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4 THE SHEPHERD • MARCH 2026 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO March’s quick tip: Register today for the Teen and Parent Mental Health Symposium - Icons in Progress! This is an opportunity to have real conversations with mental health experts about how our Orthodox Faith can guide us through the challenges of being a teen in the real world and parenting teens in the real world. The symposium is only $25 and includes continental breakfast, lunch, and engaging sessions. https://tinyurl.com/ ticketsteenmentalhealth. Don’t have a teen, and wondering if you can join? Yes! Register on the link above. This symposium is com- pletely donor and parish sponsored; you may donate here: https://tinyurl.com/teenmhdo- nation The Oratorical Festival will be held on March 22 . Reminder, you must register to participate. Go to https://religioused.form - stack.com/forms/sjcof_participant_2026. We hope to see many students participating and delivering speeches this year! Reminder all students who participate will receive a $20 gift card and students who advance to the District Level in the Junior and Senior levels will receive the George M. Platis Oratorical Scholarship Award , offered by Michael and Maria Platis in memory of their son George, who proudly participated in the parish Ora- torical Festival. Registration now open for Vacation Bible School - July 13-17, 2026 ! 9am – 12:30pm daily. Aftercare available until 4:30 daily. This year’s theme is The Wonders of Cre- ation! The entire week is only $40, and only $20 for siblings. Youth Leaders are free. Chil- dren of Volunteers are free. This year, we are streamlining our registration with only one form! Register on the Youth Ministries web- site or by following this link: https://www. zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/st-spyridon-va- cation-bible-school If you have questions about Youth Minis- tries at St. Spyridon, call or text Julie Den- nis, Youth Ministries Director, 619-618-5116 or email youthministries@stspyridon.org. Learn more about St. Spyridon Youth Min- istries on our website: https://tinyurl.com/ stspyridonyouth Follow us on social media: Facebook - St. Spyridon GOC San Diego and Instagram - @youthstspyridon Little Angels Playgroup March Little Angels Playgroup will be on March 4th. We hope to see parents/care- givers and their babies or toddlers for our playgroup! We meet from 9:45am-11:00am in the lower education building. If you have a baby or toddler age 4 and under, we hope you will join us for playing! Also, on Sundays after Holy Communion, the lower education building playroom is open for families with children ages 3 and under - Kids’ Corner. There is a coffee maker for the adults and lots of toys for the babies and toddlers. There is no need to sign up in advance - just follow the Sunday School kids and families after Holy Communion. Email Julie Dennis to get on our contact list: youthministries@stspyr- idon.org. Sunday School Sunday School participated in a service proj- ect in February, making gratitude cards for community members! On March 1st, Sun- day School will process with their Icons to celebrate Sunday of Orthodoxy, which marks the return of Icons to the Orthodox faith in the year 787 AD. We hope that all of our youth, preschool through 5th grade, will be able to participate in the Holy Friday Retreat on April 10th . Youth in grades 6-12 can lead stations and small groups. Registration form will be emailed out this month. A school ex- cusal letter will be provided for participants and youth leaders. Thank you, Ms. Tina, Sunday School Director Sophia Thiros, Asst. Sunday School Director GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth Association) April 5th is our Annual Palm Sunday Lun- cheon , sponsored by GOYA. This luncheon is not only a wonderful way to start Great & Holy Week, but it is also the only fundraiser for GOYA! Funds from last year’s Palm Sun- day Luncheon went to support our monthly youth group activities, a ski and snowboard- ing trip to Big Bear that 21 kids joined (18 had never snowboarded or skied before!), service projects, and philanthropic activities! Additionally, the seniors of the 2025 GOYA Board have created a scholarship for grad- uating seniors. Scholarship details and ap- plication will be available next month. You can purchase your Palm Sunday Luncheon tickets in the Hall on Sundays during Fellow- ship or contact Bill Navrides, 619-992-6775 or navridesfamily@gmail.com or purchase tickets online https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ ticketing/goya-palm-sunday-luncheon Save the date for our GOYA Lenten Retreat on March 21 , from 4 to 9 pm. Meráki Young Orthodox Service Group Meraki returned to the kitchen this month and cooked personal pizzas, then donated and organized games for the Youth Room! This year with Meraki has shown that the el- ementary kids in our church love to cook and bake! This month we will be doing a Lenten Service Project on March 14th . Additional- ly, Meraki will be hosting Lazarus Saturday Pancakes and Palms this year on Saturday, April 4th ! YOUTH MINISTRIES