Religious Education

2005-2006 Theme: The Year of the Family
The Orthodox Church is often called the Church of the Fathers because she maintains a living connection with the early Church Fathers.  We are not a Church that was instituted  a few years ago , or even a few centuries ago.  The early Fathers are part of our church history.  In fact, our Church came to be called Orthodox, meaning true faith, because of the great emphasis the early Fathers of the Greek Church placed upon preserving the true faith of Christ.  As Orthodox Christians, we have behind us millions of believing men and women of every tribe and tongue, witnessing the truth of the Gospel, often dying for it, in order to hand down to us.

This year Sts. Constantine and Helen church chose to parallel the Greek orthodox Archdiocese of America in the choice of our theme; that being the year of the Family. All classes from preschool to high school are discussing and teaching the importance of family to the Church. Discussions regarding Christian family values; the family and the church; Christian responsibilities as they relate to the family, the church and the community are being discussed at all levels.

Schedule & Enrollment
We start our Sunday School year the Sunday after the Church Festival with the Elevation of the Cross in September. The cost is $10 per student or $25 per family with three or more children. The cost covers the curriculum, Christmas gifts, end of year gifts, and other miscellaneous costs. We are unique in that are own Saint Helen's Philoptochos supports the program financially and emotionally. We start with the pre-school class and go through the 12th grade. Children must be three years old by the time Sunday School starts to enter the program. Otherwise, they wait and enter the following year (not in the middle of the year). We have found that this keeps the continuity of the program along with the maturity of the class. Our year ends the second week of June.

We hold two philanthropic drives each year.  This year we supported our local fire victims and held a shoe drive during lent. We also support the Orthodox Mission during designated times. We participate in the Pan-Orthodox Bible bowl held each year in December sending a junior high and a high school team. We also hold an annual Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival each year with participants ranging from 7 th through 12 th grade. We have had great luck since we have been participating as our finalists were: Alexander Aram, in the junior division; and Jessica Cometa, in the senior division, advancing on to the Diocese Competition at Saint Nicholas Ranch. We also hold a Holy Friday Retreat each year starting at 9 a.m. and ending with a strict Lenten Lunch. The students participate in readings, prepare different crafts, and form the procession for the Burial of our Lord.

We have a lot of fun planning the Christmas Pageant and truly believe that we work as one body for Christ. "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members to not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans

The excellent presentations of the children each graduation day and at other Church events has continually proven to be successful, meaningful and inspiring and has allowed the congregation to find joy an pride in the religious accomplishments of our youth through the Sunday School.

Sunday School Teachers
Our Sunday School teachers are encouraged to attend workshops given by the District and Diocese. This year we were honored to have a kick-off workshop this year our featured spokeswoman was Eve Tibbs, the director at St. PaulÕs Church in Irvine and the head of all religious education in our Diocese. Lastly and most importantly, our leadership and direction comes from our priest, Father Theodore Phillips, who oversees the Sunday School program functioning.

Our dedicated staff includes:
Kathy Head - Director, (858) 794-8431, e-mail: Kathy.Head@sharp.com
Sharon Barboza - Assistant Director
Linda Kounelis and Amy Drivas - Pre-school
Victoria Pappas - Kindergarten / 1st Grade
Kathy Emmenegger - 2nd / 3rd Grade
Mark Stagnori and Estelle Stone - 4th / 5th Grade
Rene Grevas - 6th / 7th Grade
Michael Van Buskirk and Louisa Peck - 8th / 9th Grade
Chris Kailas, Peter & Connie Fellios - 10th-12th Grade

Diane Fowler has been working faithfully and diligently in the Sunday School for the past 17 years as a teacher and as the Director for the past seven years. The Church is indeed gratefull for her dedicated and faithful service. She and her fellow teacher have really done a superior jub in helping our children learn their faith.

The excellent performances of the children each graduation day and at other Church events has been just stellar and has moved most, if not all, the congregation with reverence and pride in their religious accomplishments.

We are indeed fortunate to have had a superior Director and superior teachers for our children.

We are confident that she can build on the strong foundation created by the teachers and the former Director.

Altar Boys

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