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Philoptohos News for October/November
2003
The first Philoptochos meeting of the new ecclesiastical
year took place on Saturday, Sept. 27, in the Memorial Room of our church.
The meeting was opened with a prayer by Rev. Fr. Anthony Pappas, which
included a moment of silence for our late members. Fr. John Theodosion
joined the meeting following a prescheduled funeral. Pres. Eleni Andronikou
presided over the first meeting of her term. Treasurer Pegy Zajac gave
the Treasurer’s Report.
Donations were approved for Diakonia, Good Home News for
Women, Hellenic College/Holy Cross Scholarship Fund, St. Basil’s Academy
Fashion Show, The SmileTrain, The Middlesex County Food Drive, National
Philoptochos Children’s Medical Luncheon Journal, and The Lam Association.
The following topics were discussed: Baklava will be made
and sold prior to the holidays; St. Barbara’s Luncheon will take place
at The Pine’s Manor on Sunday, December 7, 2003; a chartered bus will
transport those interested in attending St. Barbara’s Vespers to St. Barbara
Greek Orthodox Church in Toms River; baby blankets will be sewn in October;
homeless cooking will continue to take place each month; members are invited
to attend a fashion show benefiting St. Basil’s Academy on October 4;
Metropolis Philoptochos meeting to be held in Holmdel; Metropolis Philoptochos
Presidents’ meeting to be held in Trenton; and, the officers will decide
when a group picture of our Philoptochos will be taken.
A delicious lunch was served by President Eleni Andronikou
to the membership. Our next meeting will take place on Saturday, October
25, in the Memorial Room, at 11:00 a.m.
If you haven’t paid your past dues, please pay them immediately;
and, at the same time, you may pay your 2004 dues.
Philoptohos Needy Cases Fund
We are approaching that time of the year when we prepare to extend holiday
wishes to our friends and relatives. It is also time to compile the St.
George Community Christmas Card which will be mailed to every member of
our parish.
This Community Christmas Card becomes possible through
your donations. However, not only does your donation extend holiday greetings
to all but, more importantly, it is used for the much needed assistance
to the needy of our community. Your contribution truly represents the
Christian spirit of helping those in need. And so we ask you, once again,
to give your donation to the Needy Cases Fund. In so doing you will be
helping those in need and you will be assuring that your name will be
included on the Community Christmas Card.
You may give your donation by bringing it to the church
or by mailing it to:
PHILOPTOCHOS NEEDY CASES FUND
c/o St. George Greek Orthodox Church
1101 River Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854.
Please make checks payable to the PHILOPTOCHOS NEEDY CASES FUND.
To assure that your name is included on the Christmas
Card, your contribution must be received no later than November 30, 2003.
The names of contributors received after November 30 will be listed in
the January church bulletin.
God Bless you always, The Needy Cases Committee
MEETING DATES:
October 25, 2003, Saturday, 11:00 a.m., Memorial Room
Please attend our meetings so that all of us can participate in the many
activities that are our responsibility.
ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS 2003
OCTOBER:
Baby Blankets
DECEMBER:
St. Barbara’s Luncheon, December 7, Sunday following church services.
Our dear and beloved member Georgia Katsifis passed away
on June 13, 2003. She will be greatly missed. May her memory be eternal.
Our dear and beloved founding member and past president Anastasia Chilakos
passed away on June 13, 2003. She will be greatly missed. May her memory
be eternal.
Our dear and beloved founding member, and former president, secretary,
and treasurer Thalia Theodorakis Langa passed away on July 1, 2003. She
will be greatly missed. May her memory be eternal.
Our dear and beloved member Christina Poulos passed away on July 1, 2003.
She will be greatly missed. May her memory be eternal.
Our June Luncheon
On Sunday, June 1, 2003, The Ladies Philoptochos Society
held its annual June Luncheon at the Pantages Renaissance Restaurant,
Scotch Plains, NJ, with members, families and friends attending. Highlighting
our luncheon was the presence of our National Philoptochos President Mrs.
Georgia Skeadas, our Diocese President Mrs. Ronnie Kyritsis, and our own
Philoptochos member and Grand President of the Daughters of Penelope Mrs.
Evellyn Tsiadis. Never before has a Philoptochos ‘St. Barbara’ dais been
graced and its members honored with so many notables.
The gathering was welcomed by Chairlady Ann Stevens and
the prayer was given by Rev. Fr. John Theodosion. President Anastasia
Ballas, in welcoming our guests to our community, emphasized how active
and growing our St. George community is and introduced the presidents
and directors of the many church organizations. President Ballas indicated
to those assembled that we had recently received an urgent request from
National Philoptochos to assist a family in dire and desperate financial
need. In responding to this call for help, President Ballas presented
to President Skeadas our donation of $1,000 made payable to Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Hospital. In her comments to the gathering, Mrs. Skeadas
thanked our Philoptochos for their donations toward the many needs of
Philoptochos and for fulfilling their monthly obligations so generously.
To Mrs. Skeadas we express our deepest and heartfelt gratitude for attending
our luncheon and being the first National President to visit our community
and, in so doing, honoring our Philoptochos organization.
When Diocese President Mrs. Ronnie Kyritsis spoke, she
informed those assembled of the ordination of the Very Rev. Archmandrite
Evangelos Kourounis and his appointment as Metropolitan of New Jersey.
It is always a pleasure when Mrs. Kyritsis visits our Philoptochos events--she’s
been attending our luncheons for the past 8 years. We thank her for always
being there for us. Daughters of Penelope Grand President Mrs. Evellyn
Tsiadis extended her greetings and indicated how pleased and proud she
is to be a member of our Ladies Philoptochos Society “St. Barbara.” It
is most gratifying when one of our own reaches such a high position among
her peers. To Mrs. Tsiadis we extend our best wishes for continued success
and happiness. Our guests were presented with flowers and an icon of our
patron saint, St. Barbara, as a remembrance of their visit with us.
Mary Boulegeris reviewed some of the activities of our
Philoptochos and recognized the chairladies responsible for those activities.
Newly elected president Eleni Andronikou praised President Ann Ballas
for her leadership, patience, vision and understanding during her four
years of service to the Philoptochos and to the St. George Community.
As a tribute to her service, President Ballas was presented her past president’s
pin and certificate with National President Skeadas doing the honor and
the pinning. We congratulate President Ballas and wish her “Kai Se Anotera!”
It was a most enjoyable and memorable afternoon.
Reminder: All members are asked
to please pay their dues if they have not already done so.
You may mail your dues directly to our Membership Chairman: Mrs. Harriet
Perna, 274 Peak Place, Somerset, NJ 08873-6438. Our meetings will resume
in the fall with the first meeting to take place on Saturday, September
27, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. in the Memorial Room. This will be the first meeting
for our new Officers and Board of Governors so let’s start our year with
all our members attending and supporting them. All ladies of our community
are invited to become members of the Philoptochos by coming to our meetings
or contacting any of our members for more information.
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