PHILOPTOCHOS PRESENTS A SPECTACULAR 50th GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY MOTHER’S DAY LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW; MEETS, ELECTS NEW BOARD, OFFICERS|

Those who attended the 50th Golden Anniversary Mother’s Day Luncheon and Fashion show on Saturday, May 9 (all 375 guests), left feeling wow! Am I glad I went! It was a spectacular event, befitting a golden anniversary. A lavish reception and luncheon was enjoyed by all, as well as a first-rate fashion show, featuring Priscilla of Boston, a premier bridal gown and evening wear couturier, which recently opened a bridal salon on San Francisco’s famed Union Square.

A raffle was held, featuring cash and other prizes. The raffle proceeds will benefit Kids ‘n’ Cancer, a ministry of the Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos. The proceeds of the luncheon itself will benefit the various ministries of the Annunciation Cathedral Philoptohcos, including the Bishop Anthony Student Aid Endowment Fund. Angie Leventis is President of the Annunciation Cathedral Ladies Philopotochos. Patricia Aleck served as Chairman of the 50th Golden Anniversary Mother’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show. In connection with this golden anniversary event, a special program book was printed, and included greetings and memorial messages (recollections of mothers past and present by their families or friends), as well as photographs and biographies of the 2009 Mothers of the Year. Because this was a golden anniversary Mother’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show, the Annunciation Cathedral Ladies Philoptochos named six Mothers of the Year 2009, one for each of the five decades of the Fashion Show, and one for the decades to come. The six Mothers of the Year 2009 are: Nan Cusulos, Georgia Evangelatos, Helen Franco, Victoria Koutoulas, Rose Sogotis, and Louise Vorrises. The next day, May 10 (Mother’s Day) the six Mothers of the Year 2009 were presented with bouquets of long-stemmed red roses by the community, and received the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco.

On May 21, the Cathedral Ladies Philoptochos held elections for a new board for 2009-2011. The new board members are: Patricia Aleck, Ackie Argyres, Emily Bagatelos, Vivian Curd, Anastasia Dekaristos, Katherine Dermitzakis, Patricia Destein, Nicoletta Ketchum, Despina Kokalis, Angie Leventis, Cleo Mattis, Helen Nicklas, Connie Panagotacos, Irene Poulakidas, Patricia Rally, Evangelia Sogotis, Foula Vasilogiorgis, Georgia Vouchilas, and Pope Zakis. Following the administration of the oath of office by Father Stephen, the new board elected its officers for the next two years. The officers are: President: Angie Leventis; First Vice-President: Patricia Aleck; Second Vice-President: Katherine Dermitzakis; Treasurer: Ackie Argyres; Assistant Treasurer: Despina Kokalis; Recording Secretary: Evangelia Sogotis; and Corresponding Secretary: Foula Vasilogiorgis. Congratulations!

On Sunday, May 10, Angie Leventis presented the Building Fund with a check for $150,000. Looking on are Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, Father Stephen Kyriacou, Father Gregory Ofiesh, and Patricia Aeck, along with the Mothers of the Year 2009, (l. to r.) Victoria Koutoulas, Georgia Evangelatos, Nan Cusulos, Rose Sogotis, Helen Franco and Louise Vorrises.

GETTING READY FOR FESTIVAL 2009: SEPTEMBER 25, 26, 27

On Tuesday, May 12, Annunciation Cathedral’s 2009 Festival Committee met to begin preparations for “A Taste of Greece 2009. By all accounts, the 2008 Festival was a most profitable, successful, and enjoyable one. With everyone’s assistant and support, the Committee hopes to make 2009 and even better one. At the May 12th meeting, last year’s successes and rooms for improvement were discussed, and committees were established. Meetings are scheduled to take place during June, July, and August. Your ideas and input are most valuable. If you would like to be a members of the Festival Team, or if you simply wish to offer a suggestion or two, we invite you to speak with our Festival Chairpersons, Tula Kallas or Mike Canellos.

FIVE RECEIVE CATHEDRAL SCHOLARSHIPSThe Annunciation Cathedral and the Annunciation Cathedral Ladies Philoptochos are pleased to announce the awarding of scholarships to worthy students of the Cathedral family, as follows: 1) The John N. Pappas Scholarship to Nicholas Balian, 2) A Philoptochos Scholarship to Melina Destein 3) The Christos Tsikitas Scholarship to Stefani Kalligeros 4) The Andreas and Niki Coundouris Scholarship to Katerina Karsant and 5) A Philoptochos Scholarship to Arianna Stratakis. All five scholarships are in the amount of $1,000.00 each. Certificates of Scholarship were presented on Sunday, May 31, during the Graduation and Athletic Awards Ceremonies at the Cathedral.

Nicholas Balian is currently a student at the Academy of Art University and will continue there in the fall, his career objectives being animation. Melina Destein will be graduating from Novato High School. She plans to attend Grossmont (San Diego) in the fall and her career objectives are marketing/advertising. Stefani Kalligeros is currently at San Francisco State University, where she plans to continue her studies in the fall, her career objectives being working for the State or Federal Government. Katerina Karsant will be graduating from Sacred Heart Cathedral School. In the fall she plans to attend San Francisco State University, where she will pursue a degree in Criminal Justice Studies. Arianna Stratakis will be graduating from El Camino High School. She plans to attend San Jose State University in the fall, with career objectives of becoming an occupational therapist. We congratulate our scholarship recipients and wish them well in their studies.

KUDOS TO OUR GRADUATES

The Annunciation Cathedral extends congratulations and best wishes to those graduating from college/university, high school, middle school, and kindergarten, as follows:

College/ University Graduates: Juliana Christine Rotter, from Massachussets Institute of Technology, with a bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Engineering and a Minor in Management; and Constantine Tsagaris, from San Francisco Law School, with a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree.

High School Graduates: Katherine Curd, from Capuchino High School, going on to the City College of San Mateo; Melina Destein, from Novato High School, going to Grossmont (San Diego); Angela Hernandez, from San Francisco Waldorf High School, going to City College; j Kallas, from Hillsdale High School, going on to City College of San Mateo; K.T. Karsant, from Sacred Heart Cathedral School, going on to San Francisco State; and Ariana Stratakis, from El Camino High School, going on to San Jose State.

Katie Yeilding was accepted into Carnegie Mellon University in a pre-college program for upcoming High School Seniors.

Middle School Graduates: Alexander Cocoles, from St. John, going to Sacred Heart Cathedral School; Andrew Curd, from Parkside, going to Capuchino High School; Miley Franco, from Burlingame Intermediate, going to Burlingame High School; Vasili Loufas, from St. Gabriel School, going to Sacred Heart Cathedral School; Andrew Nuris, from St. Thomas Moore, going to Terra Nova; Eleni Veros from Presidio Middle School, going to San Francisco School of The Arts; and Kevin Yeilding, from Cathedral School for Boys, going to St. Ignatius High.

Kindergarten Graduates: Vasiliki Marca, Simona Nigusse, and Anastasia Pezo.

HONORING OUR YOUTH

On Sunday May 31st in the conjunction with our Sunday School Graduation and Scholarship Presentation, we held our annual Athletic Awards Luncheon honoring our youth for their sportsmanship and athletic achievements. The 2009 Basketball season was a most extraordinary one with the Annunciation having hosted 45 league and playoff games and having sponsored 12 teams ranging from ages 7 to 62! Many new milestones were reached this season. Our young boy’s C team won its first game in two years of playing; (the smiles still resonating on coaches and players alike at the luncheon). Our high school boy’s team defended its league championship from the previous season by again winning the league championship and placing second in tournament play. Our adult B teams placed first and second in league play and second in tournament play. Our junior varsity girls and high school girls remained the prettiest teams on the court. Thank you to our clergy, coaches, parents, and athletes who continue to make our program number 1!

NEXT COMMUNITY LINK JUNE 20

Please join us for our upcoming Community Link, which will take place Saturday, June 20. We will meet at the Cathedral at 9 a.m., for prayer and visit assignments, and begin our visits by 10 a.m. (usually in pairs), concluding before lunch time. Your visits bring joy to our seniors who are experiencing isolation from their community due to illness, loss or hardship. This is an excellent opportunity for all, including children, adults and families. Many of the seniors we visit need rides to doctor appointments and to church. Would you be willing to help? If so, please contact Caroline Pappajohn cpappajohn@yahoo.com. Community Link dates for the remainder of 2009 are: June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, November 21, December 19. All dates are Saturdays. Once again, we begin at 9 a.m.

SACRAMENTS AND SERVICES

BAPTISMS
Alexander Michael, son of Kurt Frederick (Constantine) Duecker and Theadora Kathy Vriheas Duecker, was baptized May 2. His sponsors are Thomas Lunday and Lisa Lunday.

Marios Nikolas, son of Dr. Nikolas Marios Stathopoulos and Stavroula Tsigakou Stathopoulos, was baptized May 17. His sponsors are Dr. Kosta Koutoulas and Chrisoula Koutoulas.

Robert Alexander, son of Robert Francis Guldbech and Helen Selianitis, was baptized May 17. His sponsor is Adonis Milon.

Niko Alexander, son of Louis John Selianitis and Wendy Vanessa Gil-zanbrano, was baptized May 17. His sponsors are Tony and Priscilla Selianitis.

Jayda Isabela Eleni, daughter of Jason W. Nieder and Joanne Munguia Nieder, was baptized May 17. Her sponsor is Alyssa Marlene Munguia.

Na mas zisoun! (Long life!)

FUNERAL
Helen Munguia, who fell asleep in the Lord on April 7, was buried on April 14. She is survived by her children, Annette Eliopoulos, Louise Kallas, Dorothy Riedel, John Munguia, and Elaine Karadais.

Aionia I Mnimi! (Eternal memory!)

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Jun 2009 Herald
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.