New York - Archbishop Spyridon announced on May 28 the appointment of Helen Lavorata as the new director of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, effective June 1.

The Archbishop received Mrs. Lavorata at the Archdiocese on May 23 to discuss new ideas and initiatives that will be undertaken to further the National Ministry of the Philoptochos Society.

The National Philoptochos consists of about 500 chapters with a total membership of about 26,500.

Mrs. Lavorata received her associate's degree from State University of New York (SUNY) in Farmingdale and continued her studies at Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus. She graduated magna cum laude in 1982. with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Mrs. Lavorata worked as office manager at St. Paraskevi Church in Greenlawn, NY for 14 years.