Support Group for Parents of Children with Special Needs
Challenge Liturgy
The Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church holds a unique ministry, founded in 1990, known as The Challenge Liturgy Program. Manny and Maria Katsoulis were instrumental in the development and nurturing of the program for over twenty years. The intent is to reach out to Orthodox Christians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, welcoming them into the full life of the parish. All metro-area New York challenged Orthodox Christians are welcome regardless of parish or jurisdictional affiliation.
The objective of the program is to encourage attendance and participation in the Divine Liturgy. It seeks to integrate challenged individuals into the fabric of parish life and also promotes acceptance through socialization utilizing planned events. The cornerstone of the program is a special monthly liturgy that is celebrated on the third Saturday of each month, in an environment appropriate to the special needs of the participants.
We point with great pride to program details:
- A fellowship hour following the Liturgy provides opportunities to develop friendships, meet parishioners or simply exchange information of mutual interest.
- Monthly birthday, Nameday celebrations and seasonal events, such as Christmas and Easter parties, as well as a Spring picnic round out the social calendar.
- A few members who attend Sunday School, serve in the altar or sing in the Byzantine Youth Choir
- The program has evolved to include, Hellenos House, a group residence for Orthodox Christians with developmental disabilities, and an outreach program that reaches out to Orthodox Christians in the 750+ Group Residences on Long Island who cannot participate in the Saturday Liturgy.
Our unique and important Challenge Liturgy Program engages the entire AMC Community in order to make it a success, including clergy, parishioners, organizations and youth groups, volunteer social workers, lawyers, and other professionals, and Archangel Michael parishioners.
The Challenge Liturgy is celebrated on the third Saturday of every month. Individuals of all ages from the surrounding communities, and their families, are welcome to participate in this beautiful liturgy. The families also enjoy social gatherings, fellowship, and community outreach.
Sunday School for Special Needs
We are delighted to introduce a new Sunday program at Archangel Michael Church. It will take place on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in the St. Katherine Chapel. There will be a prayer service with communion, and a brief Sunday School lesson. The service will be followed by a Sports Program in the gym. Parents and caregivers are welcome to enjoy fellowship during Sunday coffee hour in the Fellowship Hall. Please refer to the flyer for specific dates.
Night to Shine
The Archangel Michael Church served as a host of the 2024 Tim Tebow’s “A Night to Shine”. The unforgettable prom night experience was held by host churches around the world simultaneously on February 9, 2024 in 57 countries.
Archangel Michael was excited to be a part of this worldwide movement that God is using as a catalyst to change how cultures embrace people with disabilities and to rally the church worldwide to honor their local community of people with special needs, ensuring they know they are valued and loved.
We had the privilege of hosting over 300 honorees and transforming our gymnasium into a ballroom with music, dancing, and fellowship. Our honorees were greeted with a red carpet entrance, with a warm welcome from a friendly crowd and paparazzi, limousine rides, corsages and boutonnieres, a catered dinner, plenty of music and dancing, and even a separate karaoke area. We offered a Respite Room for parents and caregivers, with dinner, music and fellowship, who were also our guests for the evening. The evening culminated with each honored guest being crowned Kings and Queens of the prom!
The sheer happiness of our honorees and guests was contagious, and it is something all of our 230 volunteers, parishioners, and friends were blessed to witness. It truly was their night to shine, and AMC is committed to do it all again, every year!
SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY , 2025
For further information please contact us at support@archangelmichaelchurch.org.
