Please join us in our journey to the Lord through ministry through participation and through volunteering.
We offer the following ministries:
Purpose/Mission Statement:
To serve God and His Church in the Holy Altar faithfully and reverently. Also to assist the Clergy in all the Church Services and to grow in one’s Faith and Orthodox Christian commitment.
Time Commitment:
Altar Boys serve every Sunday as well as Holy Week, Pascha and major feasts
Membership:
Young men of the Greek Orthodox faith from six years of age through eighteen years of age.
Activities:
The Altar boys learn the meaning and order of each Liturgical Service through participation in those Services. Through their offering of service during the Liturgy of the Church, they fulfill a sacred and indispensable role in the Liturgical life of the Church. Because of their sacred duties, they are distinguished from the rest of the faithful by wearing a στιχάριον (robe), the traditional vestments associated with διακονία (service).
Their duties include, first and foremost attentiveness and prayer at the services, secondly to participate in all processions and entrances, and thirdly to ensure that a state of preparedness is maintained for all that may be needed during the Liturgical Service.
Purpose/Mission Statement:
The purpose of the Choir is to offer prayers by singing praises to Almighty God.
Time Commitment:
The Choir sings from September – June.
Membership:
No age restrictions. Knowledge of the Greek language is not essential.
Activities:
The Church Choir offers the Liturgical responses as the Divine Liturgies, Holy Feast Days and especially during Holy Week and Pascha.
Purpose/Mission Statement:
To participate in athletic activity in order to both develop the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and to foster Christian fellowship and competition with other Orthodox Christian both within the Parish and throughout the Metropolis.
Time Commitment:
Varies depending on activity.
Membership:
Young men and women ages four through eighteen
Activities
G.O.B.L. Greek Orthodox Basketball League
Metropolis of Chicago Basketball league which is composed of Middle School, High School Girls and High School Boys teams. The season begins in Mid-October and ends with the Championship Game on Cheese-fare Sunday.
H.O.P.E/J.O.Y. Basketball
A Parish league where children from pre-school through sixth grade come and learn the basics of basketball while learning about Christian fellowship. The program begins in November and ends on the Saturday of Cheese-fare week from 2:30 p.m. through 4:00 p.m. each Saturday.
JUNIOR OLYMPICS
Metropolis Athletic program organized for young people of all ages. Over 50 Parishes throughout the Metropolis participate in this three day athletic competition. It is held on Memorial Day Weekend and is hosted by the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen in Palos Hills, Illinois.
Holy Cross Church-Sophocles Greek School would like to thank the Hellenic Foundation, Greek American Restaurant Association, and Joe’s Champagne Wishes for their unwavering support in funding our Greek American youth and Orthodox Christian Community.
Purpose/Mission Statement:
The Sophocles Greek School offers the study of Greek language and culture to the children of the community.
Time Commitment:
Classes meet once a week for 4 hours on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. September through June.
Membership:
Students should be 4 years of age by the start date of class.
Activities:
Monthly: The first Saturday of each month there is a hot lunch offered by our P.T.O. at a cost of $3.00 per child.
March 25th Program: The entire Greek School participates with patriotic songs and hymns along with dances, poems and skits on the “Dual Holiday” of the Annunciation and Greek Independence Day. This celebration is always celebrated on the Third Sunday of Lent and is proceeded by a Lenten luncheon
We also celebrate “Όχι Day” (October 28th), Christmas, The Three Hierarchs (January 30th) and the final day of classes, with smaller programs. The children recite and read poems and sing songs about these holidays.
Purpose/Mission Statement:
To teach the youth of our parish the basics about the Word of God. The Archdiocese Curriculum and Texts are used.
Time Commitment:
Students attend the Sunday Divine Liturgy weekly. Following HOLY COMMUNION, students attend their classes in the Cultural Center.
Membership:
Pre-kindergarten begins at age 3 (if potty-trained) through high school. The Sunday School is always in need of dedicated teachers.
Activities:
Sunday School begins the second Sunday in September and runs through the last Sunday in May.
Christmas Pageant – Held the Sunday before Christmas. All Sunday School classes participate as actors, singers and/or readers. Most dress up in costumes.
Godparent Sunday – Children invite their Godparents to sit with them in Church and receive HOLY COMMUNION together as a spiritual family. Following the Divine Liturgy there is a Breakfast/Luncheon to honor this special day.
Sunday of Orthodoxy – Children bring icons from home and walk around the Church in the procession with the Clergy and Altar boys to celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
Purpose/Mission Statement:
GOYA is an organization in which teenagers can gather together to participate in fun activities, to get to know each other and talk about the Greek Orthodox religion. In addition, many service projects are planned throughout the year.
Our Goyans participate in Parish, Metropolis and Archdiocesan youth retreats, athletic programs and summer camps.
Time Commitment:
Meetings are the third Tuesday of each month and usually last about an hour.
Membership:
Members must be between the ages of 13 to 18.
Purpose/Mission Statement:
The purpose of the food pantry is to follow the command of our Lord, “I was hungry and you fed me…”
Activities:
All non-perishable canned goods accepted. All food is given to the Bridgeview food pantry which distributes the food to the poor every Friday.
Purpose/Mission Statement:
Our purpose is to offer service to the Church: to aid those who may be in need of help due to physical, mental or financial challenges and to promote participation in the activities of the Greek Orthodox Community.
Time Commitment:
Meetings are the first Tuesday of each month. Dependent upon one’s interests and availability, there is always opportunity to offer one’s service.
Membership:
Greek Orthodox women at least 18 years of age. These are the women who are dedicated to being a friend of the poor, or as expressed in the Greek language, “Φίλος των Πτωχών.” These are the people who work towards raising funds for scholarships, enabling many young people without the means to continue in their education; who are active in influencing new legislation for the betterment of mankind; who represent with devotion our beloved Orthodoxy, and to be sure, Christianity, to the whole world.
The Philoptochos member, who is a true member, serves without reservation. The member listens to others without hasty judgment or criticisms, and in short, fosters good will through one’s actions, words and deeds.
All these then, are woven into our personalities and then, as individuals, we in turn, are woven into a perfect formula for the guiding principles of our own personal lives. As we live, we set the guidelines for future generations of Greek Orthodox Christians.
The ladies of the Holy Cross Philoptochos Society assist in the ministries and philanthropy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Archdiocese of America and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago. They assist the Clergy in all Parish ministries.
Activities:
Hosting coffee socials throughout the year.
Annual Vasilopeta celebration to raise money for St. Basil’s Academy – a residential school for school-age children.
Hospital and home visitations.
Baking the pastries for: bake sales, feast days and the festival.
Purpose/Mission Statement:
The two major responsibilities of the Welcoming Committee are to:
Welcome new members to our parish.
Welcome guests – both Orthodox and non-Orthodox – to our Church service and to tours of our Church.
Time Commitment:
Meetings are called as needed.
Membership:
To all interested in furthering the Orthodox faith.
Purpose/Mission Statement:
The Holy Cross Men's Group provides a unique opportunity for all male members of the parish to unite for a wide array of activities from bible study / discussion to social events such as bowling.
Time Commitment:
We meet on a monthly basis.
Contact:
Art Karoubas
+1 (312) 560 -0547
Instructions to Join Designated Group Chat:
Click link below to download Wix Spaces App
Use The Following Code Within App:
Group Code: IUXB2G
