Philoptochos

Upcoming Events

There are no Philoptochos meetings scheduled during April. Please watch for updates on events or needs in the weekly bulletin, web page, and at our table on Sundays.

In Christ, & wishing you a blessed Lent & Pascha,
Annette Legeros | Chapter President
952-239-5060 | [email protected]

Holy Week

Sign up at church for Holy Week needs. The dates will be announced soon, so keep watching. Some volunteer needs will be for Holy Friday to adorn the kouvouklion, wrap red eggs, plate koulouria, and on Holy Saturday to adorn church after the 10:00 AM First Resurrection Liturgy.

Please Consider – Board Elections Are Coming in May 2023

A slate of nominees will be elected to a two-year term on our Philoptochos Board in May. Women experienced and new to the organization are welcome to this opportunity! We meet as a board eight times during the year and members serve on a couple committees. Please give some prayerful thought to taking on this role, talk to current board members, and consider running as a board member.

Membership Drive Ends Soon

Philoptochos supports local food shelves, Orthodox ministries, monasteries and orphanages, and relief efforts throughout the country and world. We can’t do this without you! Please consider joining us during our annual membership drive, which wraps up at the end of March. Women of the parish received a letter with information. Please mail in your membership form and gift, or stop by our table during the Sunday social hour for more information.

Philoptochos Serving Dinner at FOCUS, Sunday, April 2, 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Philoptochos is hosting the free Sunday night meal at FOCUS Minnesota on April 2. We are in need of many hands to help. Please find the SignUp Genius at bit.ly/SMGOC_FOCUS_Apr2023 to contribute a part of the pasta meal or volunteer to serve.

If you have questions, please contact Mary Ellis, [email protected], or Paulette Hastings, [email protected] Thank you for helping us prepare 200 meals for people in need.

FOCUS Dinner Recipes

Women’s Book Club, Thursday, April 6, 2023, 7:00 – 8:30 PM

The April book is Saint Nektarios: The Saint of our Century by Sotos Chondropoulos, and is available for purchase from St Mary’s bookstore. This will be a hybrid event with the in-person discussion at church and a call-in option. All women are welcome. To have your name added to the Book Club email distribution list, please contact Katherine Boosalis at [email protected]

Tandem Baby Bottle Collection, Now – Palm Sunday, April 9, 2023

Tandem provides a community for women to pursue the struggles of life together through educational classes, medical care, counseling and support, material needs like food, clothing, and diapers, life coaching, and  childcare. Stop at our table in the Narthex or Great Hall and take a baby bottle to fill with coins and dollars or put your gift in a provided envelope. Please return your gift by Palm Sunday, April 9.

 Philoptochos 2023 Membership Drive Is Underway, Thru April 30.

In January, all women of the parish received a letter inviting them to become a member of Philoptochos. For 90 years, Philoptochos has served as the philanthropic arm of the church. At St. Mary’s, our chapter actively supports local, national, international, and Orthodox charities, and coordinates many hands-on activities throughout the year. We also support the parish in many ways, including decorating for different seasons of the year, hosting Pan- Orthodox and other events, and hosting the festival bake sale. Stop by our table during the coffee hour on Sundays throughout the month to get more information, to drop off your membership form, and to volunteer for upcoming  activities. Membership dues are determined by each individual, with the first $22 going to our Metropolis and National Philoptochos and the remainder staying with our chapter.

Thank You…

Thank you to all those who helped with volunteering in March 2023.

• MEOCCA Meal/Vespers on March 12. Thank you to everyone who brought dessert or helped with set-up, serving, and clean-up.
• Meal after Presanctified Liturgy on March 15. Thank you to everyone who helped set up and serve and the meal and clean up. Thank you to our guest speaker Sasha Nicolle. And thank you to all who supported Lift Up the Vulnerable through the free will donations.
• Operation Classroom: School Supply Drive for Bancroft Elementary School. Thank you, Carol Smith, coordinator of the drive. We had a great team of Philoptochos helpers, thank you!
• Assemble IOCC Hygiene Kits. Thank you to all who helped assemble IOCC hygiene kits on March 26 at the monthly Philoptochos meeting – Carol A. Smith, coordinator of the drive, and the great team of Philoptochos helpers.
• Spring Fillo Sale. Thank you Andrea Tiggas for coordinating another successful sale!

Volunteer Opportunities: Please watch for updates on events or needs from us in the weekly bulletin, webpage, and at our table on Sundays.

What is Philoptochos?

The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. is the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Founded in 1931, Philoptochos now has more than 400 local chapters the mission to promote charitable, benevolent and philanthropic outreach, to preserve the sanctity of life and family, and to perpetuate and promote our Orthodox faith and traditions.

St. Mary’s established the official Philoptochos Chapter 2049 in 1945, but women of the church have been serving others since 1910 when seven women founded the first known service group Elpis, which means Hope in Greek. Today, nearly 200 women are members of our chapter. We hold fundraising events and receive monies from the parish to support many charitable groups, including:

• Seven food shelves and four non-profits that lift up women and children in the Twin Cities
• Orthodox organizations including Prison Ministry, 4 monasteries, 6 orphanages, Hellenic College Holy Cross Seminary, IOCC, OCMC, and Orthodox Christian Network
• Organizations supported by the Chicago Metropolis and National Philoptochos Boards

We also provide support to the parish by planning decorations and special needs during the Easter and Christmas seasons, running a Women’s Book Club, hosting receptions for special occasions and guests, organizing hands-on service projects, and responding to clergy requests.

All women are welcome to participate in Philoptochos activities and invited to join as a member. The annual membership drive runs from January through April each year.

To contact St. Mary’s Philoptochos, please email [email protected].

Membership

St. Mary’s Philoptochos Chapter 2049 holds an annual membership drive from January through April. Dues are self-determined, meaning you decide the amount you wish to give, and in 2021, the average gift was $82. The first $22 of your gift supports Metropolis of Chicago and National Philoptochos programs, and the remaining donation stays in our local chapter.

All levels of giving and volunteering are welcome! Large and small gifts as well as significant and minimal involvement work together to make our Philoptochos chapter vibrant. And all members of the parish are invited to our activities – you don’t have to be a member to participate.

According to our bylaws, Philoptochos membership is open to Greek Orthodox women aged 18+, and associate (non-voting and non-office holding) membership is eligible to non-Greek Orthodox women married to Greek Orthodox men, Greek Orthodox men, and non-Greek Orthodox men married to Greek Orthodox women.