Community News April 2007

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

COMMUNITY NEWS

APRIL 2007

DECOMISSIONING AND TRANSFER OF SHIPS TO THE GREEK NAVY

On Friday, March 16, 2007, two mine hunter vessels were decommissioned by the U. S. Navy at a ceremony held at Naval Station Ingleside and transferred to the Greek Navy. Many of our local parishioners, waving Greek and U. S. Flags, attended the very moving ceremony during which the two vessels were blessed by Father Stelios Sitaras. Representing the Greek Navy was Rear Admiral Ioannis Karaiskos. Also participating in the ceremony was Lieutenant Commander George Karageorgis, Commanding Officer of the HS Kalipso and Lieutenant Commander Nikolaos Gounaris, Commander Officer of the HS Evniki along with a crew of approximately 50 officers and sailors from the Royal Greek Navy. The HS Kalipso and the HS Evniki were formerly the USS Heron and the USS Pelican. The two vessels and their crew will remain in Ingleside for another four to six weeks before leaving for Greece. And as they leave our area we wish them all “God Speed!”

“MARCH 25^TH LUNCHEON”On Sunday, March 25^th, the Parish held a Lenten luncheon following the Divine Liturgy in honor of the Feast of the Annunciation and Greek Independence Day. We were honored to have with us twenty-five men, including the Commaning Officers of the HS Kalipso and the HS Evniki, the two mine hunters that were recently purchased by the Greek Government from the United States. We wish to thank Mr. Theodore Dimopoulos for hosting our Greek guests at the luncheon. Prior to the luncheon children of our parish recited poems in Greek in honor of Greek Independence Day. Our guests from Greece were greatly impressed and visibly moved by the program put on by our children.We would like to thank Mr. & Mrs. Tom Spentzos and their children, George Spentzos, and Mr. & Mrs. Nikolaos Stamoulis. for underwriting the luncheon in memory of Tina’s parents, Miltiades and Eleftheria Zouvia. We greatly appreciate their generosity. Also, our thanks to Nick P. Sissamis for his generous donation and to all the people who helped serve the luncheon.

BAPTISM:On Saturday, March 10, 2007, Dr. & Mrs. John Malouf christened their son, Andrew, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church with Father Stelios Sitaras officiating. Constance Sanchez was Andrew’s godmother. Attending the christening were Andrew’s grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. David Malouf; his uncle, Dr. Tino Malouf and his wife; and other relatives and friends. A lovely reception was held following the baptism. Congratulations!

VISITORS:

Mrs. Rita Lontos has as her house guests her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Avdash Melemendjian from York, England. They arrived on March 2, 2007 and are planning to leave on April 2^nd. We hope they enjoy their visit here.

During the week of March 11^th to Marsh 17^th, students home for “Spring Break” included: Billy Louis Sissamis son of Mr. & Mrs. Louis Sissamis; Demetri Karagas , son of Dr. & Mrs. Mike Karagas; Daniel Eliades, together with his mother, Ms. Denise Eliades, who are visiting Denise’s parents, Dr. & Mrs. Mel Eliades. Also visiting here was , George Zannaras, son of Mr. & Mrs. Tony Zannaras. We hope they had an enjoyable time here.

NEW POSITION:In February, 2007. Bill Chriss of Austin, Texas, formerly of Corpus Christi, was selected as the executive director of the “Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism” in Austin.. The organization promotes legal ethics and professionalism among Texas lawyers. Congratulations!

TRAVELERS:Mrs. Tracy Andreadis, her husband, Ted and children, Demetri and Elena, left March 11^th for Orlando, Florida, where Tracy attended a Computer Conference for four days while her family vacationed at Disney World . They returned home on March 17^th. We hope they had a very enjoyable time.

NEW RESTAURANT:On March 1^st 2007, Kostas Livaditis opened a new busisness, “Maggie’s Pizza and Deli” at 3735 South Alameda. We wish him the best of luck!

2007 GRADUATES:All area students who will be graduating from either a high school, college or university are asked to submit their names to the Bulletin Editor so their names may be listed in the May Bulletin. Please indicate the school from which you will be graduating. All college and university graduates should also include the degree that they will be receiving.

EASTER BREADS:We wish to thank all the ladies who volunteered to bake Easter Breads to be served after the Midnight Resurection Service. The extra loaves that were baked were sold as soon as they came out of the oven.

ARTOCLASIA SERVICESOn Sunday, March 25, two artoclasia services were held - one by Mrs. Penelope Livaditis and the other by Mrs. Irene Piperis - for the health of their families.

TRISAGION AND MEMORIAL SERVICES:

A Memorial Service was held March 18^th for Demetrios (Donald) Collins who fell asleep in the Lord on March 15, 1995, and Irene Demetria Papakemetriou who fell asleep in the Lord in 1994. Mr. Collins was the husband of Mrs.Anna Collins and the father of Mrs. Melody Vogel, Mrs.Karen Felton and Edith Bruder, and the grandfather of Athena Collins. Mrs. Irene Papademetriou was the sister of Anna Collins, and the aunt of Melody Vogel and Karen Felton. The coffee hour was co-hosted by Melody Vogel, Karen, Felton and Athena Collins. May their memory be eternal!

Also, on March 18^th, a sixteen year Memorial Service was held for Ioannis Halkias and a four year Memorial Service for Mrs. Sofia Halkias. They were the parents of Mrs. Irene Piperis. The Coffee hour was co-hosted by Mrs. Irene Piperis. May their memory be eternal!

APRIL COFFEE HOUR:Parishioners wishing to host the coffee hour after the Divine Liturgy on Sunday should sign up on he poster in the church hall. The Fellowship Coffee provides us the opportunity to meet our visitors and to visit with each other. Please volunteer to host the coffee hour whenever you can. The schedule for April is as follows:

April 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Palm Sunday Lincheon

April 8 AGAPE SERVICES AT 1:00 P.M. EASTER SUNDAY - No Coffee

April 15 EASTER EGG HUNT AND COFFEE HOUR BY THE CATECHISM SCHOOL

April 22 OPEN

April 29 OPEN

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: We congratulate the following who will celebrate their wedding anniversary in April:

John and Becky Cofas April 7, 2001

Natalie and Adam Christopher Hancock April 16, 1998

BIRTHDAYS:We wish everyone who will celebrate his/her birthday in April a very Happy Birthday:

Mrs. Diana Zany Zenk April 3^rd

Konstandinos Minas Talarantas April 3^rd

Mrs. Karen Karagas April 5^th

George Alexander April 7^th

Mrs. Latife Bechara Medina April 8^th

Maria Izzabella Zampikos (5 years old) April 8^th

George Bottis April 10^th

Mrs. Nicoletta Cofas April 14^th

Ms. Samia Bechara April 14^th

Joanna Lee Vaseliades April 14^th

Vasile Piperis April 16^th

Kailey Morgan Hamauei April 16^th

Ted Andreadis April 17^th

Mrs. Mildred Andrews April 18^th

Sammy Strates April 22^nd

Mrs. Tina Spentzos April 23^rd

Anastasia Talarantas April 23^rd

Matthew Guerra April 23^rd

Vasoula Piperis April 24^th

Keisha Dirk April 26^th

Demetri Andreadis April 28^th

Alexis Mays April 29^th

IN LOVING MEMORY:

Each month we will mention our loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord during that particular month. If I have omitted anyone, please let me know so I can include them in the future. (Editor)

Elias S.Kehagias (McAllen, Texas) April 2, 1972

James Sarris April 4, 1965

Tom Koutchis April 4, 1976

Mrs. Nellie Barnes April 5, 1990

Mike Emmanuel George (McAllen, Texas) April 5, 1980

Mrs. Lucille Wilkinson (Mobile, Alabama) April 6, 1998

Mrs. Joanne Photakis April 7, 1990

Alex Paraskevas (Edinburg, Texas) April 11, 1992

Mrs. Sofia Halkias April 11, 2003

Mrs. Mary Petrutsas April 14, 1962

Mrs. Virginia Popa April 14, 1964

Pete Stoilis (Victoria, Texas) April 14, 1984