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11 THE SHEPHERD • NOVEMBER 2026 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO October was a busy month for the Seniors Ministry! Our lunch fellow- ship – with 60 members attending – included a presentation on navi- gating one’s healthcare from Sharp HospiceCare’s John Tastad and Bill Navrides . Thank you to Bill for co- ordinating this program. Thanks also to lunch sponsors Stan and Brenda Canaris, Paris DePerro, and Michelle Hefti. As always, thank you to the kitchen staff, including Vicky and special guest chef Pashalis, who prepared a delicious marinated chicken lunch. Also in October, production started on our ministry’s sponsored video project for the church centenni- al celebration. Thank you to the 18 parishioners who shared fond mem- ories of our church through the de- cades. The four-hour taping session is being edited into a video which will be presented during festivities celebrating St. Spyridon’s 100th year anniversary. Thank you to all who assisted Connie and Nick Pappas with coordinating and carrying out the project. Our third activity last month was a Saturday trip to Temecula for the St. Nicholas Greek Church Festival. We filled two rental vans and enjoyed a much smaller scale, but still fun cel- ebration of food, music and dance. Thank you to our volunteer drivers Libby Diamond and Jerry Hom for safe transport to and from. Our next gathering on Tuesday, November 10th , will feature Father Andrew and Presvytera Diane dis- cussing Father Andrew’s calling to the ministry and Presvytera Diane’s support during his seminary years. Sponsored Announcement YOUNG AT HEART SENIORS LA JOLLA 909 Prospect Avenue 858.352.6588 Extensive Greek & Mediterranean menu Delicious Greek desserts Fine wines, local & imported draft beer Patio for outdoor seating A fulfilling dining experience Open for lunch & dinner, 11AM to 9PM Catering for all events, big & small Online order & delivery available LA JOLLA • CORONADO spiroscuisine.com CORONADO 1201 1st Street 619.435.1225 that brought him there. Father Simeon expressed encouragement to any of us who might be willing to participate as Orthodox Church ministry volunteers at RJ Donovan, and I began the somewhat arduous application process myself. Nicholas Abdelahad, the Church Programs Manager from the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, will be available at 4-5pm on Wednesday, November 18 via zoom to discuss other opportunities in Orthodox Prison Ministry that any of you may be interested in participating. https://tinyurl.com/2rz6ewr7 I can think of no better opportunity for Orthodox Christians to answer our Lord’s Church mission towards tearing down the gates of Hades than through prison ministry. We can put on the armor of God and, through our presence, help to provide comfort and peace to those who seek to come closer to our church. Every year on the third Triodion Sunday, Christ himself calls us to visit Him in prison. And we cannot forget the words of Fr. Seraphim Rose that if we don’t see Christ in this life, we will not see Him in the next. In Christ, George Sakoulas 7 MEN’S MINISTRY