an impressive gathering of clergy and laity throughout the country, all coming together to discuss the difficulties, joys, challenges, and plans for the Archdiocese. It is always a blessing to see so many faithful Christians in one place, and we are blessed to have had the opportunity to help in hosting this event in our Metropolis of Boston. Our Parish of St. Spyridon sent a number of delegates, who attended keynote speeches, lectures, and workshops throughout the week. They learned a great deal about the forthcoming youth protection policies of the Archdiocese, fresh ideas for stewardship, plans for Philoptochos outreach, among other things. Our own Nicholas Paleologos spoke at the special event on the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross. Nicholas is a member of the Alumni Board for HCHC and has been a faithful and dedicated servant of our community and the Church at large for many years. Fr Dimitri was present as our clergy representative and found the week extremely helpful. Georgia Parafestas joined Nick Paleologos as delegates to learn and vote on motions throughout the week. Many thanks to Jody Athanasiou, Amy Kalogeropoulos, Irene Stefanakos, and Dimitri & Celeste Moschos for also attending and representing our Cathedral Community so well. 22

23 GRECIAN FESTIVAL 2018 Just as every other year, June of 2018 saw our St. Spyridon Grecian Festival come to life. This year s event was a tremendous success, just as it always is. Perhaps even more important than the financial help the Festival is the outreach, hospitality, and camaraderie it offers to every person who walks through the doors. Thank you to all our volunteers, dancers, greeters, cooks, and every who helped in any way! We would like to remember, honor, and thank Peter Kasidakos and Jimmy Voyiatzis for all the time, dedication, and love they gave to our Festival over the years. Our Good Lord took both of them this summer and we will forever miss their presence and their smiles, Peter at the Loukoumades booth and Jimmy at the food lines and in the kitchen. Αιωνία σας η μνήμνη! May their memories be eternal! 23

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25 Thank you to all our volunteers and chairpeople for your help with a wonderful Grecian Festival 2018! 25

26 Thank you to all our volunteers and chairpeople for your help with a wonderful Grecian Festival 2018! 26

27 St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral CATHEDRAL N E W S Advertise in the Cathedral News! Place your business ad in the St. Spyridon Cathedral News today. It will be seen four times per year by more than 1,000 families. 1/8 page (business card) 1/4 page 1/2 page Full page Full page (one time only) $100 $150 $250 $500 $150 All rates are annual (4 times) Benefits of advertizing with us: Increase your business visibility with the Greek-American community in Central Massachusetts Effectively reach targeted prospects, customers, and potential partners Cost-effectively maximize your exposure as far as Framingham, West Brookfield, Marlborough, and Webster Increase your return and enhance your relationship with potential customers Supplement your stewardship to your church and your community Complement your direct marketing campaign or your company s outreach campaigns Express your community pride Convenient electronic submission to frnicholas.livingston@gmail.com Contact Name Business Address Phone 1/8 page (business card) 1/4 page 1/2 page Full page (annual) Full page (one time only) The Cathedral News is published quarterly. Issue Date Submission Deadline April June March 28 July September June 28 October December September 28 Please submit your one year commitment, advertisement, this form, and payment to: St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral 102 Russell Street Worcester, MA Credit Card # Exp. Date Signature 27

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