The Story of the Challenge Liturgy Program The Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church, Roslyn Heights, NY and its Ladies Philoptochos Society conduct a unique ministry called, The Challenge Liturgy Program, which serves developmentally and physically challenged Orthodox Christians. The Program reaches out and welcomes into the full life of the Church special needs individuals and their families by offering a monthly liturgy and a social program that accommodate their special circumstances. The primary objective of the Program is to encourage attendance and participation in the Divine Liturgy. On the third Saturday of every month a liturgy is conducted in a welcoming and supportive environment and in a manner that is appropriate to the congregation’s special needs. Hence its title, The Challenge Liturgy. Another objective is to provide an opportunity for member families to develop friendships and exchange information. A fellowship hour follows the liturgy where members meet and friendships flourish as they interact socially. Invited speakers occasionally address the Group on topics of mutual interest. Co-founded in 1990 by Emanuel and Marina Katsoulis, parents of a challenged child, and Rev. Dennis Strouzas, Pastor, the Program has grown from a local parish program into a regional program serving about fifty families from ten neighboring Queens, Westchester and Long Island parishes. Complimentary bus transportation and car-pooling is provided for those with no means of getting to Roslyn Heights. All metro New York area challenged Orthodox Christians are welcome regardless of parish or jurisdictional affiliation. The monthly liturgy is the cornerstone of the Program. It provides spiritual fulfillment and has brought members closer to the church. The Challenge Group points with pride to a few of the challenged children who have been mainstreamed and now attend Sunday school, serve in the altar or sing in the Junior Choir. The social program consists of a monthly fellowship hour, an annual Spring picnic and Christmas party. The social program is augmented by parishioners who are qualified professionals and who volunteer their services. Volunteer social workers and lawyers, parishioner all, offer guidance and expertise in matters of importance to the members. The Program engages the entire parish. The Joy/Hope group, Junior GOYA, the Junior Choir and the Folk Dance Group participate in the various social activities throughout the year. The Spring picnic, a much anticipated annual event, began as one Boy Scout’s Eagle Scout project. The Challenge Group has grown into a close knit “family” and, as any family, has great concern and desire to protect its most vulnerable members. The issue of survivorship is of paramount importance offering very few acceptable solutions. A group residence that would permit individuals to remain a family, close to the church and an integral part of the Orthodox community is an ideal solution. Following an intense four year effort this will soon become a reality. With New York State sponsorship and accredited social service agency management, and in conjunction with The Challenge Liturgy Group of the Archangel Michael Church, a group residence will open in September 2008. The residence, called Hellenos House, is located in the Nassau County community of Wantagh, Long Island and will be home to seven individuals of Greek heritage with developmental disabilities. The Challenge Liturgy Program is a unique parish ministry; one that satisfies important needs. It is a program that has become an important part of the Archangel Michael parish……………..a program that continues to demonstrate meaningful benefits to both recipients and parish. The Story of the Challenge Liturgy Program Some nineteen years ago, in May 1990, a unique parish endeavor, which has since been named The Challenge Liturgy Program, was initiated at the Archangel Michael Church, Roslyn Heights, NY, which had at its core a very modest objective ……….. reach-out to special needs individuals, and their families, and welcome them into the full life of the parish. That objective not only has been met but exceeded, with the recent opening of Hellenos House. Over time a ministry has evolved that has added a uniquely relevant and enriching dimension to parish life; a ministry that continues to grow, both in services offered and in number of individuals served. The Program’s special liturgy, named The Challenge Liturgy, offers Orthodox Christians with physical and developmental disabilities an opportunity to worship in a nurturing and accepting environment that accommodates their special circumstances. On the third Saturday of each month, Fr. Dennis Strouzas, Protopresbyter, conducts this special liturgy with some fifty families from nine Queens and Long Island parishes in attendance. The Program provides, also, fellowship opportunities following the liturgy and hosts annual events that strengthen friendship bonds. Hellenos House is a group residence for adult Orthodox Christians with developmental disabilities. It is the first group home of its kind in New York State and perhaps in the United States. It is a faith-based group residence funded by New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (NYS OMRDD) through a program called Options For People Through Services (NYS OPTS), a program that promotes inclusion and personal choice. The idea of Hellenos House evolved from the Challenge Liturgy Program. Over the years parent members grew increasingly concerned about the uncertain future their challenged children would face upon their eventual illness or demise. They hoped for the establishment of a group home that would permit their children to remain as the “family” they had become, close to the church and an integral part of the Orthodox community. For a time it appeared the idea would remain just a hope for neither the funds nor the expertise required to establish and operate a group home exist within the Challenge Liturgy Group or the parish. Fortunately, a way was found to achieve this dream. The strategy was to find an agency/association already managing group residences that would be willing to partner with the Group and be willing to help petition New York State for funds to establish a group home that they would, then, manage. (In modern parlance this describes a win-win situation.) Such an agency was found in ACDS of Plainview, NY, one of Long Island’s leading accredited service providers for children and adults with Down Syndrome and other developmental disabilities. For more than 40 years, ACDS has offered an array of educational, recreational, socialization programs and 24 hour supervised residential services. A plan was developed jointly with ACDS that was then proposed to NYS OMRDD. Thus began a four year process that came to a successful end in September 2008 with the opening of Hellenos House, a residence for seven members of the Challenge Liturgy Group: three male and four female, ranging in ages from 22 to 44 years. Located in the quiet residential community of Wantagh, New York, Hellenos House, a 3500 square foot contemporary split level structure, features individual bedrooms, spacious living/dining rooms, den, exercise/recreation rooms and a large in-ground pool for plenty of summer fun. A shopping mall just a few blocks away provides ample reasons for frequent visits. The residents of Hellenos House enjoy a full and productive life with their social, health and medical needs attended to 24/7 by a dedicated staff of social service and healthcare professionals. Each weekday morning residents are transported to their day programs. Upon their return in the afternoon they enjoy some personal time before carrying out their assigned tasks in preparation for dinner. Several nights a week they attend social, sports or arts & crafts activities of their choice. Weekends find them entertaining or being entertained by friends and family, going out to dinner and/or the movies, bowling, shopping or tending to their personal needs. The one event that is on all residents calendar is the Challenge Liturgy which they attend every third Saturday of the month. The overall objective of Hellenos House living is to encourage and facilitate an independent life-style that incorporates adaptive living skills, community inclusion, leisure activities, care of personal finances and the ability to make choices. Community inclusion, in particular, has special significance for Hellenos House. The best way to realize the vision of Hellenos House retaining a Hellenic ambience is to encourage interaction with the Greek-American community. Participation in parish and community activities will not only make certain that religious, ethnic and cultural values are maintained but will also enrich the resident’s quality-of-life. As it relates to state and social agencies, community involvement will validate the promise that the Greek-American community will be a worthy partner that could be counted on to do its share in caring for the less fortunate. The record of support from the Greek-American community is encouraging. The very existence of Hellenos House is related to the success of the Challenge Liturgy program which is due largely to the support of the Archangel Michael parish, most notably its Ladies Philoptochos Society. In the few short months since its opening, several organizations have stepped forward to support Hellenos House attesting to the correctness of the belief that the Greek-American community will support the project. Hellenos House is the first of several group homes that will be needed. The likelihood of additional group homes will be influenced by the extent of community support. Early indications are that the future is very bright. |
