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Annunciator Online - April & May 2010 ON OUR COVER ST IRENE THE MARTYR Born during the reign of Constantine the Great in the Persian City of Magydus, Irene was the daughter of Licinius, governor of the region. Licinius was a ruler of little humor, with even less understanding and with an iron will that was in the tradition of the Medes and the Saracens. He reared his only child, Irene, in an ornate palace. At the age of eight she began to be tutored in the grand manner of the times. Accordingly she studied for ten years under the tutelage of Apelanios, an educator renowned for his wisdom and intellect. According to Apelanios, who was also Irenes biographer, an angel of the Lord appeared to Irene in a dream when she was a young woman and told her that she had been chosen to be the voice of the Messiah among her own people. When she told the venerable Apelanios of her dream, he stood in awe. When he saw it in his proper perspective he warned the girl that the road ahead would be strewn with obstacles and that the journey would be an arduous one. She knew that her faith would sustain her. Licinius at first attributed her new eagerness for Christianity to the whim of youth, and he advised her to give up this madness. When her declarations for Christ continued unabated, he sternly warned her that he could tolerate no more. When she failed to comply, he flew into a rage, threatening to have her trampled in the arena by wild horses. Apelanios related that while Licinius was at the arena arranging the stampede to take his daughters life, he was somehow accidentally trampled himself. Irene hurried to the side of her father, and as he lay mortally wounded she prayed to the Lord that he be spared. Her prayer was answered. Licinius recovered, repented, and was baptized into the Christian faith. For this he was promptly removed from office by the Persian King, Sedecian. Turning to Irene, whom he considered a sorceress, Sedecian stated that he would restore her father to his post and allow her to go free if she disavowed Christ. She declined and was thereupon cast into prison. There she was subjected to inhuman torture and was given just enough food to sustain her until the next flogging. After Sedecians death, she was released. Miraculously, regaining her health, she carried the message of the Messiah throughout the land, converting thousands to Christianity. Three consecutive successors to Sedecian, Savor, Numerianus and Savorian all failed to halt Irenes advancement of Christianity. Further imprisonment, torture and abuse of mind and body having failed, it was decided that Irene should be put to death. She was beheaded on 5 May 384. Although St. Irene is not known to us as a biblical scholar, her very nature is an expression of the Scriptures as displayed in every aspect of her life on earth. She not only turned the other cheek but went to the aid of the parent that would have destroyed her and except for her intervention would have thereby destroyed himself. She saved her fathers life in order that he might save his own soul thereafter, by becoming a Christian himself. While preaching the word of Christ she encountered the ever present dangers, yet managed to outlive three emperors. In the days when women were decidedly second class citizens, she commanded the respect of men and women alike, ultimately becoming a mother figure to Christian converts drawn from ranks of the worst enemies of Jesus Christ. from the book Orthodox Saints Vol 2-by George Poulos MOTHERS DAY-A New Trend The month of May always brings with it not simply the flowers from Aprils showers but also on the 2nd Sunday a special day to honor our mothers. Truly our mothers deserve a special day of tribute and relaxation surrounded by her children. I recall how mothers day use to be a very well attended day at Liturgy, that families gathered together for worship that included extra prayers for their mothers certainly and then afterwards had a special meal at home for mom prepared by her children or took her out to lunch or dinner at a restaurant or banquet hall. But over the past several years I have noticed a "new trend" which I feel is not a good trend. I hear that many people are having mothers day brunches at home or at a restaurant and totally skip the Sunday Liturgy; attendance on mothers day of late is just nominal at best. It seems that the stress has gone from being in Church in prayer with mom together, to lets feed mom early on her day. I thus give this pastoral exhortation that we "refocus" and do the better way, the older practice or the original practice&.come with mom for Liturgy, receive the Eucharist together then spoil her with a nice meal. First however at the Lords spiritual table then at the physical table. Pan-Orthodox Episcopal Assembly to Convene May 26- Back in October of 2008 a world wide Synaxis of Primates of the various Orthodox Churches was convened in Constantinople. This pan-Orthodox gathering of Church Hierarchs expressed their desire "for the swift healing of every canonical anomaly that has arisen from historical circumstances and pastoral requirements, such as in the so-called Orthodox Diaspora, with a view to overcoming every possible influence that is foreign to Orthodox ecclesiology." A continuation of this meeting was held in June of 2009 in Geneva. Across the globe various "local Episcopal Assemblies" are now being held. For our hempishere a very important meeting of the hierarchs of both North and Central America is planned to occur May 26-27 in NYC. Let us pray for safe travel for all of these leaders and for fruitful proceedings to benefit our united witness and presence in this hemisphere. This Years Graduates-In Next Annunciator Please submit the names of parishioner graduates from high school, college, university, vocational schools and graduate degree programs to the parish office that we may list them in the June issue of the Annunciator sharing in the joy and success of each household with a graduate. Be sure to state name of school, degree received and future plans. These can be e-mailed to Carolyn Frangos on Mission Trip to Albania "Let them do good that they may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share." (I Timothy 6:18) Our parishioner Carolyn Frangos has been selected to serve as a volunteer for our Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) for mission work in Shen Vlash, Albania where she will be assisting at a childrens home (Home of Hope) for a summer camp program for children ages 3-13 in early June. Carolyn will teach English classes, do arts & crafts and lead sports activities. She seeks our prayers and financial support for the mission trip. As in the past when other parishioners went on a short term mission trip for the OCMC, each volunteer needs to raise the funds for the cost of the mission, in this case $2,000 will be needed for Carolyns participation. All donations in any amount are requested. Make your check payable to "OCMC" and mark on the memo line "Albanian Mission." Funds need to be in place by May 8. Please mail check to Carolyn Frangos at 61 Woodmont Dr. in Cranston, RI 02920. Office Secretary on Medical Leave Our office secretary Elaine Andrade will be on a medical leave from April 28 for a 6-8 week period of time. We pray for her thorough recovery, healing and benefit for the surgery she will have. In the interim, although we are currently making plans for office coverage, everyone will need to be patient with any office slow down. AHEPA To Sponsor Youth in Hellenic History Competi Our Sophocles Chapter of the Order of Ahepa will once again this year sponsor any youth from our parish to participate in the Hellenic History Trophy Competition sponsored by the Yankee District, by covering the registration expenses, fees and travel. The due date to sign up is May 15, 2010. The tentative date of the actual competition is September 25, 2010 at St. Barbaras in Orange, Connecticut. More information to follow. To sign up for the competition, please contact Lakis Andriotis at 401-654-6875 or Michael Haveles at 401-942-8287. ATTENTION Former BDC & MBC Campers & Staff This summer marks the 20th anniversary of the "renewed" camping program of our Boston Metropolis. An opportunity is now available to former participants to become "MINISTRY PARTNERS" with the program by offering a gift of $10 per month to support the camp and the new adult Retreat House. Participation is easy and can be deducted automatically from your checking account or charged to your credit card monthly. Enroll on line at Youth News Update God Bless the Lenten Friday Readers We commend the students of our Greek School who prepared themselves to read the Compline Prayers at the Salutations Services in the original Greek Text: Dimitri & Anastasia Vourvachakis, Nicholas Simijis, Sophia Petrou, Lucas Halkidis, Alexandra & Nathaniel Nichols and Aris Degaitas. Ionian Village Scholarships Available for Those Needing Financial Assistance The Faith Endowment organization is offering a number of scholarships for those who otherwise could not afford the trip to camp in Greece. Visit the Faith Endowment website UP-COMING YOUTH EVENTS Sat May 8- Goya will have their end of the year outing , (a trip to the NYC and the Bronx Zoo). Goyans should check with their Face Book Page for details to sign up for the trip. A registration deposit is a must to reserve your seat on the bus. To assist in covering expenses, Goyans will hold a bake sale on Sun April 25. Tues May 18 @ 6:30PM- During the next Jr. Goya meeting, (for 6th-8th graders) we will learn about robotics. Allison Cross, a 6th grader at St. Mary Academy Bay View, is a member of the St. Mary Academy Robotics Team (S.M.A.R.T.). She will give a demonstration of how a Lego Mind Storm robot works and the group will work together to program the robot to perform a basic task. Mon May 24/ Joy (for 3rd-5th graders) will meet at 6:15PM. New members are strongly invited to join in the great fellowship and projects that the children have been doing. Church School Music Program Continues The new Church School Music Program with Beth Nichols continues on so as to teach our children various religious hymns of our divine services. The following dates have been set for these sessions which follow the normal Sunday School class lesson time&..Sundays April 18 & 25 and May 2 & 16. Parents are also urged to attend. On these 4 Sundays the children will be preparing to participate in the Pentecost Sunday Hymns for May 23rd and also selections for the Recognition Sunday Program on June 6. So dont miss out! Various Scholarships Available Applications for our parishs Savvides Scholarship are currently available from the office or here and are due by May 24th. (Those having received the scholarship twice are excluded). The new "Annunciator Scholarship" application is also available and also due by May 24th. 2009 Pledge Program Report 556 units / $271,518.00 pledged / $263,833.00 paid as of March 31, 2010 ADDITIONAL 2009 Pledge Response Forms Thank you to those who sent their 2009 envelopes: George Alexion; Christos Mihailides and Patricia Skoutas. 2010 Pledge Response Forms Returned Our 2010 Stewardship has begun and here are a list of the contributors thus far: Gregory Agakos; John Alexion; George Alexion; Sophia Andriotis; Olga Antoniou; Harry Bablenis; Karen Bablenis; Pauline Butsika; Christine Chifotides; M/M Thomas Coyne; Alan & Priscilla Delis; Mercine Florio; William & Maryanna Floskis; Georgia Fortunato; Nickie Fotopoulos; Gregory Fraginis; Anthony George; Fr. Andrew & Presv. Maria George; Helen Georgeon; Michael & Heather Gregoire; James & Nancy Harritos; John & Alexia Hatjopoulos; Fifi Hronis; Mary Kanelos; Eugenia Lekos; John & Eva Loezos; Peter Manis; M/M George Melanis; Vasilios & Vasiliki Melanis; Jean Mihelakos; Paul & Maureen Mihailides; M/M John Mitrelis; M/M Theodoros Panagopoulos; Charles & Ethel Pappas; John & Eveline Paraskevakos; Arthur & Elaine Passa; George & Eleftheria Perdikakis; Mr. & Mrs. Eustace Pliakas; Janet M. Poulios; Angela Provost; Michael & Elaine Psikakos; M/M Nikolaos M. Psikakos; Steven & Dorothy Renzi; Stamatios Revis; Christopher Sheehan; M/M Michael Sotirakos; M/M Edmund Sullivan; Kiriakos Syintsakos; M/M Edward Tarbox; Mr. Paul Thompson & Dr. Margaret Tryforos; Dr. & Mrs. Michael Vezerides; M/M Sotirios Xiarhos; Zambeta Xiarhos; Frank & Denise Zavota and Drs. John & Eleni Zervos. GOODSEARCH.COM LET'S RAISE SOME EASY MONEY!SPREAD THE WORD! What if our church earned a donation every time you searched the Internet? , now it can!.com is a new, Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate.Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up!So next time you need a search engine, go to GoodSearch.com.In the first field input your keywords and in the next field use the drop-down list to find the charity of your choice; our church is in that list -- Church of the AnnunciationOrthodox Parish of Greater Providence!Simple, right?! You may think a penny is "nothing" but if we ALL used GoodSearch.com in our daily internet use, imagine how many pennies we can raise!And if you want our church to be your charity of choice EVERY time you conduct a search, just downloadby going to: http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/church-of-the-annunciation-greek-orthodox-parish-of-greater-providence. Epitafios Envelopes Thank you to those who donated to the Epitafios: John Alexion; Josephine Aliferakis; Stephen Antoniou; M/M Nicholas Apostolou; M/M Dionysius Argeris; M/M Dimitrios Arsenis; M/M Harold Arsoniadis; Zisis Arsoniadis; M/M Eleftherios Baziotis; Dr. & Mrs. Peter Baziotis; Mrs. Theodora Bovis-Koch and M/M Thomas Bovis (in memory of their parents; Hercules & Mary Bovis); Pauline Butsika; Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Carr; Demetra Coclin; M/M George Coclin; M/M Gaby Daiaa; M/M Gregory M. Demetrakas; M/M James Demetriou; Joseph DiCarlo, III;M/M Louis Dostou; Angelo Frank; James George; Helen Georgeon; M/M Peter Ghionis; M/M Costa Grammas; M/M George Grammas; M/M Michael Gregoire; M/M William Grimshaw; M/M Anestis Halkidis; M/M Elias Haralambides; M/M Michael Haralambides; M/M James Harritos; M/M John Hatjopoulos; M/M Michael Haveles; Constantine Hologgitas; M/M Nicholas Janikies; Helen Kanavos; Ernest & Aldina Kanelakos; M/M Peter Kanelakos; Evangeline Kansas; Julie Karahalios; Dr. & Mrs. John Karkalas; Evangelia Katsios; M/M Arthur Kazianis; Katherine Kazianis; James Kripotos; Wilfred Lambert; Angelo Lazarides; Dr. Mary Lekas; M/M Angelos Maintanis; Dr. & Mrs. James Manis; M/M Theofanis Markos; Elizabeth Marses; Marianthi Mastriano; M/M Vasilios Melanis; M/M Emmanuel Mihailides; M/M George Mihailides; Jean Mihelakos; M/M Andrew Mitrelis; M/M Solon Mitrelis; Theodore Nicolopoulos; Dr. & Mrs. J.P. OHair; George Paloukas; M/M Charles Pappas; M/M Ernest Pappas; Zoe Pappas; Mary Pereira; M/M Polydoros Petrou; M/M Kevin Phelan; M/M Anthony Piscopio; Janet Poulios; M/M Gregory Poulos; M/M Carroll Promades; M/M Gus Proyous; M/M Alexander Radiches; Anna Raleigh; John Reall; John Rengigas; Stamatios Revis; James Rosaki; M/M Constantine Rougas; M/M Zacharias Rouvelas; M/M John Ruggieri; Helen Salonikios; M/M Nikolas Sifakis; M/M James Silva; Joanne Skaliotis; M/M Michael Sotirakos; M/M Leon Stamatakos (memory of his mother Ifegenia Stamatakos) ; M/M Peter Stamatakos; M/M Peter Stasinopoulos; M/M Peter Stevens; M/M Milton Stone; M/M Constantinos Strekouras; Ethel Strekouras; Virginia Strekouras; Kiriakos Syintsakos; M/M Nicholas Tanionos; M/M Edward Tarbox; Angelos Trombettas; Mr. Paul Thompson & Dr. Margaret Tryforos; M/M Hrisostomos Tsioplakis; M/M Aristotelis Tsonis; M/M George Tzanetos; Golfo Tzilos; Antonia Vanikiotis; Christine Vanikiotis; M/M Theodore Vaphiades; Charles Vardakis & Gladys Borders; M/M John Xanthakis; Zambeta Xiarhos; M/M Jason Xynellis; John & Leona Zachos; Eugenia Zaharakos and Drs. John & Eleni-Pappas Zervos. Total to date received is $3900.00. Easter Offerings: Thank you to those who donated to the Easter Offerings: Stamatiki Agadakos; John Alexion; Josephine Aliferakis; Dr. & Mrs. Charles Allendorf; M/M Christodoulos Andriotis; Dr. & Mrs. James Andriotis; M/M Dionysius Argeris; M/M Dimitrios Arsenis; M/M Ilias Arsenis; M/M Eleftherios Baziotis; Dr. & Mrs. Peter Baziotis; Pauline Butsika; M/M Michael Campopiano; Sherri Cesario; Christine Chifotides; Sue Cimino; M/M George Coclin; Dr. Maria Constantinou; M/M Stephen Cross; M/M James Demetriou; M/M Robert Devlin; M/M Louis Dostou; Georgia Fortunato; M/M Spiros Fotopoulos; Carolyn Frangos; Helen Georgeon; M/M Peter Ghionis; M/M Costa Grammas; M/M George Grammas; James & Emily Grammas; M/M William Grimshaw; M/M Carl Hague; M/M Nicholas Hantzakos; M/M Elias Haralambides; M/M Michael Haralambides; James & Nancy Harritos; M/M John Hatjopoulos; M/M Michael Haveles; M/M James Hodges; Constantine Hologgitas; Fifi Hronis; M/M Nicholas Janikies; Ernest & Aldina Kanelakos; M/M Alexander Kanelos; Peter Kapanakis; Julie Karahalios; Chris & Zoe Kazianis; James Kripotos; Niki Kyrou; Wilfred Lambert; Angelo Lazarides; M/M Angelos Maintanis; M/M John Maintanis, Sr.; Dr. & Mrs. James Manis; Peter Manis; Elizabeth Marses; Mary Marshallis; Matthew Massenzio; Marianthi Mastriano; Phyllis Michaelides; M/M Emmanuel Mihailides; M/M Peter Mihalos; M/M Andrew Mitrelis; Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth Morrissey; M/M Craig Nichols; M/M Harry Nicolopoulos; M/M Harry Nicolopoulos, Jr.; Theodore Nicolopoulos; Dr. & Mrs. James OHair; M/M Christo Pakuris; George Paloukas; Presv. Julia Papadoulias; Michael & Bessie Papigiotis; Charles & Ethel Pappas; Zoe Pappas; Mary Pereira; M/M Demetrios Petrou; M/M Kevin Phelan; Janet Poulios; M/M Gregory Poulos; Carroll & Angela Promades; Angela Provost; M/M Nikolaos M. Psikakos; M/M Alexander Radiches; Anna Raleigh; Sen. Leonidas & Mrs. Raptakis; John Rengigas; Stamatios Revis; M/M Steven Rothemich; Dr. & Mrs. Savvas Rougas; M/M John Ruggieri; Christopher Sheehan; M/M Peter Simone; Michael & Caliope Sotirakos; Cynthia Springer; M/M Peter Stevens; M/M Milton Stone; M/M Constantinos Strekouras; Ethel Strekouras; Virginia Strekouras; Kiriakos Syintsakos; M/M Nicholas Tanionos; M/M George Trambukis; M/M George Tsimikas; M/M Aristotelis Tsonis; M/M George Tzanetos; Golfo Tzilos; Antonia Vanikiotis; M/M Theodore Vaphiades; James Vose; M/M Russell Wheatley; M/M Kenneth White; M/M John Xanthakis; Zambeta Xiarhos; M/M Charles Xynellis; Peter Yidiaris; John & Leona Zachos and Eugenia Zaharakos. Total to date is $4832.00. Holy Week Liturgical Donations We would like to thank those who donated articles for Holy Week: Gregory Sifakis (Greek Palms & Palm Fans); Diana Psilopoulos (In Memory of her late husband Dennis) (American Palms); Mr. & Mrs. Gregory G. Demetrakas (10 Purple Bows for the columns; 7 Candles for Wed. afternoon service; candy & apples for Easter Egg Hunt); Mr. & Mrs. Peter Stamatakos (Nymphios Icon Flower Frames); Harriet Butler (Memory of her mom-Catherine Panayiotopoulos and her Aunt Mary Nonis); Maria Daras (Low Flat Table Flower Arrangement) (Memory of her parents Constandinos & Eleni Kantarakias); Jean Daras (Icon of Last Supper & small ribbons with Lily in it); Zoe Mitrelis (Wreath for the Cross & Floral Basket); Thomai Petropoulos (Memory of Arthur Petropoulos 13 Anniversary) (2 Floral Candelabras); James & Kate Silva (12 candles for the Gospel); Gus & Koula Rougas & Family (Epitafios Cross); Mr. & Mrs. William Poulos (4 candles for the Epitafios & Altar Table Votive Candle) (In memory of Mr. & Mrs. George Stamatakos & Mr. & Mrs. James Poulos); Wilfred Lambert (Rose Water & Votive Candle for the Epitafios (Memory of Ethel); Sophia, & Jimmy & Patty Andriotis (White Sheet for Appokathelosis) (Memory of Grandmother Stella Pappas); The Philoptochos Society (Easter Eggs); Basil Vaphiades (Priest Paschal Candle); Dr. & Mrs. James Pascalides (Wreath Resurrection Banner); Arthur G. & Ginger Pappas (Memory of Anna Sarantakos & in honor of Dawn Pappas) (2 Floral Candelabras); Easter Lily Plants-donations by: Dean & Christine Vose, Dennis & Vasso Sampalis; George & Maria Coclin; Dr. J. P. & Andrea OHair; and James & Eketerini Rengigas. With Appreciation We would like to thank all who participated in our Friday Lenten Icons floral frames: M/M Michael Haralambides; M/M Arthur G. Pappas (memory of Evangeline Pappas and in honor of Liza Pappas); M/ M John Xanthakis (in Memory of Despina & George Pakuris) and Eugenia Panteleakis (in Memory of her mother Vasiliki). Also, the Icon floral frame for St. Haralambos in February, we thank Dennis & Vasso Sampalis. Thank you to Senator Leonidas & Donna Raptakis for their donation of books to our library on the topic of the Ancient Olympic Games. Thank you to Angelo & Pat Maintanis for two CDs of the two recent TV programs that His All Holiness Bartholomew was featured and interview, gifted to our library. We would like to thank this month as well Lou & Helen Dostou for their generosity in donating 20lbs of coffee to the Church for our coffee-hours as well the donors for the Annunciation Observance Luncheon-Athanasios and Lena (Zafiriades) Meltsakos for all the food products and Dr Kenneth / Myrto Morrissey & Sotiris Mioni for the dessert in memory of their parents Dr Jacques & Evangelia Mioni. Tax Season Meditation With tax season upon us, as each of us submitted our tax exempted donations and charitable contributions, we may want to look more carefully at how our taxes would be affected if we donated more to our church and to charities in general. Keep in mind as we move forward that cash donations need to be verified. Thus on Sundays for the offering tray at church, it can benefit both the parish and possibly each of us as individuals to make our Sunday offering in the form of a check instead of cash. Recent Deaths Peter Stamatakos, age 87, of Warwick, passed away on April 8. His funeral and burial was on April 12. William Avramides, age 76 of Cranston, passed away on April 12. His funeral and burial was on April 16. Also the brother of our parishioner Christina (Katie) Senerchia passed on recently in Greece. May their memories be eternal. PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS CHRISTOS ANESTI TO ALL!! Philoptochos women have been busy fulfilling their Easter responsibilities during the Lenten period. Easter Baskets were prepared and brought to our parishioners who are confined to their homes or nursing homes. Thank you to Josie Aliferakis, Ann Heberg, Diane Mitrelis, Ginger Pappas, Angela Provost, Carol Rothemich, Kate Silva and Helen Trikoulis who accompanied Father Andrew and Father Emanuel as Easter visits were made. We thank all the ladies who graciously dyed the red eggs for the Anastasi Liturgy, and all the ladies who assisted in decorating the Epitafios for Good Friday. Ke to Chronou!!! Thank you to Mary Quinn and Helen Argeris for selling the many loaves of Easter Breads, and we thank all those parishioners who supported this effort. This fundraiser enabled our Philoptochos Chapter to fulfill our National Obligation to Hellenic College-Holy Cross in the amount of $650.00. Thank you to everyone for your help and support before, during, and after the reception following the vespers in honor of our Annunciation Feast Day, and for the many delicious pastries and food that was brought in. SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCHEON The Annual Senior Citizens Luncheon sponsored by Philoptochos was held on Friday, April 9th, with over 60 seniors in attendance. They enjoyed a delicious Lamb Dinner along with Easter eggs, tsourekia, and pastry. Fifteen attendees won raffle gifts. Our Chair Ladies, Koula Rougas and Bessie Papigiotis thank Mike Papigiotis, Harry Bablenis, John Xanthakis, Chris Latos and Jim Vose for all their help in the kitchen and also Kate Silva and Ann Heberg who helped with the Luncheon event. Our Blanket Raffle Project is still on- going, and we remind all our members to purchase or sell their tickets. If any parishioners wish to buy tickets, please call Koula Rougas 944-7572 or Bessie Papigiotis 949-3240. Raffle will be drawn on Mothers Day, May 9th, at the Coffee Hour following Divine Liturgy. Our End of the Year Event will be a Bus Trip to the St. Methodios Camp and Retreat Center on Saturday, June 5th. We will leave, by bus, at 9:00 a.m., arrived at the camp at 11:30 am to tour this beautiful facility, and leave about 3:00 p.m. We will travel to nearby Manchester, NH and have lunch at the Puritan "Backroom Restaurant". You will be responsible for your meal, and the bus fee. Further details will be announced later. Please call Mary Quinn and Helen Argeris at 783-8386 to make your reservation as soon as possible, and for any questions. Deadline is May 26th. We are very excited to announce the first in a series of workshops which are open to all parishioners, families and friends. The first one will be held on Wednesday, May 19th at 7:00 p.m. and the subject will be "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Discussed and Defined." It will be presented by Nicole McLaughlin, PhD, Neuro-psychologist, Butler Hospital, Providence, and Assistant Professor, Brown University. Also, Jennifer Bernier, B.A., Research Assistant at OCD Clinic, Butler Hospital, in Masters Program, at Boston College. We invite all to attend and learn about this most interesting and informative workshop. Coffee and dessert will be served. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Defined and Discussed Obsessive compulsive disorder is characterized by intrusive, anxiety-provoking thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive ritualized behaviors (compulsions). These symptoms cause distress, are time consuming, and/or interfere with functioning. OCD is the fourth most common mental disorder, with a lifetime prevalence of 2 to 3 percent. According to the World Health Organization, OCD is among the 10 most disabling medical conditions worldwide. Dr. McLaughlin and Ms. Bernier will provide an overview of OCD, including how to recognize symptoms; they will also discuss the most common treatment strategies, as well as some of the more novel approaches that are currently being researched. Please join us at our next Philoptochos Meeting which will be held at the Corner Café, 432 Atwood Ave., Cranston, at 6:30 p.m. April 19th. Koula Rougas, President Marianne Phelan, Corresponding Secretary |
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