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View our Church Calendar for all services and event updates

Life in Our Parish

Yard Sale May 1-2

It's time to invite all of your friends and go shopping!

A giant multi-family yard sale of this size (it's practically a department store) is sure to have some treasures you will enjoy!

On May 1 and May 2 we need boots on the ground! Help in the back office, selling, security and break down: 10:00 - 1:00; 1:00 - 4:00pm and on Saturday, 4:00 - 5:30pm

To volunteer please see Pam Scarpa. And there's a little extra incentive (besides the good feeling you get working with fellow parishioners for the benefit of our church) - anyone who volunteers is invited to return on 5/2 at 3:45 pm and receive a “Thank You Fill a Bag” to select items for free!

We ESPECIALLY need volunteers on Saturday, May 2, from 4pm - 5:30, when the yard sale is finished as the hall is rented that evening and we have 90 minutes to take down tables and shelves and box unsold items to donate to The Breast Cancer Foundation! 

Golf Outing: June 16

The 10th Annual Don DiNovi Memorial Golf Outing will be held this year on Tuesday, June 16. There are many ways to participate - as a golfer, come for dinner, or as a sponsor. Click here for day of event details. For more information, contact Ed Assile, Emil Samman, Jim Tweel or Jim Watkins.

Looking for Ivy Leaguers

We are looking for Ivy Leaguers - and we don't care where you did or didn't go to school! This is a volunteer position to watch the hall (long marketed as the Ivy Hall) when it is rented and serve as a friendly on-site presence to help ensure renters follow guidelines and treat our home with care. With our beautiful new hall, we have A TON of rentals!

Each rental has 4 spots for volunteers, so it seems like a nice way for the volunteers to also have kitchen-time conversation. Clear, printed instructions will be provided for every shift so you know exactly what to do. Your time helps us maintain the quality of our church hall and building, while allowing the program to grow and thrive for the entire community. And working together - especially with people you don't know very well - is always the way that relationships get formed. 

Learn more or sign up.

What are You Reading this Summer?

Need a suggestion? What about delving into Orthodoxy? In our newly renovated library, located down the stairs (follow the signs) there are well over 1,000 books to open your mind to the riches of our faith. With book selections varying from beautifully illustrated Orthodox iconography art to Christian literature. There is also a large selection of books for children and for parents to read to their children. All books are available to take out on the honor system. 

If you would like a personal tour or curated selection of books on topics that interest you, contact sub-deacon, Nicolas Nagorny, church librarian at 201 388-7088 any morning 9am-noon. 

Year-Round Fundraisers

Flowers never go out of style and are always available for ordering. Whether you are looking for a bouquet or florals for a whole event, it's easy for you and a fundraiser for St. Anthony's. You can get all of your floral arrangements (name day, birthday, anniversary, etc.) throughout the year while supporting the church. To order, call Hanneh Kalyoussef (201-693-2968) or email hanneh@kalycomm.com

With Mother's Day next week, they are more in demand then ever! Order now to pick up your bouquet on May 10, or another date you work out with Hanneh. .

See flyer

A Taste of St. Anthony's offers frozen favorites representing the parish’s rich Pan-Orthodox culture, showcasing traditional favorites from across our diverse community. Specialties are made to order and sell out quickly, so be sure to place your requests early. The food will be sold throughout the year by our team of specialty chefs. NEW MENU ITEM ALERT: Vegetarian grape leaves and stuffed cabbage

Visit our site for what's available now and visit often as the menu will change. If you have questions, please contact Pam Scarpa.

Decorating on Good Friday

Heartfelt thanks to the dedicated parishioners who devoted many hours to decorating and setting up the Kouvouklion (Epitaphios) for our Good Friday services. You all did an amazing job!

And many thanks to the generous parishioners who made donations for the beautiful Pascha flowers.

Women's Guild Lenten Project for New Hope Pregnancy Center

Thank you so much to everyone who donated clothes, diapers, gift cards and more for the Women's Guild philanthropic Lenten Project supporting the mothers and babies at the New Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Westwood, NJ! Your generosity is overwhelming!

Walk-In Dinner Program

Our St. Anthony’s crew of Jim and Nike Bach, Lois Dedes, Valerie Joseph, and John and Betty Gakos prepared a delicious meal of roasted chicken with roasted red potatoes, fresh baby carrots, a tossed salad and delicious Balthazar bread for 160 people. Our St. Anthony’s teens prepared wonderful desserts for this philanthropic event. In all about 140 people were fed with the remainder of the meal to be distributed on an as-needed basis at the walk-in dinner program. Helen Chimel, Betty and John Gakos, Linda Kailas and Don Tweel were on site and serving in Hackensack. A special thank you to all our solicitors and everyone that helped fund this event and make it a success. (And most especially, thank you to Betty Gakos, who leads this philanthropic endeavor.)

Orthodoxy on Tap

Thank you to Amanda Elsabee who put together a wonderful "Orthodoxy on Tap" Young Professionals event on April 19. We had attendees from local Orthodox churches from various archdioceses come together for fellowship (and good food and drink). Fr. Nicholas Belcher, Fr. Bogdan Bucar and Fr. Symeon Williams led the workshop of "Living an Illuminated Life in 2026." 

IOCC

On Saturday, April 25 we hosted Orthodox parishes from throughout the area for the annual Taste of New Jersey event to benefit International Orthodox Christian Charities. The full house enjoyed good food, wine and beer tasting and musical entertainment as we also learned of the critical work that IOCC does throughout the world. Thank you to Nike Bach who spearheaded this wonderful event.

Parish Council Update

Our Parish Council meets monthly to hear from committees and to go over matters that may need discussion/approval/to be voted on.   

To keep everyone aware of what happens at these meetings, each month we will publish highlights from the meetings that are not already covered in other areas of the Desert News. 

Highlights of April 22, 2026 Meeting

House and Grounds

- AED machine has been moved to the lower vestibule area near the bathrooms

- Continue to save on contracted work in our hiring of John Meyer

- John Ziemba and John Gakos have removed and chopped down most of the dead trees on the property

Stewardship

- Pledges continue to be coming in, including from those new to our parish

- QR code in bulletin to pledge and pay Archdioceses assessment

Hall Rentals

- Hall rentals have significantly increased as a result of the hall renovation project and ongoing marketing efforts

Women's Guild

- Lenten project for the New Hope Pregnancy Center was a great success

Teen SOYO

- Group of teens participated in the Good Friday Vigil

20/40 Group

- Held the Orthodoxy on Tap even and saw strong attendance, looking forward to hosting other events like this

Facilities Update

The finishing touches to our church hall - the heating element covers - are now installed! Many thanks to Nick Dedes and Stephanie and Adam Reimers who made these lovely covers for us! 

Our Finances at a Glance



First quarter expenses reflect increased costs in electricity and snowplow removal (combined 20k). As a result of the successful Tricky Tray event, which netted approximately $30k, St Anthony’s was able to post a profit for the first quarter. At this time last year, we had income of $40k before including any proceeds from the Tricky Tray, which was later in 2025.

Monthly expenses run approximately $43k a month and expected weekly donations from the 2026 budget cover only 48% of total expenses.

With beautiful renovations to the hall, we expect additional income from rentals in the upcoming months.

Your continued support during the slower months after Pascha are greatly appreciated. 

Each parishioner, every year, is asked to submit a pledge form in order to cover parish expenses. The pledge has two financial components.

1. We, like all churches, support our Archdiocese by paying an annual assessment. Each parish family is asked to pay this fee each year: $150/individual; $300/family. This assessment can be paid by check, on our website, or through your Parish Soft Giving account
2. Your Pledge/weekly offering covers all Parish Expenses: (Building & Grounds maintenance and repair, Utilities, Clergy, Staff, Christian Ed and parish programs, and Kitchen supplies.)

Paying your Assessment and filling out your pledge form confirms that you are a member in good standing of St Anthony’s Church.

Thank you for supporting your Church!

ParishSoft Giving

St. Anthony's provides an easy, convenient, and safe way for parishioners to make recurring payments or one-time gifts to the parish by using ParishSoft Giving. Click on the links below to see what you can do.

Parishioners can also make gifts from their mobile phone. TEXT ‘Giving’ to 201-581-7385. Visit the Stewardship page on your phone or computer to create your PSG account

Reminders

AED

Our AED automated external defibrillator is now located in the front lobby by the men’s and women’s bathrooms. Please let Betty Gakos know if you are Certified in CPR and AED use.

Milestones

Many Years!

Congratulations to Deacon Peter, who celebrated the 28th anniversary of his ordination to the Holy Diaconate on Thomas Sunday. God bless and Many Years!

Oh Baby!

Congratulations to Stephanie (Tweel) and Evan Johnson on the birth of their beautiful son, Lucas Miles. Lucas, who was born on April 23, 2026, is grandbaby number four for over-the-moon grandparents Vicky and Jim Tweel. God bless!

Calendar

Yard Sale

Friday May 1-Saturday, May 2 (See above)

Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir

Sunday, May 3 at 3pm

St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, Randolph, NJ

Golf Outing

Tuesday, June 16 (See above)

Parish Life Conference

July 1-4

Bealeton, Virginia

antiochianevents.com/new-york

(A new date for our International Feast will be announced soon.)

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