Dimitri Ndini and Kim Louza were recently engaged. Dimitri is the son of Richard Ndini and the nephew of Ellen. We wish them many years!

We wish to extend our thanks to the many people for their dedicated stewardship to St. George over the past year.

Click onto the following link to view the details:   2025 Year-end Thank yous

On Sunday, Jan 11th, St. George parish conducted the Great Blessing of Water after the celebration of Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Theophany (this feast is normally celebrated on Jan 6th, but was being transferred to Sunday, Jan 11th).

The Troparian for this feast day is: 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! 

Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Sunday afternoon, Jan 11th, a group from St. George attended Faith and Family Night for a hockey game between the Bridgeport Islanders and the Hartford Wolf Pack at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport.

Net proceeds from a hockey jersey raffle is going to support / benefit FOCUS Bridgeport and its efforts to serve the poor. FOCUS North America is currently developing a FOCUS Center in the Bridgeport metro area, looking to bring together Orthodox Christian churches and community partners to provide Food, Occupation, Clothing, Understanding, and Shelter and other assistance to address the needs of the Bridgeport community. Click onto the following link to learn more about FOCUS North America.  

Also, click onto the more information link below to view a few photos. 

On Sunday, Dec 21st after Divine Liturgy, the parish held its St. Nicholas Party during it's Coffee Hour.  The Feast day for St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, is commemorated each year on December 6th, but due to other conflicts this year, our celebration was delayed until Dec 21st. The gathering was very well attended and enjoyed by all. 

This annual event is held specifically for the parish children, but also for the parish community to gather for fellowship and seasonal joy.  There is a visit from Santa for the children, and all are requested to donate a Christmas gift to donate to local charity toy drive – this year the Church School collected gifts to go to the 3rd Graders at Beardsley Elementary School (Bridgeport) as part of a coordinated project with FOCUS North America (The Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve) and 2 other Orthodox Churches in Bridgeport (Holy Ghost Church on East Main St & St. John's Church on Mill Hill).

First off, many thanks go out to our Church School Coordinator & Teachers: Pauline Dionis, Nicole, Brooke, & Sophie Dionis for running our Church School program.  For all of the St. Nicholas Party coordination, we thank Pauline Dionis, Curt & Nicole Dionis, & the Teuta Lakror-making group who handled all the major aspects of planning, cooking and preparing for the celebration. To Diane Cryan, Laura Denisevich, Pauline Dionis & Cathy Hotova who helped with the cleanup.  To Greg Buzi II for "arranging" a visit from Santa, and to Sophie & Brooke Dionis who welcomed Santa, and helped Santa hand out his gifts to the children. Our final thank you goes to Old Towne Restaurant (60 Quality St, Trumbull) who donated the pizza’s for the party – we encourage everyone to make sure they include and patronize Old Towne Restaurant as part of their dining options. 

UPDATE on FOCUS Christmas Toy Drive for 3rd Graders at Beardsley Elementary School (Bridgeport):  Towards the end of the St. Nicholas Party on Sun, Dec 21st, Fr. David Cochran from St. John's Church on Mill Hill picked up all the donated Christmas toys and delivered them to Beardsley Elementary School that next day, so the school had time to distribute the gifts to the students before their Christmas break.  Fr. David reported that the coordinated toy drive project from FOCUS North America (participating churches were us, St. George, and St. John's and Holy Ghost from Bridgeport) was extremely successful -  that "we filled a small room with all the toys we collected".  Again, many thanks to all of St. George's parishioners who generously donated toys for this project. Special thanks to: Vi & Jim Bowe who made a very generous donation of toys, to Laura Coughlin for coordinating, and to Pauline, Curt, Brooke, and Sophie Dionis who helped carry out and load up Fr. David's car with all the toys.

Click onto the more information link below to view several photos from the day’s celebration, and at the very end, please find photos of the 3rd Graders from Beardsley Elementary School after they received their toy gifts.

On Sunday, Feb 1st, St. George celebrated the Feast of “The Meeting of the Lord in the Temple” (or "Papandia" in Albanian). The feast was transferred from February 2nd, which is the day it is normally celebrated. Thanks to Nardi Tollkuci who read the Gospel lesson for this day in Albanian. Addtionally, the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple is the Teuta Ladies Society’s Patronal Feast Day. Along with the Teuta Society, St. George celebrated their Patronal Feast Day with prayers after Divine Liturgy. Traditionally the Teuta Society offers 5 loaves, wheat, wine and oil for the celebration, and grure, (a boiled-wheat confection) for the health of the parish family. The "Queen Teuta" Ladies Society of St. George was formed/organized in 1931.  This year, (2026), the parish recognizes and thanks them for their 95 years of service to St. George.  May God grant them all many years! Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Friday, Feb 13th, Linda Kolton, the newly appointed Director of the FOCUS Bridgeport Center, and her husband Van, came to St. George to pick up frozen hams and turkeys that parishioners donated over the past 3 months. The initial charity project’s intent was to donate the hams and turkeys to local soup kitchens, but it was decided to forward these donations to the newly activated FOCUS Bridgeport Center who is working with Holy Ghost Church to organize a monthly weekend meal service for the children and families of Beardsley Elementary School. The first meal will be on Saturday, February 28 at 5:30PM at Holy Ghost Church. Thank you to those who donated the frozen hams and turkeys – they will go to good use! Click onto the more information link below to view a larger photo of the one on the left.

UPDATE from Feb 26th: Click onto the following link to view an update/newsletter from Linda Kolton talking about her experiences from the first month as the Director of the FOCUS Bridgeport Center.  FOCUS Bridgeport Feb 2026 Update.  Linda acknowledges St. George for some of our early assistance. 

As a reminder:
FOCUS (Food, Occupation, Clothing, Understanding, and Shelter) has the following Mission Statement:
As an expression of Christ’s love, FOCUS exists to serve the poor by bringing together Orthodox Christian churches and community partners to provide Food, Occupation, Clothing, Understanding, and Shelter and other assistance to address the needs of local communities.
 
FOCUS North America currently has set-up 12 Centers around the country, Bridgeport being the most recent addition.  The other 11 Centers include: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Gateway City (St. Louis), Houston, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Orange County (Southern CA), Philadelphia, and Phoenix. 
 
Click onto the following link to learn more about FOCUS North America.
 

On March 1st, on the first Sunday of Great Lent, the parish of St. George celebrated Divine Liturgy commemorating the Sunday of Orthodoxy. The first Sunday of Great Lent is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy, (or the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy) which is a historical feast commemorating the return of the Icons to the churches in the year 843.  During the Great Entrance at Divine Liturgy, the children and parishioners carried their Konizmat icons, returning the Icons back to the church. Click onto the following link to learn about the Albanian tradition of Konizmat. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos from the day.

On Sunday, March 22nd, St. George commemorated "Heritage Sunday".  March is an important month in the history of the Albanian Archdiocese: March 22, 1908 is the date of the first liturgy was ever served in the Albanian language in America (in Boston), and March 13, 1965 is the date of repose of our first hierarch Theophan (Noli). Click here to read Bishop Nikodhim’s letter from Feb 27, 2024. on the purpose of this annual commemoration.

As part of "Heritage Sunday", St. George offered prayers at the close of Divine Liturgy for the blessing and guidance of the Albanian Archdiocese. And per Bishop Nikodhim's request to all parishes in the Archdiocese, a Memorial service was held for all of our departed diocesan hierarchs, and for the priests and priftëresha who served in our St. George parish.  Click onto the more information link below to view two photos. 

St. George is participating again this year with numerous Trumbull Faith-based communities and organizations in a program called Refill the Pantry to support The Trumbull Food Pantry.  The Refill the Pantry program began in 2022 when a collaboration of churches established a program to address food insecurity in the Bridgeport, CT area – Trumbull being one of those areas. Approximately 200 families use the Trumbull Food Pantry. As part of St. George’s continuing service outreach this year, we will be participating in 2 food drives.

We just completed our 1st food drive for this year when 194 lbs of shelf-stable pantry and personal care items were picked up on Monday, March 23rd by the Refill the Pantry organization and delivered to the Trumbull Food Pantry.

Additionally our March Charity Tray is collecting for the Trumbull Food Pantry to bolster our food donations.  Next Sunday, March 29th will be the last day to donate cash for this charity.

Many thanks to all of St. George’s parishioners who donated items over the past 4 weeks. Click onto the more information link below to view 2 photos. We will post the total results from this Refill the Pantry Spring Food Drive when they are available. 

On April 5th, St. George celebrated Palm Sunday, which marks the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem. This year, a mix of pussy willow branches, boxwood branches, and palm fronds were bundled for blessing. After Divine Liturgy, the blessing of the palms and branches was followed by a procession of palms around the perimeter of the church with the parish youth & children and some parishioners.  Palm crosses and the bundled palms & branches were handed out during the dismissal. Thanks to the parishioners who assembled the palm fronds with the pussy willow and boxwood branches after the Palm Sunday Vespers service on the evening of Lazarus Saturday, and to parishioners who made palm crosses on Sunday morning. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Thursday evening, May 9th, the Matin Service of Great and Holy Friday with the reading of the Twelve Gospel Lessons was held. Many thanks to the numerous volunteers from the parish who assisted with the Gospel readings. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Friday, April 10th, St. George completed services for Great and Holy Friday (Good Friday) with the afternoon Vespers Service of Taking down from the Cross, and the Friday evening Matins service for Great and Holy Saturday, with the Praises (or Lamentations) at the Tomb of Christ.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos, and come back at a later date as additional ones are posted. 

Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!  Krishti U-Ngjall! Vërtet U-Ngjall! are the traditional Orthodox Christian Paschal greetings in both English and Albanian. The St. George community recently completed the service cycle of Great Lent and Holy Week to Holy Pascha, with the celebration of the Midnight Paschal Liturgy on May 11th.  Click on the following link to view the Paschal greeting in numerous languages. Click onto the more information link below to view photos from the Nocturn, Midnight Matins and Paschal Divine Liturgy services, the Pashcal Vespers service, and the Children's Egg Hunt.
 

St. George learned of the passing of Joan Deaky – Donna Kerma's mother - on April 9th. We extend our condolences to Donna, Kenny, and Pandora, and their extended family.  Memory eternal!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many, many people who helped to make Lent, Holy Week and Pascha beautiful and meaningful celebrations. Click onto the following link to view our specific thank-yous! 2026 -Thanks for their Stewarship

St. George wishes to thank His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim, Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, for his visit and serving Divine Liturgy for us on Sunday, April 26th. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Sunday, April 26th after Divine Liturgy, the Teuta Ladies Society of St. George held its annual Spring Luncheon for its members at Old Towne Restaurant in Trumbull. The "Queen Teuta" Ladies Society of St. George was formed/organized in 1931 and this year, (2026), they are celebrating 95 years of service to St. George. The Teuta Ladies continue to be the most important driver of St. George’s fundraising, charitable, and social efforts.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos from the luncheon.

A team from St. George participated in the Greater Bridgeport CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, May 3rd.  The CROP Walk is a fundraiser for hunger at both the local and global level. The local beneficiaries include: Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Daughters of Charity Rescue Mission, King's Pantry, nOURish Bridgeport, Monroe Food Pantry, Operation Hope, Spooner House, Stratford Baptist Church, Thomas Merton Center, Trumbull Social Services (they manage the Trumbull Food Pantry), and Beth-El Center. The Bridgeport event started at the United Congregational Church on North Ave and went for 2.2 miles. If you wish to make a donation directly to St. George's CROP Hunger Walk Team, click onto the following link to get to the St. George Team Donation page: https://events.crophungerwalk.or/st-george-albanian-orthodox-church . Besides donations made for the team walking in this event, St. George is also collecting money for the CROP Walk as part of our April/May Charity Tray. We will report back at a later date when we receive the total donations from our parish. Click onto the more information link below to view 2 photos.   

St. George recognized Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10th during Divine Liturgy.  Prayers were offered for all of the living and departed mothers, stepmothers, daughters, stepdaughters, wives, sisters, stepsisters, great grandmothers, great granddaughters, grandmothers, granddaughters, great-aunts, aunts, nieces, godmothers, and all those who "mothered" us in our time of need. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Sunday, May 24th, St. George recognized Memorial Day by praying for all of our deceased military veterans from the parish family. Memorial Day is a holiday that was established to officially remember those who have died in service to our country (Veterans Day was established to officially thank our living veterans).  St. George expanded our remembrance to include all the deceased veterans of our “parish family”, adding relatives of our parish family that served in the military and are now deceased. The living military veterans participated during the Memorial Service by standing vigil in honor of their memory.  Click onto the following to view the list of names: St George - Names of Deceased Military Veterans   Memory eternal!  Please click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

St George was saddened to learn of the passing of Sandra Washburn Bike, mother of Sally Balis. We extend our deepest condolences to Sally and her family.

On Sunday May 31st,  St. George welcomed and thanked Linda Kolton, the Center Director for FOCUS Bridgeport for her visit with us. After Divine Liturgy, Linda spoke to our parish community during our Coffee Hour talking about the programs and progress they have experienced during the first half-year of FOCUS Bridgeport’s service.  Additionally, Linda presented some volunteer opportunities and upcoming events. Click onto the more information link below to view two photos. Click onto the following link to view the FOCUS Bridgeport June 2026 Newsletter, and below please find a thank you note from Linda: 
 
On Tue, Jun 2, 2026 at 1:23 PM, Linda Kolton
Dear Curt, Cathy, Father George, Father Sergei, and the Faithful of St. George's Church,

Thank you for the opportunity to visit St. George's and share about the work taking place through FOCUS Bridgeport. I am deeply grateful for your warmth, hospitality, and genuine interest in the families and neighbors we serve and it reminded me how it was St. George's who showed the earliest signs of faith in this ministry by contributing the hams and turkeys for our first meal!

It was a blessing to connect with your parish community, share stories from our ministry, and witness the spirit of compassion and generosity that is so alive at St. George's. Encouragement from parishes like yours reminds us that this work truly belongs to the entire Orthodox community.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude for the offer to pledge contributions from your baskets in June and July. As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we would be honored to direct these gifts toward our Backpack Drive, which aims to provide local children with backpacks and essential school supplies. For many families, these items can be a significant financial burden, and your support will help students begin the school year with confidence and the tools they need to succeed.

Thank you again for welcoming me so warmly and for partnering with us in serving our neighbors. We are grateful for your prayers, your generosity, and your commitment to putting our Orthodox faith into action.

With gratitude in Christ,
Linda
FOCUS Bridgeport
--
Linda Kolton
FOCUS Bridgeport Center Director
Bridgeport, CT
203-615-8139
Donate to FOCUS today!
 

The St. George parish marked the end of the Church School year with a short Commencement & Recognition Ceremony on Sunday, June 7th after Divine Liturgy.  The ceremony acknowledged and congratulated the Church School students, along with our Altar Servers, for their diligence over the past year.  Additionally, special thanks go to Pauline Dionis, Nicole Dionis, Brooke & Sophie Dionis for all their efforts with teaching and assisting with the program coordination this past year. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

St. George held a Parish Picnic after Divine Liturgy on Sunday, June 7th.  The picnic was held outside on the rear yard, and was a fundraiser hosted by the Teuta Ladies Society. Many thanks to all that supported the picnic by cooking and preparing salads and sides of food, managed the grills, set-up and broke down the tents, tables, chairs, and grills, and helped with all the final clean-up.  And finally a thank you to all who supported the event by participating.  Click onto the more information link below to view numerous photos from the picnic.

On Sunday, June 14th, St. George welcomed and wishes to thank Fr. Theophan Whitfield for serving Divine Liturgy for us on All Saints of America, the 2nd  Sunday after Pentecost.  Fr. Theophan will be assisting St. George by serving a few Sundays each month along with Fr. Sergei Bouteneff and Fr. George Coca.  Fr. Theophan is attached to Christ the Savior Church in Southbury, CT (Diocese of New England).

Congratulations to Kosta Nani who recently completed his studies and graduated from Joel Barlow High School. We extend our best wishes to him for continued success!

St. George recognized Fathers’s Day on Sunday, June 21st during Divine Liturgy.  Prayers were offered for all of the living and departed fathers, stepfathers, sons, stepsons, husbands, brothers, stepbrothers, great grandfathers, great grandsons, grandfathers, grandsons, great-uncles, uncles, nephews, godfathers, and all those who "fathered" us in our time of need. Memory Eternal! I Përjetshim Kujtimi! for our departed fathers, and Many Years! Për Shumë Vjet! for those living fathers.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

FOCUS Bridgeport Ministry Update

Glory to God! June was a month of tremendous blessings and we’re so grateful to see God at work through the people and parishes that make up FOCUS Bridgeport!

June Highlights

Thanks to your prayers and support, Bridgeport Public Schools acknowledged this ministry with its “In It, To Win It” Recognition Award for “exemplary dedication and meaningful contributions” to students and families at Beardsley School. This recognition is ultimately a reflection of God’s grace and the generosity, faithfulness, and commitment of the Orthodox community–working, praying, serving, and contributing to this ministry.

Throughout June, volunteers made and distributed 325 healthy snack bags to Beardsley School students, served nearly 100 neighbors at our monthly Community Meal, and shared a hot meal with more than 140 children and family members at our Beardsley Father's Day Family Night.

We wish to acknowledge Cathy Hotova who has volunteered at several events, and to Pam Buzi, and to Bob Lazar with his grandchildren who recently volunteered at an event - feel free to talk to them about their experiences.

Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos from a few FOCUS Bridgeport events that were held in June. 

On Thursday, July 16th, a group of volunteers from FOCUS Bridgeport packed up and gave out snack bags to children at Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School in Bridgeport. Marin School, located on Helen Street, is another school that is partnering with FOCUS Bridgeport. The volunteers prepared the snack bags at Holy Ghost Church and proceeded to Marin School to hand them out to the children. Marin school is located on the opposite side of Boston Ave, across from Lakeview Cemetery, and is close to Holy Ghost and Beardsley Elementery School.  Marin School is the host of a Summer Program, which runs from July 1st through August 7th, that features academic enrichment, recreation, arts, and STEM activities.  Children from other schools attend the Summer Program at Marin School because Marin is the only school with air conditioning.  Below is a thank you letter from Linda Kolton to the volunteers: 

Dear Friends,
Thank you for bringing smiles and support to the children of Marin School yesterday. This summer program gave us a wonderful opportunity to connect with another neighboring school in a community with great needs.
Never underestimate the impact of a simple lunch, a warm smile, or a kind word. By sharing what we have, we are sharing God's love with children who need to know they are seen, valued, and cared for.
I hope the images of the children stay in your heart. Their joy, gratitude, and excitement are a beautiful reminder that even the smallest acts of love can make a lasting difference.
Thank you for giving your time, your energy, and your hearts to this ministry. It is a blessing to serve alongside each of you.
With gratitude,
Linda
FOCUS Bridgeport

Many thanks to Cathy Hotova who participated at this event. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

St. George learned that a former parishioner Gloria (Vasil) Marhevka passed away on Fri, July 24th in Phoenix, AZ.  Gloria was baptized and married at St. George, and was a parishioner until 1983 when her family moved to Southern California.  St. George offers our condolences to her sister, Linda (Vasil) Gilbert of Concord, NH, her children Glen and Lisa, and her extended family. We will post any additional information when it becomes available. Memory Eternal!

The final tally of St. George's Charity Tray collections to support the Back-to-School Backpack Drive is complete.  The total monetary donations from June and July totaled $1,800.00!  This will allow FOCUS Bridgeport to purchase 180 backpacks for the students in Bridgeport.  FOCUS Bridgeport announced that with all of the donations from the local Orthodox Churches, they made their goal of 400 backpacks. There next step is to fill these backpacks with items that will support children and families as they begin the school year.

This collection for the Backpack Drive is the highest donation amount St. George has ever collected for a Charity. We had a few very generous donations, however it was obvious that many, many parishioners participated. 

To the parishioners of St. George: Thank you again for your generosity - Well done!

St. George celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration on Sunday, August 9th.  (This feast normally falls on August 6th, however this year St. George transferred the celebration of this feast day to Sunday, August 9th). As is common practice in the Orthodox Church, grapes and other fruits (and vegetables) were blessed after Divine Liturgy. 

Additionally, one of the Orthodox Church in America’s commemorations on this day, Aug 9th, is for the Glorification of Venerable Herman of Alaska.  Fr. Sergei, who served Divine Liturgy for us, brought in his icon of Saint Herman that contains his relics.

Finally, we wish to thank Evan Nani for reading the Gospel lesson in Albanian for this Feast.

Click onto the more information link below to view some photos and read more about the history of the St. Herman icon.

St. George learned today that Vanessa O. Tallcouch passed away on Saturday, July 11th.  We offer condolences to her father, Ted Tallcouch, her mother Kathleen Frasco of Arizona, her brother Damon Tallcouch and wife Amy and nephew Braylon, her 1st cousin Chris Tallcouch, her 3rd cousin Nardi Tollkuci, and to her extended Tallcouch family. Memory Eternal!

On Sunday, August 16th, St. George celebrated Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (this feast day is normally celebrated on August 15th, this year St. George transferred this feast to Sun, Aug 16th).  This feast commemorates the repose (dormition) or "falling-asleep" of the Virgin Mary.

After Divine Liturgy, there was the blessing of fragrant herbs, flowers, and seeds, which is customary on this feast.

We also wish to thank Fr. Theophan Whitfield who celebrated Divine Liturgy for us this day.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

We would like to congratulate the following recipients of the 2026 Thomas and Katherine LaBache Scholarship Fund:

Hayley Dionis will begin her junior year at Furman University. 
Lauren Dionis will be attending Clemson University as a sophomore.
Kosta Nani begins his studies as a freshman at Cornell University.

We wish to offer our best wishes to them for their upcoming school year!

We wish to give our best wishes for continued success to our collegians:

Hayley Dionis will begin her junior year majoring in Business at Furman University (Greenville, SC) 
Lauren Dionis will be attending Clemson University (Clemson, SC) as a sophomore, majoring in Business.
Kosta Nani begins his studies as a freshman at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY), majoring in Economics.

Below is an update for September 2026 from Linda Kolton, the Center Director for FOCUS Bridgeport:

Volunteer Opportunities

Fall is full of opportunities to get involved with FOCUS! We’re ramping up our Beardsley snack bag program so that every child—325 to be exact!—receives a nourishing snack bag each time we visit. We’ll also make and serve dinner to Beardsley families in October, hold a food drive for Thanksgiving, and a toy drive for Christmas. The rhythm of our monthly Community Meals will continue, giving us an opportunity to offer a hot meal, clothing, and a welcoming connection to our neighbors. Come when you can, bring a friend, and find a way to serve that works for you. Our programs are scheduled on weekdays, weeknights, and weekends!

See more about our upcoming opportunities to help:     https://www.signupgenius.com/go/FOCUSBridgeport     Note: If you wish to use your phone to sign-up using a QR code, click onto the FOCUS Bridgeport September Update PDF document link at the bottom of this Announcement. 

Help us fill our snack bags for hungry children:

One simple way to help is through our FOCUS Amazon Wish List, where you can purchase items that we regularly need.
 
SHOP OUR AMAZON WISH LIST:   FOCUS Bridgeport Amazon Wish List     NOTE: If you wish to use your phone to purchase items using the FOCUS Amazon Wish List QR code, click onto the FOCUS Bridgeport September Update PDF document link at the bottom of this Announcement.

Don't shop on Amazon? You can shop for these items at your favorite grocery store or warehouse club and arrange a drop-off with us. We’re looking for nourishing, individually packaged, shelf-stable, nut-free foods, including:
 
🍎 Fresh fruit — apples, oranges, pears, and bananas
🍏 Unsweetened applesauce cups or pouches, fruit cups packed in water or 100% juice
🍇 Raisins or other dried fruit in individual packages
🥨 Whole-grain pretzels, crackers, popcorn
🍓 Fruit and grain bars — please choose nut-free varieties
🧃 100% fruit juice boxes
 
Please check labels carefully for peanuts, tree nuts, and “may contain” warnings.
Contact Linda Kolton to schedule a drop off: Lkolton@focusna.org

Backpacks for Beardsley!
 
FOCUS is possible because so many people continue to say yes!

Thank you to everyone who supported our Backpack Challenge. The outpouring of generosity from churches and individuals across the region was absolutely incredible!
 
Our backpack distribution day at the end of August was a wonderful celebration of generosity and seeing God's love in action! Over the summer, teens and volunteers helped unpack, sort, and organize hundreds of backpacks and school supplies in preparation for distribution day. Father Mark performed a blessing that included not only the backpacks, but the students, teachers, administrators, and everyone who was involved in this tremendous effort!
 
When the big day arrived, volunteers filled one side of the cafeteria with backpacks and the other with tables of supplies, everything from notebooks and crayons to socks (thanks, Bombas!) and toothbrushes. Our volunteers welcomed families, helped children choose their backpacks and supplies, and made the experience feel like shopping for school. The smiles of the children and parents made our hearts swell with gratitude for what this community accomplished.
 
Our backpacks also made it to the children at Luis Muñoz Marín School, where FOCUS ran our summer lunch program. The principal and staff were thrilled to be included and deeply grateful.
 
These backpacks became so much more than school supplies. They became an opportunity for us to live out our faith and show our kids that God–and their community cares about them. God bless everyone for being a part of this wonderful initiative!  

Click onto the more information link below to veiw some photos.

NOTE: To obtain and use QR codes from your phone, click onto the following document link:  FOCUS Bridgeport September Update

St. George celebrated the feast of the Elevation of the Cross (also known as the Exaltation of the Cross) with Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 20th. This feast day was transferred from Monday, September 14th. This feast commemorates the finding of Christ’s Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century. Additionally this Sunday was the first day of the 2026-2027 Church School year. We wish to thank Fr. Theophan Whitfield who lead the parish in prayer for the beginning of the new Church School year with the Church School children and teachers gathered around the center aisle.  Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

On Sunday October 4th, after Divine Liturgy, St. George recognized it’s Choir and Readers as part of a national recognition of “Church Musician Sunday”. We thank Fr. Theophan Whitfield for leading the recognition. The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has designated the Sunday on or following the commemoration of Saint Romanus the Melodist (October 1st) as “Church Musician Sunday.” Church Musician Sunday highlights the essential role of liturgical music in Orthodox Christian worship and the important role of church musicians in the life of the Church. Click onto the more information link below to view a few photos.

We were saddened to learn of the death of Wally Hurd on Tuesday, Oct 13th.  Wally was a long-term friend of St. George and husband to Nancy Yapo Hurd, who pre-deceased him back in June 2022.  The St. George parish expresses our condolences to their 2 sons Wally and Robert, and to their extended families.  Click onto the following link to view his Obituary.