March 1 Trivia Night Ticket Sales: Buy your tickets online at greekdinners.com. This will be an evening of fun and fellowship for family and friends 21 years of age and older. In addition to challenging your trivia knowledge, there will also be prizes for Trivia game winners, a Wine Pull, a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and dessert. Register to attend by Feb. 18 at $25 per person, however, if you register after Feb. 18, it is $30 per person – so register early and save. For questions and more information, ask Arge Mardakis.
March 23 Lenten Retreat Registration for parishioners is now open. A link was sent to the e-bulletin list. Maria Tattoli will also be taking registrations on Sunday during the Fellowship Hour. Please register now before we open it to the public as space is limited. The price is $30. (This Retreat may sell out so register today. On Monday, Feb. 12, registration will be open to the entire public.)
Online Information & Registration:
Contact Diana Grina with event questions: Dianakg2003@yahoo.dom
To schedule a house blessing from Feb. 19 through March 10, please contact Fr. A. Thank you.
NEW! Please reply ASAP. Sat., Feb. 24 Parish Outing in NYC! Exhibition: Africa and Byzantium at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/africa-byzantium
A stunning exhibit that includes icons from St. Catherine Monastery on Mt. Sinai, and some rare artifacts from Byzantine Christianity in Africa. This exhibition explores Africa’s position within the Byzantine world’s artistic, cultural, economic, and sociopolitical life.
Please contact Irini Daskalakis erinoula@yahoo.com if interested. The deadline is Friday, Feb. 16. Please join Fr. A, Presvytera Nektaria, and many others from our parish for the day in NYC. We will meet at the museum at 11 AM. Group pricing (including the entire museum) is as follows (lunch on our own is separate):
Adults |
$28 |
Seniors (65 and over) |
$20 |
Students |
$12 |
YOUTH MINISTRY CONTACTS:
Sunday School Director: Nikol Toulatos nikoltoulatos44@gmail.com
Greek School Director: Maria Sfondouris msfondouris@gmail.com
GOYA Head Advisor: Larisa Trumpy larisatrumpy@gmail.com
Hope & Joy Advisor: Kristen Diagelakis kdiagelakis@gmail.com
Greek Dance Lead: Larisa Trumpy larisatrumpy@gmail.com
Young Adult League (YAL): Kali Vaporakis rangerkali@gmail.com
College Care Package Ministry: Maria Tattoli mtattoli@gmail.com
Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Chair: Lisa Soteropoulos lisasoteropoulos@gmail.com
SUNDAY SCHOOL:
Upcoming Events:
FEB. 11: No class for the 13-18 yr class only.
FEB. 25: Godparent Sunday
MAR. 24: Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Oratorical Festival topics are now online! Please encourage all youth from grades 7 to 12 to pick out a topic as we prepare for a March 2024 Parish Oratorical Festival. (The District Level will be on Sat, April 6 at our neighboring parish of St. George in Trenton, NJ.) Please see the Bulletin Insert for a list of topics.
GOYA:
St. Anna is hosting the GOYA Valentine's Dance on FEB.16. All volunteers will need to be
Youth Worker Certified. If you would like to volunteer and have not been certified yet, please email Anthony Mariani at
youthsafety@stannagoc.org. Use the Sign-Up Genius link to volunteer to help.
COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE MINISTRY:
Our second mailing of care packages will be sent to our St. Anna college students on MARCH 4. If you would like to contribute snacks for the care packages, please go to the Sign Up Genius below. Monetary contributions toward this ministry are also greatly appreciated.
If your student did not receive a care package in the fall, please contact Maria Tattoli at
mtattoli@gmail.com to get them on the list. We are also happy to expand this ministry to any young adult who has moved away and might like to hear from us. Our objective is to stay connected with our young adults and to remind them that church is their home away from home.
Please place your donations in the bin outside the gym. Thank you for your support. Our college students have told us that they love receiving these care packages and knowing their St. Anna family is thinking of them.
Donation deadline: FEB. 25
Care packages to be mailed: MARCH 4
YOUNG ADULT LEAGUE (YAL):
Virtual Blood Drive. When: Through March 10
How to Get Involved: Every 2 seconds a person in the United States needs blood. As Orthodox Christians we are called to "Love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31. What is a greater act of love than selflessly giving your neighbor the gift of life? Pledge your support and make your donation by going to: https://sleevesup.redcrossblood.org/campaign/nnj-yal/ #NNJYALSleevesUp
Orthodoxy on Tap:
A monthly initiative for connecting with fellow Orthodox Young Adults to learn and discuss our faith. Past discussion topics have included Orthodoxy in a Roman Catholic and Protestant World (Dn. Symeon Williams), How Should an Orthodox Christian Approach Reading and Understanding the Bible? (Nicholas Ruvelas M.Div.) and How we Understand Fasting Today as Orthodox Christians (Fr. Nicholas Mataragas).
When: Wednesday, February 28th, 7-10 pm
Where: Tavern on George
361 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Speaker and Topic: TBD
Beefsteak Fundraiser:
All are welcome to join us for a night of feasting on unlimited filet mignon, pasta, ice cream, and more! Explore enticing raffle baskets with gift certificates, designer handbags, and local business goodies. Get ready for a night of dancing with our live DJ, then quench your thirst at the full cash bar, featuring “The Mediterranean” our special drink of the night.
When: Saturday, March 9th, 6:30 pm – 11 pm
Where: The Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, 353 E. Clinton Ave., Tenafly, NJ 07670
LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER: The period of January and February is for the annual Philoptochos stewardship/membership drive!! Please join us for a special Valentine's
Day Tea, on Sunday, February 18th to renew your membership, or to sign up as a new member! Please see Maria Gimbel or Carrie Kafalas, our membership chairs for the application! Your membership donation is essential for our Philoptochos chapter to continue growing and thriving, allowing us to better help our community!
KOLIVA CLASS
Would you like to learn how to make memorial koliva? Now is your chance!!
Join on on Sunday, March 3rd, at 8:30 am sharp, as we explain how and why we make Koliva for a loved one's memorial! RSVP to
faysvespa@gmail.com if you plan on attending!
HOLY PROTECTION MONASTERY TRIP:
We are planning an outing to Holy Protection Monastery on Saturday, April 20th. Please arrive by 11:00 am sharp! We will have a tour, eat lunch, go to the bookstore, enjoy the peaceful grounds, and attend Vespers. Carpooling may be available. Also, if you would like to stay overnight please let Aimee know by April 10th. The address is 1 St Joseph Way, White Haven PA 18661 Please RSVP By April 10th if you would like to come.
aimeedouvris@gmail.com
ST. ANNA BOOKSTORE NEWS. ST. ANNA BOOKSTORE NEWS. Let's read a spiritual book and grow in our faith together.
BOOKSTORE RECOMMENDATIONS February/March:----In anticipation of our upcoming St. Anna Lenten Retreat with Dr. Eugenia Constantinou (Saturday, March 23rd), we are recommending her books: "THINKING ORTHODOX" and "THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE KING OF GLORY".----For Adults: "Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home".----For Kids: various saint mini-books by Paterikon for Kids, matching games, and first prayer books.If there is something in particular you are looking for, we can assist. Contact Angela Ferreira (angelaferreira37@gmail.com) or Aimee Douvris (aimeedouvris@gmail.com).
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STEWARDSHIP 2024: Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us. An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards.
2024 Stewardship Status: we have 37 Pledges totaling $90,330 and $34,940 received to date. We also have 7 families who have contributed $1,085 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. The current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted in bulletin board by water cooler.
If you have not done so already, we ask that you prayerfully consider your stewardship commitment and submit a 2024 pledge card as soon as you can.
…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much…..
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Other Information:
Walking with Christ - Seminarian Fundraiser on Sat., March 16 at St. Luke GOC, Broomall, PA. Please see the Bulletin Insert section for more information.
CrossRoad Institute: Are you an 11th or 12th grader looking ahead to the summer? Learn more today about CrossRoad Institute Summer Program, a 10-day academic institute made just for you! Travel to Boston, Northern California, or Chicago to connect with other Orthodox Christians as you prepare to make big life decisions and start new adventures.(Boston: Session 1: June 8-18th; Session 3: June 22nd-July 2nd. Hosted At: Hellenic College Holy Cross SOT)
Learn more today at www.CrossRoadInstitute.org. Application deadline is February 20, 2024.