GOYA is the ministry created for 7th–12th graders to experience our Orthodox Faith & foster a personal relationship with Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. As active, sacramental members of the living Church through community service & philanthropic endeavors, they stay connected to the Church & build their Christian foundation for their adult lives.
GOYA bases its ministry on four elements (Worship, Witness, Service & Fellowship). Service is a priority for our GOYA. The teens are actively involved throughout the year with various charities & local events.
Worship & Witness are part of the Monthly GOYA Meetings, two Lock-In Retreats, Sunday School, as well as various times throughout the year including Holy Week. The teens enjoy being an integral part of the Church by helping in the Altar, singing in the Choir, decorating the Epitaphio on Good Friday, diving for the cross during the Elevation of the Cross celebration & assisting with the spring & fall clean up at our cemetery.
GOYA also has social, cultural & athletic aspects. The Metropolis of New Jersey, a group of all Greek Orthodox Churches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland & Virginia, hosts multiple events to enable GOYA members to interact with others of the same faith & upbringing. Events range from dances & athletic tournaments to cultural festivals & competitions in which GOYA chapters perform authentic Greek folk dances, songs & dramas to celebrate & preserve the Greek culture.
Our Mission is to educate our teens, so they remain close to God & our Orthodox Christian faith through spiritual, athletic, social and cultural events. Father Andrew Eugenis & the GOYA Advisors help to fulfill the GOYA ministry & work together to keep our GOYANs connected to the Orthodox Church as good standing stewards & Christians.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Term #1 / Fall
September-December
Melanie Sum, President
Irene Venetis & Gianna Rizzieri, VPs
Dimitri Giannakopoulos, Treasurer
Ellie Panas & Ian Lalis, Rec. Secretaries
Term #2 / Winter
January-March
Adrienne Billows, President
Julia Imbro, VP
Evdoxia Paragioudakis, Treasurer
George Marousis-Bush & Alex Georges, Rec. Secretaries
Term #3 / Spring
April-June
Elias Lambrinos, President
Cassandra Kelesidis, VP
Yiorgos Kozak & Niko Sakelaris, Treasurers
Marika Kostidakis & Annie Nicholas, Rec. Secretaries
ADVISORS
George Moutis
Lori Billows
Mary Giannakopoulos
Lisa Imbro
Jacquelyn Marousis-Bush
Androniki Nicholas
Renee Panagos-Felice
Emily Panas
Paula Sakelaris
Keith Sum
Maureen Tsakiris
Maria Venetis
