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Published by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
of America, September 9, 2005
Family Outreach Sunday Initiated by the
Department of Outreach & Evangelism |
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September 9, 2005
Garrison, NY - The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
Department of Outreach & Evangelism is pleased
to announce the First Annual Family Outreach
Sunday. This program encourages active
parishioners to invite inactive family members
and Orthodox Christian friends for a special day
of fellowship and spiritual renewal. Many are
aware of Orthodox friends and relatives that
have fallen away from active involvement in the
Church. Jesus Christ calls each one of us to
engage in active outreach to these relatives and
friends. Archbishop Demetrios of America refers
to this calling as
a particularly integral
aspect of our Orthodox Christian identity that
is worth our cultivating, cherishing and
sharing.
Family Outreach Sunday has been developed in
cooperation with the Ladies Philoptochos Society
and the Center for Family Care at Saint Basil
Academy, and is modeled on successful Outreach
Sundays carried out in the parishes of
Birmingham, Alabama and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
All parishes are encouraged to choose a Family
Outreach Sunday in November that best fits their
parish calendar.
National Philoptochos President Georgia Skeadas
included an outline of this program in her fall
letter to the local chapters in which she
encouraged all to support and participate in
Family Outreach Sunday efforts in their
parishes. Mrs. Skeadas describes this initiative
as a noteworthy program that the National
Philoptochos Society wholeheartedly endorses and
supports.
Father Constantine Sitaras, Director of the
Center for Family Care at Saint Basil Academy
has praised Family Outreach Sunday as
an
excellent complement to our efforts to affirm
the importance of the family as a blessed gift
from God and to address the specific needs of
families as they try to live in a very
challenging culture and world. Father Sitaras
sees Family Outreach Sunday as a win-win
proposition for all involved and hopes to see
the program become an annual parish event.
Information and Family Outreach Sunday posters
have been sent to all parish clergy throughout
the Archdiocese. Program materials are available
on the website of the Department of Outreach &
Evangelism at www.Outreach.goarch.org.
Contact:
Fr. James W. Kordaris, Director
Department of Outreach & Evangelism
Tel. 646/519-6160 Fax. 646/519-6166
Email: outreach@goarch.org
Web site: www.outreach.goarch.org
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