On Sunday, May 20, 2007, this years graduates were honored by our Parish. Graduating from Mary Carroll High School on May 26^th was Sophia Sissamis, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Louis Sissamis. Also graduating from high school was Alexis May, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Bill Mays. Alexis was home schooled.

Also on Sunday, May 20^th, all of the students who attended Catechism School this year received certificates. In addition, Demetri and Sophia Sanchez, who had perfect attendance, received a perfect attendance pin and a gift. We would like to thank the parents who brought their children to Church each Sunday during the year. Our thanks also to Miss Olga Plomarity, Catechism School Coordinator, and to the Catechism School teachers Nursery - Mrs. Soula Piperis and Miss Sophia Sissamis; Kindergarten - Mrs. JoAnn Talarantas and Mrs. Nellie Spentzos; 2^nd grade- Mrs. Maria Papakostas; 6^th grade- Mrs. Karen Karagas; Middle School - Mrs. Maria Sissamis; High School - Jack Younger and Tony Zannaras. Substitute teachers were: Mrs. Alexia Maragakis, Mrs. Carol Mays, Mrs. Constance Plomarity Sanchez, and Mrs. Rosemary Vaseliades. We thank them all for their dedication and devotion to the Church.

Dorothy Koveal, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Russell Koveal of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, graduated on May 12^th from Rice University in Houston, Texas. She is the granddaughter of Frances Sissamis and the late Paul Sissamis. She plans to continue her education at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island where she will study for a doctorate degree in Molecular Genetics.

ORTHODOX MISSION’S 2007 CAMPAIGN:

We wish to congratulate the students of the Catechism School for again collecting funds for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center. This year a total of $267.50 was collected and sent to the Center. The top fund raiser this year was Grant Mays, son of Mr. & Mrs. Bill Mays, followed by his sister Alexis. Money raised by the students will help the Center in fulfilling its mission.

SPECIAL FUND RAISER FOR THE PARISH:

On Saturday, May 26, the Parish held its first fund raiser for the year. Barbeque dinners (to go) were prepared and sold to the public. Over 300 tickets were sold. We are very grateful to Nick P. Sissamis for not only underwriting the cost of the dinners but for also preparing the barbeque. A compete report on the fund raiser will be given at the General Assembly.

FUND RAISER FOR THE CATECHISM SCHOOL:

We would like to thank Mrs. Maria Papakostas for spearheading the drive to sell "World’s Finest Chocolates" to benefit the Catechism School. One thousand two hundred ($1,200.00) was raised and we wish to thank Maria for coordinating the drive, the children for selling the chocolates and all the people for purchasing the candy and thereby helping our Catechism School.

VISITORS:

On April 27, 2007 Presvytera Irene Sitaras and Mrs. Sophia Agapion, mother and sister of Father Stelios, of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Mr. Kosta Serlis of Brooklyn, New York, cousin of Father Stelios, arrived in Corpus Christi for a two day visit with Father Stelios. We hope their visit here was an enjoyable one.      

On Sunday, May 20, 2007, the Confirmation Class of Grace United Methodist Church in Calallen, together with their coordinator, Mrs. Kelly Rios, visited St. Nicholas and attended the Divine Liturgy. We welcome them to our church.

TRAVELERS:

On May 11, 2007, Mrs. Mariam Psimaris flew to Bedford, Texas to visit her sister-in-law Mrs. Margaret Chokas and to attend the wedding on may 12^th of Anthea Daughty, daughter of Mariam’s god-daughter, Elaine Ballas Daughty to David Michael Daus in a lovely evening outdoor ceremony. The bride’s great-grandmother was Mrs. Fofo Giannoukos Sfiris. Mrs. Psimaris returned home on May 14th.

On May 24^th, Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Rogen and their daughter Natasha, left for a vacation to Yellowstone National Park. They will be gone for several weeks and we wish them a safe and enjoyable vacation.

On June 23^rd, Demetri Karagas, son of Dr. & Mr. Mike Karagas, will leave for Athens, Greece where he will be attending school under a "Study Abroad Program". He is presently enrolled at New York University, where the six-week "Study Abroad Program" is being offered. Under the program he will be studying the Greek language and the history of Athens. We wish him success as he undertakes this exciting program.

METROPOLIS CLERGY RETREAT:

On Tuesday, May 1, 2007, Father Stelios left for Oklahoma City to attend the Denver Metropolis clergy retreat. Clergy from throughout the metropolis attended the daylong retreat that was held under the direction and guidance of His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah. Following the retreat Father Stelios attended the Metropolis Clergy-Laity Assembly and Philoptochos Conference.

CLERGY-LAITY ASSEMBLY AND PHILOPTOCHOS CONFERENCE:

On Wednesday, May 2, 2007, Harry Plomarity and Olga Plomarity flew to Oklahoma City to attend, together with Father Stelios, the Denver Metropolis Clergy-Laity Assembly as delegates from our Parish. On the previous day, Dora Thomas flew to Oklahoma City to visit her daughter and family and especially her new grandson and to attend the Metropolis Philoptochos Conference as the delegate from our local Philoptochos Chapter. During the Assembly the delegates received a report from the Archdiocese Finance Committee on the new system approved at the last Archdiocese Clergy-Laity Assembly in Nashville for determining the annual assessment for each Metropolis and also on the new allocation process implemented by the Archdiocese for all metropolises. During the plenary session on the last day of the Assembly, Harry Plomarity was re-elected to both the Metropolis and Archdiocesan Council for another 2 year term.

YOUTH RETREAT:

The youth group from St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in San Antonio, will be attending a retreat Saturday, June 2^nd, on Padre Island. Their priest, Father Dan Suciu will be the retreatmaster. The following day, Sunday, June 3^rd, the group will attend the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

HOSPITALIZED:

Mrs. Frances Sissamis was recently hospitalized but has now returned home. Let us keep her in our prayers.

On May 23^rd, Mrs. Melody Vogel was hospitalized and underwent surgery. Let us keep her in our prayers.

CONDOLENCES:

On April 25, 2007, Dr. Jerry D. Stachiw fell asleep in the Lord in Canyon City, Texas. He formerly lived in Rockport, Texas and was a member of our parish. Until his retirement from the Navy in 1994, he was the Staff Scientist for Marine Materials in the Ocean Engineering Division of the Engineering Department at the Naval Ocean Systems Center in San Diego, California. For his contributions to the Navy’s ocean engineering programs, the Navy honored him with the Military Oceanographer Award and Naval Ocean Systems Center honored him with the Lauritsen Bennett Award. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers recognized his contributions to the engineering profession by election to the grade of Life Fellow. Dr. Stachiw is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dr. Joan Stachiw, his two sons, Drs. Michael and Mark Stachiw, and his four grandchildren, Christopher, Michael, Alexandra and Jacqueline.

A Trisagion Service was held for Dr. Stachiw on May 6^th in our Church. May his memory be eternal!

MEMORIAL SERVICES:

On June 3^rd, a one year memorial service will be held for Gregor y and Patsy Kandis and for Virginia Christos. Patsy died on May 10^th, 2006, Gregory died on May 12^th, 2006, and Virginia Christos died on June 1, 2001. Patsy Kandis and Virginia Christos were the sisters of Andrew Christos of Victoria, Texas. Gregory was the brother of Mrs. Bealyo Giannukos of Houston, Texas and the late James Kandis of Victoria. May their memory be eternal!

The coffee hour following the Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service will be hosted by Andrew and Lula Christos.

JUNE COFFEE HOUR:

Parishioners are asked to host the coffee hour after the Divine Liturgy on Sundays. Please sign your name on the poster that is in the Church Hall. The "Fellowship Coffee Hour" provides us the opportunity to meet our visitors and to visit with each other:

         Andrew and Lula Christos ..............................June 3^rd

         General Assembly and Luncheon ..................June 10^th

         Father’s Day Coffee .......................................June 17^th

         OPEN ..............................................................June 24^th

 

BIRTHDAYS:

Mrs. Nelllie Spentzos ..........................................June  4^th

Mrs. Freida Hallick .............................................June  4^th

William C. Hartofilax ..........................................June  8^th

Mrs. Maria Papakostas .................................... June 12^th

Mrs. Helen Kandis .............................................June 18^th

Evan Strates ........................................................June 19^th

Austin Dean Jones ..............................................June 19^th

Miss Pauline Hallick ...........................................June 23^rd

William Paul Sissamis .........................................June 27^th

Dimitra Nicole Aldridge ......................................June 28^th

Mrs. Tasia Paul ...................................................June 30^th

 

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES:

We would like to congratulate the following who will celebrate their wedding anniversaries in June:

        Angelo and Maria Papakostas .......................June  7, 1986

        Mike and Lynda Beth Eliades.......................June 13, 1996

        Stephen and Jody Hallick.............................. June 21, 2000

        Benito and Latife Bechara Medina.............. June 24, 2006

        John and Nellie Spentzos.............................. June 25, 1961

        Corbett (Butch) and Helen Pool.................... June 26, 1999

        Charles and Olga Cofas................................ June 29, 1968

        Bill and Carol Mays...................................... June 30, 1990

 

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.) The Editor

Mrs. Polyxene K. Marinakou (Laredo, Texas) ................................June  1, 1951

Miss Virginia Christos (Victoria, Texas).......................................... June  1, 2001

George I. Tsambourieris (Greece).................................................... June  1, 2006

Nicholas Sflotos.................................................................................. June  3, 1967

Mike Chakur...................................................................................... June  4, 1965

Paul A. Kairis...................................................................................... June  4, 2005

Mrs. Elsie Adams............................................................................... June  5, 1987

Mrs. Betty Zampikos......................................................................... June  6, 2005

Apostolos S. Stamatakis.................................................................... June  8, 1996

Mrs. Martina Chapa Molina............................................................. June  9, 1995

Sam Bassous...................................................................................... June 10, 1994

Mrs. Adell Samman Botary............................................................... June 10, 1997

Haralambos Corovinis....................................................................... June 13, 1958

Elias G. Habeeb................................................................................. June 14, 1956

Nicholas Adams................................................................................. June 14, 1988

Sam Bournias..................................................................................... June 14, 1935

Jim Sahadi.......................................................................................... June 15, 1965

Mrs. Katherine Cazassis................................................................... June 16, 1991

Mrs. Helen Govatos.......................................................................... June 17, 2006

Mrs. Stavroula Gouziotis.................................................................. June 18, 2000

Paraskevas Skevos........................................................................... June 19, 1963

George Kapotes................................................................................ June 20, 1953

James Adams.................................................................................... June 22, 1998

Haralambos (Bobby) Virginis........................................................... June 23, 1954

Elias Gatouras................................................................................... June 25, 1990

Tom Spiro (McAllen, Texas)............................................................ June 25, 1987

Mrs. Lily Kavakos............................................................................ June 25, 1995

Mrs. Genna Demetra Doussis......................................................... June 25, 2004

Mrs. Bennie Corovinis..................................................................... June 25, 2006

Mrs. June Nicols.............................................................................. June 27, 1985

Harry Andrews.................................................................................. June 27, 2000

William Kandis (Victoria, Texas)..................................................... June 29, 1997

Athanasios Lambropoulos................................................................ June 30, 1953

Konstantinos D. Lontos.................................................................... June 30, 1999

Dr. Antonio Joannidis....................................................................... June     , 1990

                                                   May their memory be eternal!