Community Outreach

The Outreach committee continues to explore ways in which it can help those in need during these times. If you have suggestions for ways the committee can help in our community or if you would like to participate in its meetings, please contact the cathedral office.

The Community Outreach Ministry along with Sunday School are collecting non-perishable food for FeedMore from November 2nd - November 23rd. Click for more information.

Cathedral honored by Richmond Habitat for Humanity

Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral has been named an Outstanding Faith Partner for2024-2025 by the Richmond Metro Habitat for Humanity. The honor comes because of the Cathedral’s ongoing participation in Habitat’s volunteer home builds, our financial support for the Unity Build program, and by selecting them as a sponsored Charity for the 2025 Festival, which included having Habitat volunteers and staff involved with additional support for the Festival by checking IDs and providing wrist bands at the festival wine booth. At the announcement on Oct. 9 in downtown Richmond, Andrea Baker accepted the award on behalf of the Cathedral; Richmond Habitat Board members Katherine Bradley and Jim Katsaros also attended the ceremony. A photo with the Habitat Faith program champion, Burdette Robinson, is included.

Going forward, Richmond Habitat will hold a Unity Celebration weekend on October 24-26, which will feature numerous activities with its Faith partners. On Oct. 25, the Cathedral is sending six volunteers to support refurbishment of a dilapidated home in Bon Air that was donated to Habitat by Chesterfield County. Volunteers also are needed for a shift at the Habitat Restore, a retail outlet that sells donated home goods near Chesterfield Town Center, on December 5, from 1 to 5 p.m. Please call Katherine Bradley at 913-314-8665 if you are interested in participating. There are tentative plans for another Unity Build volunteer opportunity on Dec. 2. Look for more information in the December Newsletter article.

REINHART HOUSE: In October, our GOYAns served a meal of meatball sandwiches to the guests at the Evelyn D. Reinhardt Guest House, which provides housing for out-of-towners visiting loved ones at St. Mary’s Hospital intensive care unit. That was the Cathedral’s 90^th consecutive month serving the Reinhart guests with meals. This streak goes back to 2015 and was broken only by COVID restrictions.

Volunteer organizations are scheduled to provide meals for the next six months. They are: Community Outreach Ministry in November, potentially the Young Adult League in December, the Parish Council in January, AHEPA in February, the Daughters of Penelope in March and the Philoptochos in April. If you or your organization would like to volunteer for a 2026 shift, please call our coordinator, Greg Silvestri, at 804-288-1587.

Silvestri also reported that Reinhart is holding a volunteer celebration at the Reinhart House on November 13, from 4-6 PM. All Cathedral members are welcome to attend.

IOCC: The Cathedral family will conduct an Emergency Supply Bucket drive on Sunday, November 2. The buckets are used to help victims of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes.

MICAH INITIATIVE/LOIS HARRISON JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUPPORT: A snack drive held in August provided roughly six weeks’ worth of snacks for the students at the elementary school. The Cathedral youth director, Krista Loucas, said she intends to make this a monthly event with various organizations sponsoring a month.

COLLEGE STUDENT SUPPORT: The Cathedral continues to supply transportation for University of Richmond college students who want to attend Sunday church services. Our coordinator for this ministry is Calypso Bletsos. Calypso also coordinates “care packages” for our community college freshman. The packages include prayer cards and will be sent out the Monday after Thanksgiving.

FEEDMORE FOOD DRIVE: Beginning on November 2, keep an eye out for food-drive boxes in the Andre Room, Dombalis Hall and the upstairs Sunday School hallway. Canned goods and other nonperishables are welcome donations. All will benefit FeedMore, a local food bank. This ministry is coordinated by Krista Loucas and Nikki Katsaros.

KAIROS PRISON MINISTRY COOKIES: Gina Pappas is coordinating a new outreach activity that provides cookies and prayer wishes to the incarcerated. Homemade cookies will be collected on November 2 and one dozen will be given to each prisoner and guard at a local prison. More information and guidance can be found online at Kairos prison ministry.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, December 9^th at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral. New members are encouraged to attend.

Participation in the Community Outreach Ministry is open to all parishioners. Its next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11^th at 7 p.m. If you would like to participate, please call our chairman, Jim Katsaros at (804) 241-1632

Community Outreach Ministry Vision

To grow closer to the broader Richmond community through acts of service as a Cathedral family and, by this, unite us to Christ.

To achieve this Vision, we will:

Help build awareness of existing outreach activities at the Cathedral
Be a resource to facilitate involvement and participation of Cathedral parishioners in outreach activities
Serve as a sounding board for expanding the scope of volunteer outreach
Sponsor community-wide activities (outside existing organizations) targeted for the local community
Coordinate Cathedral response to national & international crisis/emergencies

Community Outreach Ministry Members:

Jim Katsaros, Chair / Parish Council Liaison

Tom Kazas, Co-Chair / Communications Director

Father Nicholas Bacalis, Sponsor / Inspiration

Key Ministry Champions:

Calypso Bletsos, College Student Ministry

John Bletsos, Companionship Ministry

Ruth Catherines, Philoptochos Liaison

Mark Chronis, IOCC Liaison: Emergency Supply Drives & Tennis Tournament / Fisher Guest House Meals

Gina Guinn, FeedMore / Food Drives

Elaine Hall, Clothing Supply Drives

Nikki Katsaros, ICU Comfort Kits