Pastoral Perspective
Father Georgios Livaditis
My brothers and sisters in Christ I greet you with love and gratitude!
Iwanted to take a moment to share my thoughts on the importance of our church, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and its ministries, particularly for us and our children. In today’s fast -paced world, the role of the church remains vital, serving not only as a place of worship but also as a supportive community that nurtures spiritual growth and social responsibility. The church provides a strong spiritual foundation that guides our lives. Through its teachings and community activities, we learn essential values like love, compassion, and forgiveness. For our children, these lessons are especially important as they navigate their formative years, helping them to develop a moral compass that will guide them throughout their lives. Moreover, the church fosters a sense of community and connection. It brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued. This is crucial for our children, who thrive in spaces where they can form friendships and engage in teamwork. Participating in church activities allows them to learn collaboration and social skills that will benefit them for years to come. One of the most rewarding aspects of being involved in the church is the opportunity to volunteer and share our talents. Volunteering not only enriches our lives but also teaches our children the importance of giving back. When they see us actively participating in church initiatives, it instills a sense of responsibility and empathy in them. Additionally, being
youth groups, outreach programs, or music ministries—allows us to discover and develop our skills while positively impacting our community. This experience sets a powerful example for our children, emphasizing the significance of service and commitment. Ultimately, our involvement in the church helps cultivate a lifelong faith that can guide us through life’s challenges. The lessons learned within its walls resonate far beyond them, shaping our decisions and relationships. For our children, establishing a strong foundation during their crucial years lays the groundwork for a lifelong commitment to their faith and values. In closing, I believe that the church and its ministries are (Continued on page 5)
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indispensable not just for us, but especially for the next generation. By engaging with our church community, we empower ourselves and our children to lead meaningful lives rooted in compassion, service, and faith.
In His service, +Fr. George
St. Basil Academy Cancer & other serious illnesses fund Autism fund
Written by: MARIA COOK , PHILOPTOCHOS PRESIDENT
Hello everyone and Happy Fall! Another Ecclesiastical year has started and all of our organizations and schools are in full swing with their programs. The ladies of Holy Trinity Philoptochos are welcoming everyone back and are looking forward to seeing you around our church. It is you and your kind support that enables Philoptochos to hold successful fundraisers, which in turn provide the funds to sustain our monthly commitments to the National and District Philoptochos and their various charities such as:
Hellenic College / Holy Cross Int’l Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)
United Nations International
Children’s Emergency provide help to our communi-
tys families in need and Bridgeport’s homeless and needy population . Every little bit helps, and we are grateful for your continuous support.
It is my hope that we can all support each other and have another successful year.
Aswe embark on a new school year, our church community is buzzing with activities and events designed to engage and enrich the lives of our youth.
Greek School welcomed back students after the summer break! The new school year began with a special blessing from Father George, setting a positive tone for the months ahead. This year, we are proud to celebrate the 110th anniversary of our Greek School. Current families and alumni are invited to join the annual OXI Day celebration on Sunday, October 27th in the Aegean Hall. This milestone event will be a joyous occasion, honoring our rich heritage and the generations of students who have passed through our doors. In addition, we will honor our 2024 Regents recipients Vasilios Fountoukis, Kyriaki Karayianni and Maria Kourounis.
Our cultural program kickstarts in October and we will be welcoming Nikolaos Vastakis Odenwelder, the dance instructor from the Hellenic Roots Foundation, into our Greek School program every Wednesday, starting October 2nd.
We are so glad to have the children in Sunday School each week for learning and fellowship. Thank you for making every effort to bring them!
Sunday School begins at 10 am. Please make every effort to arrive at that time. Levels 1 & 2 (Pre-K through Grade 3) please come directly to the Sunday School Office in the morning. Levels 3, 4, & 5 (Grades 4 through 10) please go directly to church and join us in the Sunday School section on the left. After communion, all Levels will head down to their classrooms. The children will be dismissed from their class by their teachers when they are finished with their lesson. Thanks for waiting!
We take Donations! If you have any gently used toys, puzzles, board games, etc. you would like to donate, we are happy to take them for our morning session. Please make sure they are clean and ready to use. We greatly appreciate it!
Our Level 4 and 5 Sunday School students, along with GOYA members, are actively participating in our Youth Ministry Community Service Program. This year, we are continuing successful initiatives like "Adopt a Child for Christmas," where parishioners are matched with children from St. Basil’s to fulfill their holiday wishlists. Additionally, our youth will volunteer at St. John’s Family Center’s Community Supper, helping to prepare, serve, and clean up meals for those in need. These experiences not only teach our youth the importance of giving back but also strengthen their sense of community and compassion.
Our Youth Ministry is also excited to host a series of events focused on connecting our senior members with the energy and insight of our younger generation. These events aim to provide seniors with fresh perspectives on modern topics
and technology, while also fostering meaningful intergenerational connections. Stay tuned for more details on upcoming programs, including tech help sessions and interactive discussions. We invite all seniors to join us in this wonderful opportunity to learn, share, and grow together! Please stay tuned for more information.
O
ur Junior Choir is back in action, meeting regularly on Sundays after church. This year, we're excited to integrate the choir into our Greek School’s culture curriculum. Under the expert guidance of Joanna Bogardus, children will explore Orthodox hymnology and Greek traditions through music. They will learn to sing liturgical hymns in both Greek and English, participate in church services, and develop a deeper connection to their faith. This program fosters teamwork, discipline, and a love for music in a nurturing and fun environment!
P
articipation in the GOYA group is essential for Greek Orthodox teens, offering a unique opportunity to connect with their faith, heritage, and peers. We're excited to announce an upcoming trip to
Boston on October 26th, where we'll visit the Hellenic College of Greece, and other enriching activities. More events are planned throughout the year, so it's important that all teens aged 13-18 get involved.
In addition, our GOYA dance lessons, led by Nikolaos Vastakis Odenwelder from the Hellenic Roots Foundation, will begin on October 2nd. These lessons will take place every Wednesday from 6:45 7:45 PM. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn traditional Greek dances and celebrate our heritage!
All teens are encouraged to participate and make the most of these enriching experiences. Join us and be a part of something meaningful!
Our recent Quassy Day was a huge success, filled with laughter, fun, and fellowship. Children all mingled together and made beautiful memories as friends. Parents had a chance to feel like kids again while catching up with each other. As part of our effort to engage more families, PTO membership dues are now included in the
Greek School tuition, providing access to future events at discounted prices. There are many exciting events planned, and parental involvement is crucial. Please join the first meeting of the year on Wednesday, October 2nd.
Important Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, October 2nd: First PTO meeting; Dance practice begins
Sunday, October 13th: Fall Family Gathering at Jones Family Farm
Saturday, October 26th: GOYA Boston Trip
Sunday, October 27th: OXI celebration/110
Year Anniversary of Greek School
Please Like” us on Facebook!
For info and
@Holy Trinity Bridgeport Sunday School @Holy Trinity PTO@GOYA of Holy Trini@holytrinitypto
As we enter into the Month of October, we have much to celebrate. This marks the Harvest time for many cultures, the end of the growing season, envisioning apples, pumpkins and other fruits and vegetables available at this time.
We make note of our upcoming October liturgical celebrations. We have the Protection of the Theotokos coming up at the end of the month, October 28. We remember that through the intercessions of our Mother of God, that we are all protected under her large veil. We must remember to give thanks to her this month for her ever vigilant caring and protection over us, especially for our Senior Members.
day which was hosted by her daughter, Vicky Andriotis. We were treated to delicious food and able to participate in celebrating Eleni. It was a very enjoyable meeting that all the Seniors enjoyed. We want to extend a big thank you to Vicky for sponsoring and serving our luncheon.
In our past September meeting, Seniors were also pleasantly surprised by an Anonymous Donor who sponsored our luncheon meal. We were all very grateful to our Donor and want to extend our sincere thanks to him/her. It was appreciated. We are grateful to our fantastic hostess, Ann Marie Anderson for hosting the luncheon.
We will also remember St. James, the
We wish to extend Happy Birthday wishes (Χρόνια Πολλά!) to Stephanie Bellas and
Stacie is back in the loft, and we couldn’t be happier! Welcome back, Stacie!
Now is a great time to join! It’s a new beginning, and we welcome everyone! Why not give choir a try?
Come to a rehearsal or come sit upstairs with us on Sundays to listen and learn. If you’re interested, speak with a choir member and get added to our list. There is no commitment to try. You’ll learn how to sing the hymns in Greek and English, and also learn how to read sheet music. There’s no experience necessary. All you need is a love of singing!
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gether in prayer, in praise, and in giving thanks to God!
Once a Choir member, always a Choir member! You are always welcome to come up and join us. That goes for both Junior and Senior Choir members.
Join our Junior Choir. Sing sacred, secular, and contemporary music, participate in regional events, Federation Conferences, and concerts. If your child would like to sing, please, contact me as soon as possible!
Rehearsals
Our Senior Choir meets on Mondays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Junior Choirs meets Sundays directly after church services. I know there are many activities happening on Sundays so we will get started immediately. Rehearsals will last half an hour to 1 hour. There may be extra rehearsals added as special events draw near.
Notes for students
Our hope is to fill the choir loft with singers of all ages and to raise our voices to-
All students grades 4-10 are encouraged to attend Junior Choir rehearsals! Students in grades 11 & 12 are encouraged to come to the choir loft on Sundays and sing with us. They should also sing with the Junior Choir. Community Service hours are available. Singing, fil-
ing...there are many ways for you to earn your hours! Please, talk to me for more information. Also, scholarships are available for those who participate in Choir and for those pursuing Music in College!
Important Dates and Events coming soon:
Sunday 10/6: National Church Musician Sunday
Friday 11/1Sunday 11/3: Archdiocesan District Federation’s 38th Annual Church Music Conference at St George Cathedral in Hartford, CT
Christmas Pageant
Members of the Senior and Junior choir will be participating in the 39th Annual Church Music Conference of the Archdiocesan District Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians. It's a weekend full of fellowship, workshops, and rehearsals all culminating in the singing of the Divine Liturgy. This year's conference is hosted by St George Cathedral in Hartford!
The Senior Choir is rehearsing the conference music on Wednesday nights from 6:45-8pm. If you are interested in participating in the conference choir, please, speak with me. It is going to be an amazing weekend!
Junior Choir members will participate in a workshop on Saturday where they will learn the music they will sing Sunday. It's a wonderful experience for them to meet and sing with their peers from churches around New York and Connecticut. If your child is interested, please, contact with Joanna asap!
If you have scheduling concerns, questions, interest, or have ever thought about joining the choir, please, contact Joanna Bogardus! Email – djbogardus@att.net, call or text 203-4204.
Written by: JOANNA BOGARDUS CHOIR DIRECTOR
Hello everyone,
Ihope you all had a great summer! I would like to invite you all back as we welcome our athletic season, which is set to begin with practices on Thursday, October 17th. Our Youth team comes into the season looking to defend their championship from last season. They have been champions for 4 straight seasons!
•Youth (ages 7-10) 5:307:00 PM
If any child is interested in participating, please attend one of the practices listed below according to your child’s age. All practices are held on Thursdays in our gym. You must be enrolled in Sunday school in order to participate in the Athletic
•JV (ages 10-13) 7:00-8:00 PM-numbers are light for this age group. Pending signups, we may not field a team.
•Varsity (ages13-18) 8:0010:00 PM
•Seniors(18+) 8:00-10:00 PM
Volleyball
We are gauging interest for two age groups: JV (ages13 and 19)
Please email me if you are
Our basketball season is tentatively slated to begin the first weekend of December.
We look forward to seeing your children on the court! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Written by:
JIMMY HASIOTIS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE
Happy and blessed fall to all! We thank you all for your continued support and kind words.
Daughters of Penelope is looking forward to a new season ahead. We will continue with our successful philanthropy of the past, as well as adding new and necessary events to our calendar. We meet the third Wednesday of every month at 7 pm. Our October meeting is a Pink/Purple and Blue meeting where we raise awareness for breast cancer, domestic violence and antibullying. Consider attending.
We held our first, and hopefully, annual mum sale. Thank you to all who pre-
ordered and came to church to support us. It turned out to be better than we ever imagined. I must say the mums were phenomenal and worth every penny!! And as always, all proceeds will go towards our scholarship fund, knitting club and other community services.
DOP/AHEPA will be hosting the District conference at our church Saturday, October 12. This is a good way to meet other members and to share ideas. These conferences are always fun and informative.
Knitting club meets every other Wednesday at 6:45 in the church hall. If you’d ever like to contribute yarn or funds to purchase
yarn to the knitting club, it would be most helpful. For additional info email Kathy Yiannoulis at kyiannou@gmail.com. All are welcome and no experience necessary.
The flowers we planted in the front and back of the church are thriving, and we hope to continue updating the areas each season. Thanks to all who thanked us for contributing to the beautification of our church.
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Going forward, we are excited for the year to come and hope you will be joining us. We are on instagram as @dopchapter41 and Facebook at Daughters of Penelope Hermes Chapter 41.
Written by: THEODORA FATIBENE
DOP PRESIDENT
Fast Foods
Fast Day Recipes
Bonamatsi
Spinach and Potato Stew /
A hearty and rustic Greek vegan stew of greens and potatoes
Course: Main Course
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 394kcal
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Resting time 10 mins
Total Time 1 hr
Ingredients
1/3 cup olive oil
3-4 green onions, chopped
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste
20-25 ounces fresh spinach, washed and chopped
1 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
4-6 medium sized potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes ( 1 ¾ lb)
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
•In a large pot heat the olive oil and add the chopped yellow onion and green onions. Cook over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the onion from burning.
•1/3 cup olive oil,3-4 green onions, chopped,1 yellow onion, finely chopped
•Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute or two.
•Next add the potatoes to the pot along with the tomato sauce and 1 cup of water. Season with the salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium and cook, covered, for 20-25 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Stir occasionally to make sure that the potatoes do not stick to the bottom of the pot. Do so carefully as to not break up the potatoes. If your pot is getting too dry during the cooking process, add a little more water, 1/4 cup at a time.
•4-6 medium sized potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes,1 cup tomato sauce,1 1/2 teaspoons salt,1 teaspoon pepper
•Add the chopped spinach, chopped parsley, cover, and cook until the spinach is wilted, stirring occasionally.
•20-25 ounces fresh spinach, washed and chopped,1 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
•Remove from heat, and let sit uncovered, for approximately 10-15 minutes, to allow the sauce to thicken.
•Serve, and squeeze some lemon juice over
Submitted by Vicky Andriotis.
balloon FINDING YOUR
Aprofessor gave a balloon to every student, who had to inflate it, write their name on it and throw it in the hallway. The professor then mixed all the balloons. The students were then given 5 minutes to find their own balloon. Despite a hectic search, no one found their balloon.
At that point, the professor told the students to take the first balloon that they found and hand it to the person whose name was written on it. Within 5 minutes, everyone had their own balloon.
The professor said to the students: "These balloons are like happiness. We will never find it if everyone is looking for their own. But if we care about other people's happiness, we'll find ours too."
THE PROBLEM WITH
Aman who took great pride in his lawn found himself with a large crop of dandelions. He tried every method he knew to get rid of them. Still they plagued him.
Finally he wrote to the Department of Agriculture. He enumerated all the things he had tried and closed his letter with the question: "What shall I do now?"
In due course, the reply came: "We suggest you learn to love them."
Archdiocesan District
Saturday, October 26, 2024
$75 per person
Covers transportation and dinner - lunch on own at South Market / Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Bus leaves Saint Barbara Church in Orange, CT at 8:00 a.m. Will leave HCHC after dinner at 6:45 p.m.
Arrive back at Saint Barbara at 9:15 p.m. For
Ladies of Philoptochos Society Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 4070 Park Avenue – Bridgeport, CT 06604
Dear Parishioners,
We invite you to join our philanthropic organization, The Ladies of Philoptochos Society. The mission of the Society is to aid the poor and anyone who may need the help of the Church, to promote the charitable and benevolent purpose of the Archdiocese, to preserve and perpetuate the Orthodox Christian concepts and to participate in the life of our Greek Orthodox community.
A partial list of our activities:
National and Diocesan Level:
• Visits and sponsorships at St. Michael’s Home for the Aged in Yonkers, NY
• Contributions to the Holy Cross/Hellenic College Scholarships
• Provide for the physical needs of the children of Saint Basil’s Academy
• Raise funds for cancer and other major illnesses, General Medical Fund, UNICEF
• Financial aid to any major disasters in the world
Local Bridgeport Level:
• Support to the Feed the Hungry Mission
• Distribute clothes and food to the needy
• Food and blanket drives
Parish Level:
• Assist parishioners in need
• Donate funds for Altar and kitchen needs
• Support various Church initiatives through donations and volunteering
• Offer Memorials and Makarias for the community
• Serve the community at Sunday Fellowship hours (Coffee)
• Bake and volunteer for our annual Greek Festival
• Organize various events throughout the year, including Tsiknopempti, Wine Tastings, and luncheons
We encourage you join us in our mission and participate in serving our Greek Orthodox Community. To join, please fill out the form below and return to the Ladies of Philoptochos. Stewardship minimum is $35.00 per year. Join us to return to God a portion of the time, talents, and resources you have received.
Sincerely, The Membership Committee
Maria Cook – (203) 218-0747 Kathy Santella – (203) 526-7499
Philoptochos Membership Form 2024 -2025
NAME: _________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________________________
HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Reverend Georgios Livaditis
September 2024
Dear Parishioners,
This is to inform you that a Fall GENERAL ASSEMBLY is called by the Parish Council, for Sunday November 3, 2024, after Church Services in the Parish Hall AGENDA
1. Opening Prayer
2. Election for General Assembly Chairperson
3. Minutes of November 2023 General Assembly
4. President's State of the Parish report
5. Father Georgios Comments
6. Proposed 2025 Budget
7. Stewardship Committee Report
8. Maintenance Committee Report
9. Athletic Committee Report
10. Selection of Board of Elections Committee
11. Nominations for Parish Council - only Stewards nominated at General Assembly are qualified.
12. Any Business for the Good of the Order
13. Closing Prayer
Please be advised that members in good standing will be allowed to participate at the Assembly. The Required quorum is 40 Stewards.
Sincerely Yours,
Chris Papachristos
John Frantzis Faye Demestihas Fr. Georgios Livaditis President Treasurer Secretary leratikos Proistamenos
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
4070 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Address Service Requested
