Philoptochos Daffodil Luncheon Pittsburgh, PA
Philoptochos Daffodil Luncheon
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
April 29, 2011
Greetings
of Aphrodite Skeadas
Your Eminence,
Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh
Reverend
Clergy, Respected Presbyteres
Esteemed
Metropolis of Pittsburgh Philoptochos President Rosemary Nikas
Metropolis of
Pittsburgh Philoptochos Board
Daffodil
Luncheon Co-Chairs Thea Martin and Connie Voas
Fellow National
Philoptochos Board Members
Honored Dais
Guests
Dear
Philoptochos sisters and friends,
Christos Anesti!
On behalf of the National Philoptochos Society I am delighted to be here and extend to you warmest greetings. Thank you, Metropolis of Pittsburgh Philoptochos President Rosemary Nikas and the Pittsburgh Metropolis Board for hosting the annual Daffodil Luncheon benefiting the Metropolis Philoptochos Social Services Fund and the University of Pittsburgh Melanoma Research Program. Thank you for your gracious invitation.
The daffodil perennially blooms in early spring and is thought to be Mediterranean in origin. The selfless sacrificial love of Christ, offered for all through His Crucifixion and Resurrection, affected all nature and humankind. It is believed the daffodil bloomed during our Lord’s Resurrection and it is said to have appeared in the Garden of Gethsemane during the Last Supper representing hope following the Crucifixion of the Lord. Therefore, the daffodil is significant and appropriate for the Metropolis of Pittsburgh Philoptochos where women offer hope through their good works.
Under the inspiring leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos, the Metropolis of Pittsburgh is at the forefront of charity, compassion and service. I thank His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos for his spiritual guidance, support and prayers for the Philoptochos Society.
This year the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society celebrates a milestone 80th anniversary serving those in need with love, respect, caring and compassion. We, the members of Philoptochos, are privileged to be recipients of this great legacy from our grandmothers and earlier generations. We must continue what our pioneer heroes began by serving now with determination and agape, the less fortunate. Through teamwork, sharing of responsibilities and mutual goals, our philanthropic mission thrives without boundaries and with unlimited good works.
The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society continues for eight decades beginning in 1931 when His Eminence Archbishop Athenagoras of blessed memory designated Philoptochos the official philanthropic auxiliary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Today, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, the dedicated and faithful Orthodox women demonstrate that the Philoptochos is the exemplary sisterhood, truly the philanthropic heart and soul of our church.
With your concerted efforts and those of the total US chapters’ 27,000 membership, the National Philoptochos Society distributed in 2010 alone, an amount just under $1.4 million in financial assistance to our National Ministry Commitments, to special projects and to the underprivileged. The National Philoptochos Society achieved this great giving with the support of this Holy Metropolis of Pittsburgh. Each person present participating in the chapter Philoptochos is part of this great Philoptochos movement.
Plato in his dialog The Republic, is credited with (quote) Necessity, who is the mother of invention. (end quote) As a proverb, we know it as “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” What is factual is the imperative need to house our 80 year old noble and blessed organization.
Necessity has created urgency for the National Philoptochos Society to secure a stable and permanent home.
We are the mothers of invention. We are not lingering to awake one morning to the next residence crisis…at which time…we would pose the “where are we going to go?” question. We are not seeking to drift. We are seeking to anchor. We must establish a permanent Philoptochos Center of Philanthropy that will exist for all future generations.
After being headquartered for more than 20 years at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Manhattan, the National Philoptochos has begun an initiative to purchase a permanent home.
To preserve what has been established and to foster future development of the Philoptochos mission, the National Philoptochos Board unanimously voted and the 2010 National Philoptochos Convention delegates unanimously supported the founding of a permanent home for Philoptochos to be located in New York City.
Great efforts have been made by Philoptochos volunteers overcoming what many thought to be as insurmountable obstacles and even perhaps unlikely aspirations. Philoptochos’ tomorrow did not include worrying about from where we will do our good work or to whom we will be paying our monthly rent. No, Philoptochos’ future was clear and you are responsible for its vision. To date, more than $1 million has been raised towards this goal. This is monumental. You as heroes are victorious, and together with your diligence and prayers, Philoptochos will expand the dimensions of its mission, calling to serve with compassion, dignity and respect.
Philoptochos is the beacon of shining light which provides hope and enlightenment for the battered, the suffering, the disabled and the hungry. The future Philoptochos Center of Philanthropy will be a permanent residence where we will expand our current social services assistance. Broader programs will include counseling for medical and mental health wellness, case management, and advocacy for women, children, families and seniors. In addition, educational workshops, forums, training sessions and seminars will be developed for our Society on a Chapter, Metropolis and National level. The Center will allow us the opportunity to better serve those most in need and our Chapters nationwide. The Philoptochos Center will provide the space necessary to meet face-to-face, conduct workshops and provide appropriate storage for archives. Philoptochos is not now what it was 80 years ago. Philoptochos will not be in 80 years what it is today. Together, the Center of Philanthropy will be the keystone to foster the evolution of the future Philoptochos.
Philoptochos has become a true global organization offering assistance in regions throughout the world including Greece, Russia, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Haiti and most recently, Japan. Our grandmothers are proud as they look from heaven and witness our preparation for tomorrow’s Society. Our ancestors courageously battled the Great Depression when establishing the National Philoptochos Society. We examine and are grateful for their great accomplishment and find strength during this most difficult economic climate, which is not so different from that of the Great Depression. We must build upon their foundation.
Sisters in Philoptochos and friends, with your support and with God’s grace and blessing, we are well charted to our permanent home. Already, three Metropolises are committed to raising funds to help purchase the Philoptochos Center and I charge the Metropolis of Pittsburgh Philoptochos Board and the faithful chapters of the Metropolis to do the same. No amount is too small.
I am privileged to work closely with Rosemary Nikas, a sterling representative on every level of the Society, and together with National Board Members from this Metropolis. I am honored to collaborate with these highly respected peers. I recognize National Board Members Mary Doreza, Barbara Pasalis, Joyce Spanakis and Crystal Thomas.
I express extreme gratitude to the four hosting Philoptochos Chapters, All Saints in Canonsburg, Holy Cross in Mount Lebanon, Holy Trinity in Ambridge, Dormition of the Theotokos in Aliquippas and to all present for your contributions of time, talent and treasure. Yes, we are blessed to unite at the Daffodil Benefit Luncheon and share in fellowship.
Let us offer thanksgiving to the Lord for our esteemed Clergy, our Presbyteres, our Philoptochos stewards and all who will join our Philoptochos family.
Just as Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, along with other women were the first to discover the empty tomb of our Lord, (Quote) On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and other certain women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (End quote) (Luke 24:1-3). Their willingness to approach the tomb in the midst of great sadness and danger is an indication that they possessed incredibly strong faith in Jesus. The actions of those women serve as a powerful message to us today.
The women of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society improve the quality of life for so many by offering nourishment to the hungry, medical assistance to the infirmed, shelter to the homeless, schooling to the less educated, and most importantly, friendship to the lonely. Philoptochos women are fearless and strong as were the women at the tomb of the Lord. As the myrrh bearing women went so zealously to anoint the precious body of our Lord despite the great risk so many years ago, we too must continue to anoint the body of the Lord through our love for all humanity.
Thank you.