Our JOY and GOYA had a blast - and brought home the hardware - at the Archdiocese District Junior Olympics!
Altar Boys/Junior Choir Appreciation Luncheon
The Junior Choir and the Altar Boys gathered for their annual dinner and fellowship at a local Greek Restaurant together with Frs Nick and Patrick and Jr. Choir director Georgeann Mavrovitis and Constance Mavrovitis and Cynthia Herzegovitch.
AHEPA Sunday 2018
AHEPA Sunday was commemorated this morning at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy remembering the founders of our AHEPA chapter - James Plevritis/Joseph Keane. In addition the oath of affirmation was given to the new officers including Harry Fotiadis, President; Jon John Copulos, Vice President; and Jon Kohilakis, Secretary. The chapter also thanked Joe Keane for his many years of service and dedication as chapter president.
Theater Group Buys Costumes for Dance Troupe
Georgeanne Mavrovitis, on behalf of the Holy Trinity Theater Group, presented a check for over $5,000 to our Dance Troupe director Nick Gregory for the acquisition of authentic Greek folk costumes (from various regions of Greece) for the dancers to dress in while performing. The proceeds were raised during the recent Taverna Night.
Greek School Mothers' Day Program
Students of our afternoon Greek School read poems in Greek and English on the occasion of Mother’s Day following the Divine Liturgy.
Update on St. Nicholas Shrine Investigation
Fr. Nick attended the Archdiocesan Council Meeting held in Pittsburgh and is sharing this announcement:
UPDATE ON ST. NICHOLAS INVESTIGATION – PHASE 1 PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ANNOUNCED AT ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL
PITTSBURGH – On May 4, 2018, Elaine Allen, Chairman of the Standing Audit Committee of the Archdiocesan Council, of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, announced the substantial completion of Phase 1 of the St. Nicholas Special Investigative Committee’ s (SIC) investigation into the management and finances of the St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine project. The SIC has received PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) Phase 1 draft report and is expected to announce its findings to the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council imminently.
Among key findings from Phase 1, the amount owed by the Archdiocese to St. Nicholas has been confirmed to be less than $3.7 million, with the exact dollar figure to be finalized in the coming weeks. Moreover, the review found that all other monies raised to fund the St. Nicholas project are accounted for, and that the expenditure of these funds was consistent with donor restrictions.
As a result of the aggressive financial restructuring efforts undertaken by the Archdiocese over the last year, led by Treasurer Mike Psaros, the Archdiocese has already repaid $1million of the pending total amount it owes to St. Nicholas, and will voluntarily pay interest on the full amount owed to the project. The Archdiocese will also make a voluntary contribution of $670,000 to St. Nicholas. This amount represents the full amount of unrestricted investment returns generated on donations from 2001 – 2012.
Finally, Ms. Allen announced that the Archdiocese will repay its debt to St. Nicholas with interest. The amount of the interest payment will be confirmed following the SIC’s completion of the findings report, which will include the finalized amount owed by the Archdiocese to St. Nicholas.
Phase 2 of the SIC’s investigation is also being conducted by PwC. The work is ongoing and includes a review of the St. Nicholas project’s baseline costs and cost increases, a review of design changes, and an analysis of vendor payments with the goal of identifying potential non-disclosed relationships between the St. Nicholas project management team and vendors paid with St. Nicholas funds. The SIC’s findings report is expected to complete within one month.
Immediately following the completion of Phase 2, Phase 3 of the SIC’s investigation will begin. It will largely be a project management and design exercise intended to finalize construction plans, costs, and a revised timeline for completion of the project.
The SIC is committed to completing its comprehensive and exhaustive investigation into mismanagement allegations around the St. Nicholas project, and to addressing all issues potentially raised in this investigation before construction proceeds.
The St. Nicholas Church will be a sacred space with its doors open to all. As a National Shrine on hallowed ground, it will stand in memorial to the lives lost on September 11, 2001, as a symbol of reconciliation, and as a spiritual beacon of hope and for generations to come. The Archdiocese remains committed to the completion of this deeply meaningful landmark and spiritual capstone to the World Trade Center site redevelopment effort.
Beautiful magnolia tree on the new property!
Taverna Night!
Holy Trinity Dance Troupe performing at the annual Theater Group Taverna Nite held in the social hall on Saturday evening.
