April 2003

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL AT CATHEDRAL

On Sunday, March 23, following the Divine Liturgy, eighteen of our young people participated in the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. Held each year, the festival aims at encouraging young people to express their faith by speaking on a topic such as their favorite prayer or saint or their relationship with Christ.

The children participate in three categories: Elementary (a non-competitive category), Junior and Senior. The winners of the latter two categories go on to participate in the district Festival. This year, the district (roughly the Bay Area) Festival will be held at the Nativity Church, Ignacio, April 13th at 1 p.m. The winners of the district Festival go on to the Metropolis Festival which this year will take place May 9th and 10th at St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center.

Winners of the Annunciation Cathedral Festival were: for the Senior Division: Julianna Rotter, and for the Junior Division: Stefanie Kalligeros and Stephanie Rotter.

We extend congratulations to them and also congratulate all our children for their participation. Pictured below are fourteen of the eighteen children who participated.

Once again, Sunday School is participating in the San Francisco Food Bank’s Lenten Food Drive. At any given time, 150,000 families, senior citizens, and individuals in our comnmunity live with the threat of hunger. In addition, the weak economy and high cost of living in our area have forced more people to rely on food assistance than ever before. Please consider giving generously this year, using this opportunity to teach your children about helping their neighbors. Food bins will remain in the gallery until Monday, April 14th. Please place only non-perishable items in the barrels provided.

SUNDAY SCHOOL PLANS NUMEROUS LENTEN AND PASCHAL EVENTS

As you will also notice in the Holy Week schedule, mailed separately, Sunday School is sponsoring the lenten meal following the Presanctified Divine Liturgy on Friday, April 18. The Liturgy begins at 7 p.m. Children will be participating in the various readings offered that evening.

The following morning, April 19th, Sunday School children, including JOY and GOYA, will participate in the tying of the palms in preparation for Palm Sunday. The palm tying will follow the St. Lazaros Day Liturgy and a special pancake breakfast. The Liturgy will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 11 a.m. Children and their families are encouraged to attend.

From Palm Sunday through Pascha, Sunday School girls take part in the services as “angels.” Their responsibilities include participation in the processions and the distribution of flowers, as well as the Paschal light. Girls who wish to become an “angel” should see Effie Vellis.

On Palm Sunday, following the Liturgy, Sunday School class pictures will taken in the Kytherian Room.

On Holy Friday, April 25th, TGI Pascha will take place, beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding with the service of the Descent from the Cross, which begins at 1 p.m. This special event for children has grown over the years, thanks to the hard work of Denise Yeilding, our Sunday School Principal, and a dedicated group of volunteers. This year should be our best ever, with all new crafts and activities. Accordingly, we will need about 30 volunteers to help in the kitchen and with the crafts. Please call Denise Yeilding at 415 585-5883.

Meanwhile, on April 6th Sunday School will be holding an open house. This will be a wonderful opportunity for parents, grandparents, and parishioners in general to see how we’re educating our youth. The children’s various projects will be displayed for your viewing.

We are also planning to have Father Gregory speak with the 5th and 6th grade classes on April 13th about Holy Confession. The older children will participate in Holy Confession on Saturday, April 19th, following the palm tying.

IONIAN VILLAGE - FAR BUT NOT-SO-FAR

Ionian Village is a summer camp setting along the Ionian Sea, owned and operated by the Archdiocese of America. Its summer programs are usually sold-out well in advance. Therefore, if you are interested in considering Ionian Village for your children, or for yourself, we recommend that you inquire early.
Ionian Village operates three programs:

1. A Summer Travel Camp, for 7th-9th grades, June 30 - July 17
2. Byzantine Adventure, 10th-12th grades, July 23 - August 9
3. Spiritual Odyssey, Ages 19-30, July 13 - July 28.

Each of these programs affords the participant the opportunity of visiting historical sites throughout Greece, in addition to the program at the Village itself. The Cathedral office has some brochures describing these programs in detail. Or, if you prefer, visit the web site at www.ionianvillage.org, or contact Ionian Village at (646) 519-6190 or via email at ionianvillage@goarch.org.