On Thursday evening, Jan 16th, St. George assisted the Binky Patrol Comforting Covers by donating it’s Church Hall for volunteers to make fleece blankets that will be sent to comfort children impacted by the wildfires in California, especially from the town of Altadena.

Volunteers from our local area were asked to just bring a sharp pair of scissors and a $10 donation to help pay for the fleece, and some pizza and treats for dinner.  Across 3 hours, a total of 110 volunteers from our local area participated and 153 blankets (or Binkies) were made. 

 Numerous parishioners and friends of St. George joined and volunteered to help make blankets and help with the set-up, pizza dinner and kitchen cleanup.  Blanket makers include: Caelyn Baird, Susan Batura, Pam Buzi, Kelly Coughlin, Laura Coughlin, Mary Costulas, Luba Csernica, Brooke Dionis, Sophie Dionis, Laura Denisevich, Erin Galich, Melissa Galich, Sue Galich, Cathy Hotova, Karen Masek, Ledi Nani, Nicolas Nani, Kim O’Brien, Heather Uva, Olivia Uva, and Lorraine Vangel. The set-up/dinner/kitchen crew include: Tim Coughlin, Dave Denisevich, Curt Dionis, Joe Galich, and Bob Lazar.
 
This event is part of one of St. George’s major initiatives called 100 Acts of Service which kicked off this calendar year, recognizing St. George’s Centennial Anniversary year.
 
Many thanks go to the Binky Patrol Comforting Covers (the Monroe/Trumbull CT Chapter) who coordinated this event, to Al’s Angels (Westport, CT) who is arranging for the shipment of blankets and purchased some of the fleece, and to Crown Pizza of 5663 Main St. in Trumbull, who donated 40% of the cost of the pizzas for this charity event.  Finally a big thank you to Jeanne Malgioglio, the Binky Area Coordinator, and to Laura Coughlin who coordinated the event from St. George’s side (their photo is on the left).
 
Click onto the following links to learn more about the charities that St. George and a local business helped support this night:   the Monroe/Trumbull Chapter website of Binky Patrol Comforting Covers, the National organization website link of Binky Patrol Comforting Covers,  and the  Al’s Angels website link. and the Crown Pizza website.

Clink onto the more information link below to view several photos from the event. 

St. George celebrated the Liturgy for the Feast of Theophany on Sunday, January 12th. (The celebration of this feast was transferred from Mon, Jan 6th). The Great Blessing of Water was held the prior Sunday, Jan 5th - see three updates below for that News Update.  

The Troparion for the Feast of Theophany: When You, O Lord were baptized in the Jordan / The worship of the Trinity was made manifest / For the voice of the Father bore witness to You / And called You His beloved Son. / And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, / Confirmed the truthfulness of His word. / O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself / And have enlightened the world, glory to You!

St. George was saddened to learn that a former parishioner, Dennis Schutte passed away on Monday, Jan 6th.  We extend our condolences to his sons David and Fr. Dennis, and their extended family.  Click onto the following link to view his Obituary.  Memory Eternal! I perjetshem kujtimi! 

The parish of St. George extends our thanks to the many people who helped support St. George with their dedicated stewardship work over the past year.

Click onto the more information link below to view details.  2024 Year-end thank yous

On Sunday, Jan 5th, St. George parish conducted the Great Blessing of Water. The celebration of Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Theophany (normally celebrated on Jan 6th) is being transferred to the following Sunday, Jan 12th.  Click onto the more information link below to view several photos.
 

On Sunday Dec 29th St. George welcomed and thanked Bishop Nikodhim, Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, for serving Divine Liturgy for us.  Additionally, St. George welcomed Nikollaq Lako, an Assistant to Bishop Nikodhim. After Divine Liturgy, the parish welcomed both as they joined us for a light lunch in the church hall. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

Christ is born! Glorify Him!  Krishti U-Lind! Lavdërojeni! are the traditional Orthodox Christian Christmas greetings in both English and Albanian. On the Eve of the Nativity of Christ, the St. George community celebrated the Nativity with the Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil. Many thanks to Olsi Nani who read the Gospel in Albanian. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Saturday, Dec 21st, Sylvia Sophia Ancona was received into the Orthodox Church through the Mysteries of Baptism and Chrismation.  Sunday Dec 22nd was Sylvia's Churching service (presentation in the context of community) during Divine Liturgy.  We also congratulate her parents, Marica and Blaise, and her godparents Elena Andreopoulos & Nicolas Dacey.  Many Years!  Për Shumë Vjet!  Click onto the more information link below to view two photos of the family.