Center for Family Care
October 8, 2021
Parents of children with disabilities often have compounded fears about their future. Panelists share their insights surrounding these fears, with a particular emphasis on how to cultivate freedom from fear of the future in order to enjoy life with our families now. Read More
Center for Family Care
October 8, 2021
Presvytera Melanie speaks with Charlotte Riggle about her familial experience of invisible disabilities; how she came to see God's commandment to not bear false witness against one's neighbor as the virtue of philoxenia—the love of strangers—the Giant Cookie Test; and the value of online support for families with special needs. Read More
Center for Family Care
October 8, 2021
Presvytera Melanie speaks with Sarah Riccardi-Swartz about her involvement with disability rights, how her Autistic daughter further developed her advocacy role, the need for the Church to listen to and incorporate the stories of those with disabilities and their guardians to develop a theology of disability, and the pure-hearted offerings to God in triumphant "Amens!" and Daniel Tiger songs. Read More
Center for Family Care
August 10, 2021
Presvytera Melanie speaks with Matt and Louise Heusel on medical practitioners' adverse reactions to prenatal discoveries of disabilities and the pressure put on parents to abort their children, how their daughter with Down Syndrome has enriched their family life, and the special gifts she contributes to their parish family. Read More
Center for Family Care
July 14, 2021
Pres. Melanie speaks with Natalie Kapeluck Nixon, the Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and founder of the St. Nicholas Program, a church camp experience for persons with special needs of all ages, and their families. Read More
Center for Family Care
July 6, 2021
Panelists offer their personal and professional lessons learned in a discussion of what healthy independence looks like in families with disabilities. Read More
Orthodox Observer
July 1, 2021
This morning, Rev. George Livanos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family. Read More
Center for Family Care
June 29, 2021
Presvytera Melanie speaks with His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh on theological "whys" of disability, the need for all of us to learn an etiquette regarding disability, and his exhilarating experience on an OCF Real Break mission trip when visiting "The Four Homes of Mercy," a group home for persons with disabilities. Read More
Center for Family Care
June 10, 2021
Presvytera Melanie continues her conversation with William Christy, this time including his father and mother, Father Paul and Presvytera Mary, and his twin sister, Gabriella. Each family member shares their personal perspective related to William's diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy - the joys, challenges, and the way their love for God and His love for them was made manifest through their experiences. Read More
Center for Family Care
June 7, 2021
How can we find light in times of darkness? How can we be a light? How can we help our families become lights in darkness? Join us as we discuss these questions and more in this GOA Center for Family Care webinar. Read More
News Release
June 4, 2021
Like so many of you in this Cathedral today, I have traveled here to pay tribute to one of the great Hellenes of America, and one of the great human beings of our time, Dr. George Korkos. Read More
Center for Family Care
June 1, 2021
The gift is Life – not merely abstract or even of visible cycles and experiences – but one born from the love of a Person, “He Who Is… Life.” (Exodus 3:14, John 14:1) The precious Gift is the Antidote to all of the tragedies and wounds of our fallen existence, and as He once offered Himself for the life of the world, so now and so always He continues to poor Himself out to all willing to receive Him. Life is Jesus Christ our Lord. And this Life is worth living. Read More
Center for Family Care
May 5, 2021
It is difficult to see through murky, cultural distortions when defining what makes a person fully- alive, purposeful, worthy, or important. Cultural “norms” marginalize large groups of people, including those who do not meet accepted physical, mental, or cognitive standards of what is considered “normal.” To put it bluntly, people with disabilities are often seen as less than alive, less than purposeful, less than worthy, less than important - less than human. Read More
Center for Family Care
May 1, 2021
We seek input from those we wish to serve in order to guide our priorities as we begin this work. Thank you for spending a few minutes taking this short, confidential survey. Read More
Center for Family Care
April 28, 2021
William Christy - On Faith, Wheelchair Basketball, and How The Teachings of the Fathers Shape His Response to His Disability. Presvytera Melanie speaks with William Christy about being a young adult with Cerebral Palsy, a PK (priest's kid), his love for English Literature, Wheelchair Basketball, and how the teachings of the Fathers of the Church encourage him and inform his worldview. Read More
Center for Family Care
April 26, 2021
I used to be fearful of pruning my rose bushes, wanting them to have full freedom to grow any which way they would. I didn’t want to be like a highly caffeinated hairdresser lopping off more than enough inches, leading to something that looked like a shearing rather than a trim. ‘Don’t be afraid to prune’ gardening experts say, “pruning leads to new growth and continued blooming.” (Marie Ianotti) Read More
Center for Family Care
March 17, 2021
Presvytera Melanie speaks with Presvytera Elaine Stavropoulos regarding her daughter's Autism diagnosis, and the ministry to families with disabilities which blossomed forth as a result. Read More
Orthodox Observer
February 27, 2021
Rev. Protopresbyter Fr. George Vaporis fell asleep in the Lord February 26th, 2021. Fr. Vaporis is survived by his belowed Presbytera Kalliopi and their four children: Michael, Katherine, Basil, and Markella and 7 grandchildren. Read More
Center for Family Care
February 24, 2021
Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Prevytera Melanie DiStefanos about the launching of a new podcast series that is dedicated to special needs families. Read More
Orthodox Observer
February 17, 2021
Ver. Rev. Archimandrite Demetrios Simeonidis (July 31, 1938), lovingly known as Father D., fell asleep in the Lord Sunday, February 14, 2021. He served the Holy Greek Orthodox Church faithfully for fifty-two years, becoming a guiding light, Spiritual Father, and dear friend to thousands of people he met throughout his ministry. All who met Father Demetrios loved him. He was humble, kind, generous, and wise, and exemplified every day what it means to live a Christ-centered life. Read More