Parish News

STEWARDSHIP: Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us. An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards.

2021 Stewardship Status: we have 104 Pledges totaling $158,225 and $88,991 received to date. We also have 8 families who have contributed $6,600 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. Current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted in bulletin board by water cooler.

We need everyone’s participation to exceed this year’s stewardship pledge target of $190,000. If the remaining 71, 2020 stewards give at the same level as last year we could exceed our budget and reach a record high number of stewards.

2021 Stewardship List
* Contributed but have not submitted stewardship card				Report Date: Apr 5, 2021
1	Agrapides, Peter & Stella	65	Panageas, Bill & Margaret	129
2	Angelus, James&Elizabeth	66	Panayote, William & Deborah	130
3	Archimedes, Alexander & Debbie	67	Pelios, Georgia	131
4	Argiropoulos, Anthony & Amy	68	Peppe, George & Demetra	132
5	Balios, Efthimia	69	Petromelis, Christopher & Georgette *	133
6	Bongiovanni, Robert & Michele	70	Petromelis, Phyllis	134
7	Bozzo, Daniel&Maria	71	Procyk, Eugenia	135
8	Bunce, Daniel & Marianne	72	Rentoulis, Nikolaos	136
9	Collett, Martin & Adriane	73	Roupas, Daniel & Mary	137
10	Costalas, Paul & Josephine	74	Sacalis, John	138
11	Coutros, George & Lana	75	Sakellos, Evan & Catherine	139
12	Coutsouridis, John & Denise	76	Sakellos, George	140
13	Demetriou, Dorothy&James	77	Sfondouris, John & Maria	141
14	Diamantis, Ioannis & Gerasimoula	78	Shepardson, Lilyan	142
15	Disla, Mark & Anastasia Pappas	79	Sideris, Leonidas & Elizabeth	143
16	Douvris, John & Aimee	80	Soteropoulos, Dean & Elizabeth	144
17	Fallon, Tom & Anna	81	Soteropoulos, Marisa	145
18	Fearon, TJ & Colette *	82	Stathopulos, Peter&Julan, Adriana	146
19	Ferreira, Jorge & Angela	83	Stavrakis, Michael & Sophia	147
20	Gacos, Chris & Frances	84	Stellakis, Stanley & Kathleen	148
21	Gatanis, Michael & Angela *	85	Stieglitz, Alexander	149
22	Georgeles, George & Maria	86	Stieglitz, Robert & Katerina	150
23	Giambrone, Charles J	87	Stier, Benjamin & Eleftheria Tsatsos	151
24	Gianakos, Michael & Dianne	88	Sutton, David & Maria	152
25	Giannouris, John & Tracey	89	Tattoli, Larry & Maria	153
26	Gianos, Irene *	90	Tattoli, Mark	154
27	Gilman, Cliff & Karen *	91	Tattoli, Steven	155
28	Giotis, John & Karen	92	Ticas, Alexia	156
29	Grina, Peter & Diana	93	Ticas, Cesar&Areti	157
30	Halkiadakis, John & Vassie	94	Tsentas, Constantine & Eugenia *	158
31	Hawes, Ashlynn	95	Tsokas, Lorraine	159
32	Hawes, Brian & Allison Faches	96	Tsokas, Spyros	160
33	Hawes, Carrick	97	Tzovolos, Olympia	161
34	Heinke, Michael & Simone	98	Vaporakis, Efharis Karise	162
35	Ibrahim, Robert&Doniki	99	Vaporakis, John & Kim	163
36	Iliopoulos, Christos & Anna	100	Vaporakis, Kaliope	164
37	Jaghab, Danny & Delmy	101	Vaporakis, Mihail	165
38	Johnson, Gloria	102	Varas, Alexander Pericles	166
39	Kalamaras, Stella *	103	Varas, Loukas Michael	167
40	Kaldes, John & Zoi	104	Varas, Michael & Elaine	168
41	Kamnitsis, Constantine & Nancy	105	Veneman, Ryan & Polyxeni-Tolis	169
42	Kazantzis, Sava & Nancy	106	Vespa, Paul & Fay	170
43	Kefalas, Carrie	107	Vlahakes, Louis & Anastasia	171
44	Kehayes, Peter & Helen	108	Vlahakis, Dan	172
45	Kehayes, Stephen & Beth	109	Wolfe, Richard & Penelope	173
46	Kika, John & Tina	110	Wygera, Walter & Constance	174
47	Kizoulis, Menas & Antonia	111	Zajac, Pegi	175
48	Kosoglou, Teddy and Roula	112	Zanidakis, Theodore & Charlotte	176
49	Kousoulas, Constantine	113		177
50	Kousoulas, Fr. Anastasios & Presv. Nektaria	114		178
51	Kousoulas, Panayiotis	115		179
52	Kubu, James & Evangeline	116		180
53	Kypridakes, Michael & Asimina	117		181
54	Logothetis, Nikita & Sophia	118		182
55	Loukedis, Alexander & Jennifer	119		183
56	Mardakis, Arge	120		184
57	Mariani, Anthony & Kristen	121		185
58	Martin, Stephen & Despina	122		186
59	Mavrode, Michael & Demetra	123		187
60	McElroy, Stephanie *	124		188
61	Millett, Matthew & Maria	125		189
62	Mulcahy, Dr. Wayne and Mary	126		190
63	Nelson, Stephanie	127		191
64	Paitakes, John&Linda	128		192

Oratorical Speeches: Today, we will hear the wonderful speeches from Peter Coutros and Stephanie Ticas who participated in our parish Oratorical Festival on Saturday, March 27. Congratulations to all our 8 participants this year!

1-Year Memorial: James Baboukis, an uncle of Adriane Collett and brother of Connie Baboukis, fell asleep in the Lord on March 16, 2020. Today we will offer the 1-year Memorial Prayers for his blessed repose. May his memory be eternal!

7- Year Memorial: Stefanos Sideris and 9-Year Memorial: Eleni Sideris, beloved parents of Fay Vespa and Angela Ferreira, and dear friends of all who were blessed to know them. A beautiful couple who were such a big part of our St. Anna family. May their memory be eternal!

Spring Parish Assembly: Virtual Meeting for all Steward families is next Sunday, April 18 at 11:30 AM. Please email Fr. A frakousoulas@gmail.com now to get the Zoom registration link (name and email needed for security). Thank you.

Myrrophores (Young lady Myrrh-Bearers for Holy Friday Evening):

From Sofia Manoussakis: Please ask anyone interested to send me an email with their child(ren) name and age at s_manoussakis@yahoo.com or a text a 732-947-8289. I will confirm receipt and communicate specifics such as dress, time to meet, etc.

Virtual College Financial Aid Seminar with our own Elaine Varas

0n Friday, April 23 from 7:00 to 8:30.

Please RSVP to Fr. A- frakousoulas@gmail.com - ASAP. Space is limited.

Am I Eligible for Financial Aid? This session will walk you through the nuts and bolts of applying for financial aid, understanding all the different programs and guidance on the next steps. We will discuss the details of what is needed to complete forms and how many schools differ in regards to their application process and deadlines. See you soon!

- Elaine Papas Varas, Senior University Director, University of Pennsylvania, Student Financial Services

From Your Parish Council President

UPDATE - COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments

If you are a New Jersey resident 55+ or an individual of any age with a disability and in need of help scheduling yourselves for a Covid-19 vaccine, please register at www.wgirls.org/requestforhelp and someone will be in touch ASAP to pair you with a vetted volunteer. These are dedicated volunteers who have been able to help secure hundreds of appointments for those who are struggling with the tech-heavy process. As a reminder, NO volunteer will ever ask you for your Social Security Number or insurance details. Good luck!

- John S. Douvris, Parish Council President

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GOYA VIRTUAL LENTEN RETREAT -with Steve Christoforou (Bee the Bee) on Saturday, April 17 at 7:30 pm! Fr. A will join you virtually at this retreat with Steve who does such a great job with youth ministry for our Archdiocese.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ba4af2da75-state

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St. Anna Scholarship:

Available to all St. Anna high school seniors who qualify. See more information on our website: stannagoc.org. The deadline is April 30, 2021. God bless all our graduating HS Seniors! We are so proud of you and all your accomplishments, especially during these challenging times.

Students of St. Anna's Youth Greek School are continuing to learn remotely during the pandemic.

We are also happy to announce that our Adult Greek School for beginners started on Monday, February 15th. Classes will be held each Monday evening from 7:00-8:00.

Please contact Maria Sfondouris at msfondouris@gmail.com if you are interested in St. Anna's Youth or Adult Greek School programs.

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Saints and Feasts

April 11

Sunday of St. John Climacus

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.

April 11

Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

Saint Antipas was a contemporary of the holy Apostles, by whom he was made Bishop of Pergamum. He contested during the reign of Domitian, when he was cast, as it is said, into a bronze bull that had been heated exceedingly. The Evangelist John writes of him in the Book of Revelation, and says (as it were from the mouth of Christ, Who says to the Angel [that is, the Bishop] of the Church of Pergamum): "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My Faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth" (Rev. 2:13). The faithful pray to this Saint for ailments of the teeth.

April 11

Pharmuthios the Anchorite

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20.

BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. John Climacus
The Reading is from Mark 9:17-31

At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. John Climacus in the Plagal Fourth Mode

With the streams of thy tears, thou didst cultivate the barrenness of the desert; and by thy sighings from the depths,thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining with miracles upon the world, O John our righteous Father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

Wisdom of the Fathers

Seest thou how He now proceeds to lay beforehand in them the foundation of His doctrine about fasting? ... See, at any rate, how many blessings spring from them both. For he that is praying as he ought, and fasting, hath not many wants, and he that hath not many wants, cannot be covetous; ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

... he that is not covetous, will be also more disposed for almsgiving. He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles his soul when lifted up. Therefore even the apostles were almost always fasting.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 57 on Matthew 17,4,5. B#54, pp.355,356., 4th Century

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Parish News

Saints and Feasts

Sunday of St. John Climacus

Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

Pharmuthios the Anchorite

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. John Climacus in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Wisdom of the Fathers