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9 THE SHEPHERD • FEBRUARY 2024 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO Our year started joyfully as we celebrated Epiphany with our beautiful St. Spyridon community on January 7th. A very special “thank you” to our St. Spyridon family for supporting the “Cakes for a Cause” philan- thropy which this year benefited our very own Metropolis Kids ‘n’ Cancer Ministry, by raising over $6,000. The Kids ‘n Cancer Min- istry is dedicated to providing support for children afflicted with cancer and their fam- ilies. This beloved ministry offers a compas- sionate and caring environment, exemplary of Christ’s unconditional love, along with an opportunity to shape meaningful friendships and create precious memories. As is the tradition of our parish, on Sunday, January 14th we honored St. Basil the Great with the “Cutting of the Vasilopita.” Follow- ing Divine Liturgy, Father Andrew cut and distributed Vasilopita to every parishioner who was present. Over $3,000 in donations was collected to support the efforts of St. Ba- sil Academy located in Garrison, New York, for the continued support of those children in need. A heartfelt thank you to all of our donors. A sincere “Thank You” to our baking chair- person Niki Dougenis and her team of fan- tastic bakers who every year offer their help- ing hands, giving from the heart with love, as they continue to treat our community with their culinary talents! Thank you for all you do, ladies! Please save the date for our Anthousa Mem- bership Event . We invite you to join us on Saturday, March 2nd at 11:00 am in The Cypress Room for our Complimentary Membership Luncheon. We invite all new and renewing members of Saint Spyridon’s Anthousa Philoptochos Chapter. We wel- come all – ladies and gentlemen – to help us make a difference in the lives of many. If you cannot actively participate, your mem- bership pledge helps to enable our contin- ued support of many charitable endeavors within our parish as well as local, national, and international communities. RSVP to the Church Office at 619.297.4165 by February 20th. By joining Philoptochos, you will have the opportunity to meet new people, share ex- periences, knowledge, and feel the joy in your heart of helping others who desper- ately need our support. Our philanthropic outreach fundraises for ministries and caus- es that are not only vital to our communi- ty but also further our Orthodox faith and traditions. Your continued love and support is greatly appreciated and needed now more than ever! To join, please visit www.Anthou- sa.org and click Membership. (The National and Metropolis Philoptochos treasuries each receive $15 of every membership donation; any amount over $30 remains in our local chapter’s treasury.) Please contact Melanie Anastopulos at melanieanastopulos@gmail. com or Kalliopi Samouris at nyckelly@cox. net with any questions. AGAPE MEALS are meals offered to our community members who are in need or who have fallen on difficult times. If you know of a person or family who needs help, or if you are interested in helping to prepare meals, please reach out to Marian Dougenis at 619.520.3660 or mkdougenis@prodigy.net. SUNDAY FELLOWSHIP is offered most Sundays after Divine Liturgy in our fellow- ship hall. It is a cherished tradition to gather and visit with our church family, made possi- ble through the support of our parishioners. Please sponsor a Sunday Fellowship Hour with your friends and family by providing simple refreshments (such as donuts or ba- gels, fruit, juice, etc.). Please contact Christi- na Frangos to schedule a date at 858.220.0071 or christinafrangos1@gmail.com. ADORNED ICONS, another project of our chapter, are decorated each week with beau- tiful fresh flowers and displayed in the Nar- thex. The liturgical year presents many op- portunities to honor your family members. We invite every family to commemorate a special Feast Day, birthday or memorial in honor of someone special by offering a do- nation to cover the cost of the flowers (sug- gested donation is $85). Please contact Soula De La Riva at 619.297.4165 or office@stspyr- idon.org, to reserve your date now! We hope you will join us as we continue to put our faith into action through our many philanthropic ministries. While this work will provide support for others, it is also an immensely gratifying opportunity for you to serve your parish and community, make new friends, embrace and promote the faith of our forefathers, and further our Orthodox traditions. We sincerely thank you for your membership. Yours in Christ, Sofia Samouris Anthousa Chapter President 619.518.4537 | ssamouris22@gmail.com ΝΕΑ ΤΗΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΤΩΧΟΥ PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS The Anthousa Chapter Invit Attend The Annua Philoptochos Complimentary Mem Please join us for an afternoon of fellowship, sho Dana Kaland’s leadership talk “Walking the Camino de Santiago: A J Saturday, March 2nd, 20 11:00 A.M. Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox 3655 Park Boulevard, San Diego, Cypress Room Make your reservations with The Church Office by Su 619.297.4165 The Anthousa Chapter Invites You To Attend The Annual Complimentary Philoptochos Membership Luncheon Please join us for an afternoon of fellowship, shopping opportunities, and Dana Kaland’s leadership talk entitled “Walking the Camino de Santiago: A Journey Within” Saturday, March 2, 2024 11:00 A.M. Cypress Room Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church 3655 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92103 Make your reservations with The Church Office by Sunday, February 25, 2024 619.297.4165