Father Romanos Stergiou Parish Priest Phone: Mobile:

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1 Jun-July 2018 Περιοδικό τῆς Ἐνορίας-Κοινότητος Ἁγίας Ἄννας, Χρυσή Ἀκτή Newsletter of the Greek Orthodox Parish- Community of St Anna, Gold Coast 31 a Crombie Ave, Bundall PO Box 5074 GCMC Qld 9726 (07) , admin@gocstanna.org If you would like to receive the Phos in colour by send your address to admin@gocstanna.org PRESIDENT S REPORT This year is a very special year for St Anna, as it is the 30 year anniversary of our magnificent permanent Church. We will be celebrating this event in November and will be forwarding all the relevant information to you at a later date. The community began with a donation of land to St Anna by Peter and Betty Vaggelas. This land now holds the community centre and the driveway and carpark leading to the Church. Peter worked tirelessly with his committee, ladies auxiliary and volunteers to establish the community centre. Our first Church was a section of the community centre where the offices are now placed. The land where our existing Church now stands, and another parcel of land, were donated by Jim and Helen Raptis who also donated 80% of the cost and supervision of the building of our beautiful Church. Jim was President of the community at this time and he, his committee and Ladies Auxiliary also worked tirelessly for this to materialise. We are a blessed community who must thank and acknowledge all of our Church s benefactors for without their assistance we would not be in the position we are today. We look forward to the 30th anniversary of our existing St Anna church and welcoming you all. We would like to thank everyone who donated to the Fire Appeal. Our community is forwarding $ A magnificent amount for a small community. The people of the Northern Rivers organised a separate collection and this has been forwarded to the Archdiocese. St. Anna s Day was a huge success with over 220 parishioners attending. We thank our special guests, Father Nicholas Brown and Presvytera Maria, Father Raymond Smith and Presvytera Alison and Mrs Betty Vaggelas for their attendance. Our dancing teachers Mrs Sally Cominos-Dakin and Mrs Effie Petridis-Alvanos have done a wonderful job with our youth; their performances on the day were outstanding. Great job ladies and to our dancers, you performed beautifully! Well done. St George is holding an Evening with Dance Performances on Saturday 1 st September. All profits from this event are for the Fire Appeal. The senior Gold Coast Dancers will be one of the groups performing. Please ring St George directly if you wish to attend and for more details. The committee wish to thank Theo Kalaitzidis, his sister and staff, the professional cleaners of our community, for the all the work that they do above and beyond the call of duty. Theo does many, many more hours of work than he is paid for, for the benefit of the community, and for this we are ever grateful. Thank you Theo. Coming up September 9 St Anna s Feast Day 20 Ladies Morning Tea October 1 Fr Roman s Name Day Morning Tea CHURCH SERVICES See Insert or go to our website Father Romanos Stergiou Parish Priest Phone: Mobile: father@gocstanna.org Office Hours: Tuesdays 10am-12pm, Wednesdays 4.30pm-7pm and Fridays 5-7pm. Please ring for an appointment.

2 Page 2 ST ANNA S DAY- July The Ladies Auxiliary was especially honoured this year to welcome just over 200 people who came to celebrate the Feast Day of St Anna s on Sunday July 22 nd, the Sunday just prior to the actual day. We will continue to select the Sunday prior for our celebratory lunch so there is no clash with St Paraskevi s Feast Day. That decision enables us to attend their Church service and it enables them to attend our service. Our three dancing groups took part in the celebration and we thank their teachers who are helping the dancers to progress beautifully. We are grateful to all who kindly donated raffle prizes, who assisted the Auxiliary with preparation of the food and the sweets that were sold after the Liturgy. Lastly, thank you to all our local parishioners who attended on the day. Kai tou hronou! BUS TRIPS TO ST PARASKEVI AND TO THE DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS The Ladies Auxiliary organised buses to take our parishioners and visitors to celebrate each of these Feast Days St Paraskevi and the LADIES AUXILIARY Dormition of the Theotokos. We thank both communities for their welcoming hospitality. Please note that ever since the buses have been going to Brisbane over many years the Ladies Auxiliary has always paid the shortfall often quite substantial amounts. Though we are pleased to provide this service we really encourage people who are able to go, to take advantage of the bus offered. In the future, when the bus fare is collected, we will also collect the money for the lunch in Brisbane. This smooths the entry to each Feast Day luncheon. COMING EVENTS 30 th ANNIVERSARY CELE- BRATION OF OUR CHURCH It is a tremendous milestone and we wish to celebrate! Our existing St Anna Church turns 30 this year and a celebratory function is being organised. The date (likely beginning of November) and further details will come to you once we receive confirmations. STS JOACHIM AND ANNA Sunday, September 9 After the Liturgy in celebration of St Anna s Day, loukoumades will be sold to our congregation in our Community Centre. Everyone is very welcome to come together after Church to celebrate one of our Church s Feast Days. MORNING TEA & FUN FASHION SHOW Thursday 20 th September 10.30am to 12.30pm The Ladies Auxiliary warmly thanks Mrs Stella Tirovolis for the kind offer of her home for our next morning tea on Thursday 20 th September. On the day there will be a fun fashion presentation. We invite you to attend and bring your friends for a relaxing morning with Greek treats at morning tea. Ticket price will be $30. Bookings are essential and are to be made at the Community office Please keep this morning aside to attend. Address and a reminder will be sent soon. FATHER ROMAN S NAME DAY- MORNING TEA Monday, October 1 With great joy, we will celebrate Father Roman on his Name Day on Monday October 1 st. The Ladies Auxiliary will offer morning tea after the Liturgy. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you are able to bring a plate of savoury or sweet that would be appreciated. OXI DAY October Details will be sent once confirmed. HIGH TEA - November Our High Tea will be held in November. The date will be announced in the next Phos along with the name of the exciting speaker we have invited.

3 Page 3 Our Intermediate and Junior Dancers performing at the St. Anna s day luncheon. INFORMATION FOR WAKES AND MEMORIALS For information on wakes and memorials, catering and costing, please contact: Thalia Zakos on or Sandra Voukelatos on To arrange for Kollyva, contact Cathy Walker on You must give two weeks notice Memorials with Kollyva can not be conducted between the Sat. of Lazarus and the Sun. of St. Thomas; on the major feast days of our Lord and the Parish Church nor on the 15th Aug, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. How do We Relate to God? SPIRITUAL CORNER Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting. (St. Gennadius of Constantinople, The Golden Chain, 14) Having God, fear nothing, but cast all of your care upon Him, and He will take care of you. Believe undoubtingly, and God will help you according to His mercy. (St. Barsanuphius the Great, Instructions, 166) You must love every man with your whole soul, but put your hope in the one God, and serve Him alone. For as long as He is protecting us and our friends (the angels) are helping us, our enemies (the demons) cannot inflict evil upon us. But when He forsakes us, the also our friends turn away from us, and our enemies receive power over us. St. Maximus Confessor, Chapters on Love, 4.95) If a man has no worries about himself at all for the sake of love toward God and the working of good deeds, knowing that God is taking care of him, this is a true and wise hope. But if a man takes care of his own business and turns to God in prayer only when misfortunes come upon him which are beyond his power, and then he begins to hope in God, such a hope is vain and false. A true hope seeks only the Kingdom of God... the heart can have no peace until it obtains such a hope. This hope pacifies the heart and produces joy within it. (St. Seraphim of Sarov, Works, 4)

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7 Page 7 Greek School Report After the end of our 2 week holiday break we are recharged and ready for another busy semester. The first semester ended with the students taking end of term exams to assess the knowledge and skills they have gained through the class. They were given end of term report cards to provide students and parents with comprehensive information about the students progress. This term we will continue our focus on engaging our students in exciting educational experiences. Following the Greek LOTE Scope and Sequence students will study specific themes during which they will be introduced to language and grammar related to the theme. This term we will also explore some of the best-known tales from Greek mythology. In October students will participate in the AHEPA competition with awards given to students completing the best work. Our enrolments are on-going throughout the year. Vicky Giannopoulou Principal Greek Ethnic School of St Anna Gold Coast Our Intermediate and Senior St Anna Dancers recently performed at the Bribie Island Greek Festival.

8 Page 8 Senior Citizens We meet at our Hall at am on Tuesdays. BYO Food The Senior Citizens joined with members of the parish/community of St Anna in our hall for a luncheon in celebration of St Anna s day. The Ladies Auxiliary prepared a lovely lunch and the Senior Citizens Club discounted the lunch to $15 for their members. Θά συναντηθούμε στο χώλ μας 10,30 π.μ. με τα φαγητά μας Citizens committee for a number of years. Sophia has resigned and we wish her all the very best for the future. A Trip Down Memory Lane During July the Seniors had a pizza, ice cream and lemon soft drink for lunch supplied by the club. With the winter season we have had a number of visitors from Melbourne and Sydney who were escaping the cold weather down South. We thank them for their visit and hope they enjoyed their time with us. The Senior Citizens offer everyone who has had a birthday or name day recently their best wishes. We would like to thank Sophia Dinas who has been a hard working member of the Senior Providing Home Care Packages: Providing in home services for ACAT approved seniors Supporting your lifestyle needs and helping you stay in your home longer. For Enquiries contact Julie Firth or Kellie Burr on (07) Mon Fri. GOC Care Day Respite Centre for adults: 60 to 65years, with disabilities (chronic pain, vision or hearing loss, chronic illness etc) over age 65 years who are frail, have chronic conditions or are socially isolated caring for spouses or adult children with disabilities Mondays or Thursdays; morning tea and lunch provided. Based in community Hall, with regular outings. Older Men s Group meets alternate Mondays: active, excursion group. Members meet at community Hall. For Enquiries contact Joanne or Rebecca: or , Mon and Thurs only.