Dear Parishioners,
Hope you are well. As we approach Holy week and The Resurrection, we pray Christ brings peace to the world and to each one of us. We have included the program for Holy Week and other Services in May and June. We pray this Pascha will be a special time. God bless, from myself (fr Constantine) and our committees. Please note the following:
- Apart from the Palm Sunday Service we have a luncheon at the Kyle Bay Restaurant. For late bookings, please speak to Fr Constantine ASAP.
- Holy Week Services are a blessing for all of us. Please see the below program.
- We start with the Bridegroom (Christ) Services on Palm Sunday 7pm with His Grace Bishop Bartholomew, through to Tuesday night, and in the mornings Presanctified Liturgies including Wednesday morning. Then on Wednesday afternoon the Holy Unction Healing Service (Evchelion) 3pm and Wednesday evening the preparatory Matins Service for the Celebration of the Last Supper on Thursday morning. On Holy Friday the Great Hours, Apokathilosis, and Epitafios.
- Early Holy Saturday morning we have the celebratory Liturgy (1st Resurrection), and then, at night THE RESURRECTION! We hope you can stay for the Liturgy after midnight to celebrate and receive Holy Communion. On Pascha morning at 11am we have the Vespers of Love at the Archdiocese – Redfern with His Eminence our Archbishop Makarios and all the Clergy. Please come and get his blessing. On Renewal Monday after Pascha is St George’s Day and Renewal Tuesday Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene.
- If you would like to help the on busy days of Holy Week and cleaning up, please contact Fr Constantine or a Committee member.
- Parking will be available Holy Friday and Holy Saturday evenings at the TAFE carpark. This comes at a significant cost to us, as do other things required for these Services, so please give generously to help.
Youth/Teen Café Activities are as follows:- “Pearls of Wisdom” interviews. A new initiative of our youth to learn from their seniors and mentors. Please follow these online.
- On the 26 April at 7pm a talk and activities on “Holy Week – a Sacred Journey” by Vincent Vangi and Jonathan Giannakopoulos.
- On Holy Friday 3 May decoration of Holy Cross Activity 10 am.
- At Gymea on Friday 10 May the Youth/Teen Café have a talk on “Using our Talents for the Greater Good” by Chrissos Mav and Sausage Sizzle
- At Liverpool Parish Hall a combined Parish Youth Event “Escape to Greece:Food-Parea-Dancing” – 11 May, ages16-28. Please book online.
- Orthodox Café continues to meet on Sundays after Church for all and every 2nd Friday for Adults after Pascha. Please register to receive announcements.
We pray you have a Blessed Holy Week and Resurrection: CHRIST IS RISEN!
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CQSSN
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES – If you would like to join any of our volunteer groups you can do so by speaking to Father Constantine directly or emailing – events@saintstylianos.org.au to obtain more information or register your interest. Here is some general information about current groups that support our Parish
CHURCH COMMITTEE
This group is responsible for the operations of the Church and its activities and requirements
PHILOPTOHOS
This group provides support and catering for coffee after Church and at specific Church events. It maintains general sales after Church services to raise money for the Church programs and to support families in need.
BUSY BEES
This group is responsible for maintaining the Church grounds and cleaning of the inside of the Church. This group meets on Friday mornings.
EVENTS TEAM
This group is responsible for developing the calendar of events and project managing events throughout the year. Volunteers are not expected to assist at all events but can choose how they participate based on their interest or skills
FOOD OUTREACH
This group is responsible for cooking meals to distribute to local charities once a month. Volunteers are not expected to assist each month but are notified of what is required and can volunteer as available. This group offers many opportunities from sourcing products required for preparing meals, cooking, packaging and delivery
TEACHERS
This group includes teachers required for Sunday School, Scripture at local public schools both primary and high school and our after school Greek lessons
GENERAL
There is always a need for volunteers in general. If you would like to register your interest you can be notified when we need some support. Trades are also welcome to register as there is a requirement from time to time for small repairs and maintenance.
Upcoming Events
For our Young Adults the flyer and program for the Orthodox Cafe are below. This is a great meeting place for our young people and we encourage any new people to come.
GREEK SCHOOL TEACHERS WANTED
Positions available for St Stylianos Greek School Teachers for 2024. Must have online skills.
If interested please contact Fr Constantine on 0418 51 1212.
St Stylianos Parish Charity Support
Dear Parishioners,
Hope you are well. In our endeavors to help we would like to again offer our support to those in need in these difficult times. Feel free to contact us in confidence. Together with helping our own parishioners in need we have started a new initiative to broaden our charity outreach.
NEW INITIATIVE FOR ST STYLIANOS PARISH
Our Parish Committee, Philoptochos and Youth including the Orthodox Cafe have endorsed this new initiative. We have located these two charities that we would like our Parishioners to support as part of the broader community and in conjunction with our current program. We are adding Dandelion Support Network and Women’s and Girls Emergency Centre and their details are below.
Dandelion Support Network
Where are they: Caringbah
What they do: Dandelion fills a service gap in the community service industry and is built on a partnership model, working alongside social workers and case managers to support families. They accept donations of good quality preloved and new nursery furniture and items for babies and children for families in need.
Women’s and Girl’s Emergency Centre
Where are they: Redfern
What they do: Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC) is an organisation that supports women in social isolation and domestic violence, families in crisis and advocates for social change in the community. Every night, they support 200 women and children impacted by homelessness, domestic violence and systemic disadvantage. They provide material aid, case management, biopsychosocial support, accommodation, and crisis responses. Equally they seek to address the underlying causes of gender-based violence through primary prevention activities with communities and private and public entities.
The Parish will eventually collect items for these charities. However, due to Covid 19 restrictions and lockdown we can only accept monetary donations at this stage, and we will purchase the items and deliver them to the locations. If you would like to donate money towards our charitable work, then please click on the image below and direct your donation to one of the 3 locations listed.
Thank you in advance for your support for our vulnerable and needy.
God bless you all.
Fr Constantine Varipatis
Livestreaming ofservices now available at Saint Stylianos YouTube Channel
28 October Celebrations @ St Stylianos (Photos)
Iviron monastery is one of the biggest monasteries on Mt Athos. It is an amazing monastic community and building that is set in a beautiful area of the world: the Garden of the Mother of God! It’s been made by a professional photographer who spends a lot of time at the monastery. It is very inspirational and a blessing that we have such monastics praying for us . Enjoy!
God Bless
Fr Constantine
VOLUNTEER SCRIPTURE TEACHERS NEEDED
Dear Friends,
We would like to kindly ask you to help our team of volunteer teachers to help young kids learn more about the Bible and the Orthodox Church in Public Schools.
Please look at becoming a Scripture teacher. It is not something difficult but it is a great blessing for all. In particular is would be good to be part of the “be there for me” campaign as some of our teachers are elderly and need support at this time. Please feel free to watch this video prepared by the body that coordinates Scripture in Public Schools for which we are members.
May God bless you and your family.
Fr Constantine Varipatis(can be contacted on 0418 511 212)
Consecration of our Parish by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios
