FEBRUARY- MARCH 2002
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
The Voice of Greenlawn Chapter Offers Community Outreach The mission statement of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society has been from its inception: To aid the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the handicapped, the victims of disasters ..and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the church . The Philoptochos of St. Paraskevi in Greenlawn, N.Y., under the spiritual guidance of the Very Rev. Archimandrite John A. Heropoulos and the leadership of the past and present Philoptochos presidents, Maria Kouttron and Anastasia G. Geotes respectively, has been exemplary in fulfilling this mission statement. In 2001 the chapter has not only supported the institutions of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America through the National Philoptochos commitments, but has offered philanthropic outreach to the local community in a myriad of ways. The scope of the St. Paraskevi Philoptochos is to reach members of the community of all ages regardless of their religious or ethnic background who are in need of assistance. The ministry the St. Paraskevi Life Center provides new mothers who are in financial need with new layette items, diapers and the like for their babies. This past year, 13 new families received cribs, car seats, highchairs, strollers and other items, as they were required. The chapter has helped those in need, especially the abused and terminally ill. Children have been assisted through donations to Project Mexico (an Orthodox Orphanage for abused and homeless boys), Don Monti Memorial Center for terminally ill children, Schneider s Children s Hospital, Carillon Nursing Home, Huntington Station Family Center and the Huntington Community Food Council. In the fall, school supplies and clothing were donated to children living with their mothers at a Safe House run by the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Books were also collected and donated to the Reading Book Program for Children . Toys were collected at Christmas time for donation to abused and terminally ill children and volunteers knitted over 100 hats for young cancer patients. The Philoptochos reaches out to the elderly and the sick through its Care Ministry. A dedicated group of volunteers visits 15 homebound and nursing home residents several times per month. These residents had their rooms decorated at Christmas and were given gifts by the Ministry volunteers; they were cheered with palms on Palm Sunday and gifts of plants at Easter. The Care Ministry was proud to host a luncheon at the Church for 13 residents of St. Michael s Home for the Aged. Fellow parishioners were asked to support the Philoptochos drive for used eyeglasses and cell phones and they responded beautifully. The eyeglasses were sent to people in underdeveloped countries and the cell phones were donated to Suffolk County Social Services Department where they were reprogrammed to call 911 only, and then given to the elderly and to abused women for emergency use. Philanthropy in this parish doesn t stop with Philoptochos but extends itself down even to its youngest members. The GOYA, JOY and HOPE groups learn the meaning of loving one another and caring for all
Philoptochos
36th National Philoptochos Convention Set for LA The 36th National Biennial Philoptochos is scheduled for June 30July 4 in conjunction with the Clergy Laity Congress in Los Angeles. National President Eve Condakes announces that under the direction of Archbishop Demetrios, executive chairman, plans for this exciting and memorable conference, which brings together Philoptochos members from across the country, are well under way. As general chairman, President Condakes of Swampscott, Mass., a member of the Annunciation Cathedral Philoptochos Society in Boston, announced the following: Loula Anaston, Los Altos, Calif., president of the Diocese of San Francisco Philoptochos, has been appointed Convention chairman. She will be assisted by Vice Chairman Maria Logus, Brooklyn, N.Y., first vice president of the National Philoptochos Board; Vice Chairman Susan Regos, Westchester, Ill., secretary of the National Philoptochos Board and past president of
the Diocese of Chicago Philoptochos; and Vice Chairman Georgia Vlitas, Staten Island, N.Y., chairman of the standing committees of National Philoptochos and first vice president of the Archdiocesan District Philoptochos Board. Miss Logus will also serve as chairman of the Bylaws and Resolutions Committee while Mrs. Vlitas and Mrs. Regos will also serve as convention secretaries. National Philoptochos Greek secretary Aspasia Melis, Cliffside Park, N.J., and Kalli Tsitsipas, Huntington, Conn., will assume Greek secretarial duties. The Diocese of San Francisco under the leadership of Host Committee Chairmen Kathy Gabriel, Irvine, Calif., second vice president of National Philoptochos; Rose Kamages Hunter, Annunciation Cathedral, San Francisco, Calif., and Koula S. McCormick, Oakland, Calif., will perform the duties of the Host Committee. More details of the Convention will appear in upcoming issues of the Orthodox Observer.
Chicago Diocese Philoptochos Serves Benefit Luncheon The Diocese of Chicago Philoptochos recently hosted its benefit luncheon, which included many priests, Philoptochos members and friends of Philoptochos from throughout the diocese. A Tribute to Holy Cross Continuing the Orthodox Way, the theme of this year s luncheon, was the inspiration of Chairman Marilyn Tzakis to show appreciation and love for priests of the Diocese. The afternoon started with a welcome
by President Mary Ann Bissias. She introduced Marilyn Tzakis who greeted the guests and stated, Today we honor all our priests who have served and dedicated themselves to their parishes and to the pursuit of the continuation of Orthodoxy everywhere. In the absence of Metropolitan Iakovos, the Very Rev. Father Timothy Bakakos, president of the Clergy Syndesmos, delivered the invocation.
Toledo Chapter Holds Quilt-a-thon TOLEDO, Ohio Holy Trinity Philoptochos members recently sponsored a quilt-a-thon to raise money for local charitable organizations. The one-day event produced a large quantity of quilts with the held of many parishioners, including Goyans, members of the Maids of Athena and Sons of
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Pericles, and senior citizens. The parish priest, Fr. Chris Hadjigeorge praised the Philoptochos chapter and acknowledged the work of the committee and participants in the quilt-a-thon and offered prayers for the at risk children who would receive these gifts of comfort.
Palos Hills Chapter Holds Crafts Bazaar PALOS HILLS, Ill. St. Helen Philoptochos Society at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church recently held their 16th annual Holiday Crafts and Gifts Bazaar, which featured Greek food and pastry.
The event featured more than 70 exhibitors who displayed glass works, handmade clothing, holiday ceramics, wreaths, jewelry and other gift and home decorating items.
God s people through their own efforts. Over the holidays 50 baskets of food were prepared, complete with turkeys, for local families. The teens distributed 2 vanloads of clothing and blankets as well as over 150 sandwiches, soup and coffee to the homeless on the New York City streets on a Midnight Run lasting from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Hundreds of gifts were collected through the parish Star Program and Angel Box, as well as gift filled shoeboxes which were filled to brighten the Christmas of disadvantaged children. And because philanthropy doesn t begin or end with one church group or
individual, but can only succeed with the participation of all at each and every level, this dynamic parish donated over $12,000 to the Archdiocese September 11th Relief Fund, paid a year s rent for a needy family whose son suffers from a severe brain injury and also paid for the surgery of a woman who lost an eye in an accident. The Philoptochos Chapter of Saint Paraskevi hopes that by example the youth of our parish will one day become members of Philoptochos as well as become good stewards of all God s blessings upon our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Christ.
Boston Chapters Host Presidents’ Forum BOSTON Diocese of Boston Philoptochos sponsored its first in a series of workshops that will be presented for all the Philoptochos chapters in the Boston Diocese. The Diocese Center was filled to capacity with over 23 chapters in attendance. by Francesca Callas
Metropolitan Methodios in his opening remarks reminded us of the purpose of Philoptochos and urged us to go into our communities and offer help wherever it may be needed. The chairmen decided that, Philoptochos Awareness in Your Community Forum was a solid start for the next two-year term. The forum was attended by seven new presidents and over 100 members. The intent of the forum was to share as much information about established communication links that chapters have used in the past and could adapted for the future. Chairwoman Carol Travayakis, welcomed all the chapters and offered her thoughts on Philoptochos and how very fortunate that we as women can help in so many ways to so many people. Carol outlined in detail the importance of communication for a more successful Philoptochos. Her heartfelt opening remarks only conveyed how the Philoptochos Board is eager to have all of the chapters of the Diocese grow and be successful. Diane Miminos, 1st Vice President spoke on Membership and explained the Diocesan and National obligations. Diane offered many ways to increase our membership and the importance of following an agenda at our monthly meetings. She also reviewed with the ladies sections of the 140 page binder with her own personal experiences as a past chapter president and how we must adapt things to our own chapters and membership. Helen Sampsonis, second vice president spoke on the group s goals as Philoptochos. The goal is to increase our meeting attendance by 20 percent and to increase our membership the same. This is something the Diocese Board was able to achieve at this forum by increasing our attendance by 30 percent. Some suggestions were to have special speakers and more personal contact with ladies who are not in Philoptochos. Helen also offered a sample selection of letters, flyers, and meeting suggestions. President Merope Kapetanakis also welcomed all the ladies and reviewed the Diocese Board responsibilities and commitments. She presented Past President Christine Karavities with a bouquet of roses and a Past Presidents pin and thanked Christine for her service over the past term. After a very successful morning brunch was served. Hopefully the representatives of the 23 chapters present will bring some new ideas to their Philoptochos chapters.
Philoptochos News Philoptochos chapters are asked to submit their news items and photographs for the Orthodox Observer directly to the National Philoptochos Office on East 74th Street in New York, which, in turn, will forward the items to the Observer.