St. Mary’s Fellowship of Seniors
Quote of the month…
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” – Spock
Welcome!
We welcome new members to join this wonderful Fellowship of Seniors. The St. Mary’s Seniors Club is open to all age 55+ members of St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church.
- Meetings are scheduled at St. Mary’s at Noon, every 2nd Tuesday (or sometimes on a 3rd Tuesday) of each month from April through December. Our meetings include birthday/anniversary recognitions, a delicious lunch hosted by various members each month, short meeting announcements, and a variety of informative programs and fun entertainment .
- We also organize several offsite events like theatre outings, boat trips, etc. which are partially subsidized by our Seniors’ treasury.
- Our year culminates with a festive Christmas party in December.
- Current membership cost is $15 per year.
For further information, please contact the church office and/or current officers:
- Tessie Bourdamis, President
- Erline Holman, Vice President
- Linda Stanton, Secretary
- Don Vanover, Treasurer
NOTE: If you are a member, and you haven’t received our email announcements, please send an email to TBourdamis{at}comcast.net
Announcements and News
April 2024 Meeting
St. Mary’s Seniors meeting and social will be held on Tuesday, April 9, at 12:00 noon, in the Terrace Room. A Lenten lunch will be hosted by our officers, followed by a program, and business meeting. We will celebrate all March and April birthdays and anniversaries with a delicious cake by Queen of Cakes, and a group photo will be taken. All St. Mary’s seniors (55+) are welcome to join our lively group. Dues are $15 per year. For further information, please contact President Tessie Bourdamis or any current officer.
National Senior Citizens Day, Wednesday, August 21, 2024
On August 21st, National Senior Citizens Day recognizes the achievements of the more mature representatives of our nation. The day provides an opportunity to show our appreciation for their dedication, accomplishments, and services they give throughout their lives. According to the 2017 census, 47 million seniors live in the United States. By 2060, that number will nearly double. Their wealth of knowledge, skill, and experience offer so much to the next generation. As technologies advance, these are the people who’ve experienced each step of change. Not only have they contributed to it, but they understand first hand the benefits and the drawbacks. They know life without the advancements that exist today.
Links:
September is National Senior Center Month
September is National Senior Center Month—your opportunity to promote a positive image of aging, highlight how your center improves the lives of older adults, show your center’s importance in the community, and create interest in prospective new participants and collaborative partners.
Links:
Resources
“Ministering to our Elderly” Video, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Ministering to our Elderly video. An interview with then-V. Rev. Dr. Nathanael Symeonides (now Metropolitan Nathanael).
Seniors – Orthodox Church in America
Seniors – Issues, Ministry, Community Services. Twenty-plus articles on a variety of Orthodox topics regarding Seniors.
Greek Orthodox Senior Residences
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Directory of Senior Residences throughout the US.
AHEPA Senior Living
AHEPA Senior Living (ASL) – a nearly 500-employee nonprofit company still inspired by a Hellenic spirit and ethos that is helping approximately 5,000 older adults in 91 ASL communities nationwide live vibrant and full lives in beautiful and safe surroundings.
Fitness and Sports
Born Again Jocks … a sports organization for men 55 years & over. Based in Bloomington. The focus is on improving lives of senior men through the balance of friendship, sports and exercise.
Silver Sneakers – Live and On-Demand workouts and classes. Free membership to national gyms and local community fitness centers. Available at no cost for adults 65+ through select Medicare plans.
Local Area Senior Centers
Hennepin County Home Care
Home Care Brochure for Seniors and others. View & Download HERE. A comprehensive program that provides services and products to help Seniors (& others) continue to live at home in Hennepin County.
MN Information for Seniors
MN Seniors Online. A large variety of topics including employment & volunteer opportunities for Seniors.
General Information
Congratulations to Senior President Tessie Bourdamis who was named Penelope of the Year at the AHEPA Supreme Convention in Orlando, Florida, in July 2022.
General Meeting, Apr 18 2023, Noon, Terrace Rm
Bright Tuesday! Please note changed date due to Holy Week and Easter in the preceding week. Celebrate March and April birthdays and anniversaries and enjoy the delicious cake provided by Queen of Cakes. Luncheon & Movie by Greek producer/actor Robert Krantz afterwards.
Valentine's Day Celebration, Feb 14 2023, Noon, Terrace Rm
Everyone brought a light appetizer/meze, snacks, or sweet treats to share. Cake and coffee were provided. Bingo. Approx 40 members attended.
Christmas Celebration, Tues, December 13, 2022, 11:00 AM
Saint Mary’s Seniors will gather in the Terrace Room on Tuesday, December 13, 11:00 a.m., for a festive Christmas celebration. This event will include a social hour, a delicious luncheon catered by Tony Nicklow, a no charge raffle for a variety of prizes, followed by entertainment with songstress Elena Biessener, accompanied by pianist Jon, who will perform holiday tunes. Stay tuned for further details from Tessie Bourdamis. We look forward to seeing all of our Seniors Club members at this holiday event.
Date Change (due to Election Day), Tuesday, Nov 1, 2022, Noon
Saint Mary’s Seniors will gather for their monthly meeting and social on Tuesday, November 1, at 12:00 noon in the Terrace Room. Please note the date change due to Election Day on our usual meeting day. We will be entertained by the Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra. We will have a potluck luncheon, so please bring any item to share. We will end our afternoon with a short meeting.
Meeting, Tuesday, September 20, 2022, Noon
Saint Mary’s Seniors will gather for their monthly meeting and social on Tuesday, September 20, at 12:00 noon, in the Terrace Room. Please note that the date has been changed this month to the third Tuesday. After lunch, we will be “taking a walk down memory lane” where we will reminisce and share with table mates some memories of past festivals/bazaars attended. We ask that each person bring an item, artifact, or photo to display that pertains to your favorite memory of past festivals. We will end our afternoon with a short meeting and announcements of upcoming activities, as well as Bingo games.
August 2022 Meeting Cancelled
Please note that our August luncheon and meeting has been cancelled. We look forward to seeing you at the joint event with members of the Hellenic Post American Legion and Auxiliary at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre on August 17.
Meeting, Tuesday July 12, 2022, Noon
Saint Mary’s Seniors will gather for their monthly meeting and social on Tuesday, July 12, at 12:00 noon, in the Terrace Room. Historian David Jones will give a presentation on: “Charles Lindbergh: Triumph, Tragedy, and Controversy.” We will end our afternoon with a short meeting and Bingo. We welcome new members from our St. Mary’s community. Annual dues are $15.00
Meeting, Tuesday June 14, 2022, Noon
Tuesday, June 14
Saint Mary’s Seniors will gather for their monthly meeting and social on Tuesday, June 14,at 12:00 noon, in the Terrace Room. Following our luncheon, we will be entertained by UofM cellist and St. Mary’s member Eleni Ciuta, who is also a member of our St. Mary’s Choir. We will end our afternoon with a short business meeting and Bingo.
Meeting, Tuesday May 10, 2022, Noon
Saint Mary’s Seniors will gather for their monthly meeting and social on Tuesday, May 10, 12:00 noon, in the Lecture Room. Please note location change. Following our lunch, we will be entertained by Magician Justin Alan. We will end our afternoon with a short business meeting and Bingo.
Meeting, Tuesday April 12, 2022, Noon
Tuesday, April 12
Saint Mary’s Seniors will gather for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 12, 12:00 noon, in the Terrace Room. We will have a lunch followed by the business meeting and Bingo. Our program will feature Father Tim presenting a talk on his return to St. Mary’s. Also we will be collecting the 2022 membership dues.
September Reminiscing Event – A Synopsis
In September the Senior group had a lively walk down “Memory Lane” mostly about past St. Mary’s Festivals or events. The Festival began in the early 80’s – one big day. There was the “Mr. & Mrs. Club” that prepared a chicken dinner called the “Greek Smorgasbord.” Imagine a Swedish meal at the Greek church! The first Festival was advertised in the Star Tribune with a huge ad and in the Lake Street area. It was just food at first but later it became a three-day event.
Sad things happened around the time of the Festival. When September 11 happened right before the Festival, it was a challenge. Mayor Sharon Sales Belson was supportive. When the I-35 Bridge fell, a parishioner who was very involved with the dancing was killed, costumes were lost, and groups from around the country offered to help.
Funny things happened too, like when some wine accidentally was poured out during clean up. When the dancing and music moved outside, and the police showed up to tell the church that they needed a permit to play music outside in the neighborhood. How some zealous campers ‘swiped’ some corn from a farmer’s field. How Mary Kafkas helped catch a thief who almost sold her a stolen car! That a cotton ball ignited during the anointing service. And the altar boys had to read the Epistle in Greek.
John Kafkas shared an album of photos of members from past Senior meetings. People enjoyed the pictures, remembering many members who are no longer with us. Ernie Konstas shared pictures of his family and from his service in the U.S. Military. Linda Stanton passed around a watercolor she purchased of a monastery in Greece, as well as a cute tree ornament.
Annette Legeros thanked the Seniors for pouring coffee and listened to feedback about this year’s Festival. She expressed how much she loves organizing the food service at the Festival. Many thanks to everyone who participated and shared memories. It was a lot of fun.