Saint Iakovos Retreat Center Newsletter
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago
Newsletter—Great Lent/Holy Pascha 2012
Future Home of the FANARI CAMP program...
This issue
Why a Retreat Center ?
Why a Retreat Center? P.1
Men’s Retreat /What Others
Think... P.2
The “Righteous Path” P.3
How You can help P.4
The average young American now spends practically every waking
minute — except for the time in school — using a smart phone,
St. Iakovos Retreat Center
computer, television or other electronic device, according to a study
from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Those ages 8 to 18 spend more than seven and a half hours a
day with such devices, compared with less than six and a half hours
five years ago, when the study was last conducted. And that does not
count the hour and a half that youths spend texting, or the half-hour
they talk on their cell phones. And because so many of them are
multitasking — say, surfing the Internet while listening to music —
they pack on average nearly 11 hours of media content into that seven
40 East Burton Pl
and a half hours.
“I feel like my days would be boring without it,” said Francisco
Sepulveda, a 14-year-old Bronx eighth grader who uses his smart
phone to surf the Web, watch videos, listen to music — and send or
receive about 500 texts a day.
The study’s findings shocked its authors, who had concluded in
2005 that use could not possibly grow further, and confirmed the
fears of many parents whose children are constantly tethered to
media devices. It found, moreover, that heavy media use is associated
with several negatives, including behavior problems and lower grades.
Mailing Address:
Chicago, IL 60610
312– 337-4130
www.metropolisretreat.org
[email protected]
Physical Address:
920 224th Avenue
Kansasville, Wisconsin 53139
——————————Join us at the Retreat
Center for our
Annual Interim Chapel
Feast Day Celebration!
“The Life Giving
Fountain”
Friday, April 20th
Hierarchal Liturgy 10am
Cookout to Follow!
Chicago Family Synaxis Men’s Retreat
The Chicago Family
Synaxis, a ministry of the
Metropolis of Chicago, hosted
a Men's Retreat at the
St. Iakovos Retreat Center on
February 3rd - 4th. The topic of
the retreat was "How to live a
Holy Life", led by Fr. John
Rallis of St. John the Baptist
Church in Des Plaines.
Twenty two men from
different parishes within the
Metropolis attended. The
retreat activities included
spiritual discussions, a Christian themed movie, hiking in the woods, a tractor
ride around the property, and general fellowship.
The retreat was free of charge . The participants were asked to consider
making a donation to the St. Iakovos Retreat Center.
—————————————————————————————————————--.
WHAT OTHERS THINK…
This last year, Christian Haven, a
60 year old organization dedicated
to helping vulnerable children and
families, rented our Retreat Center
for one week. In their recent
newsletter, “Another Chance” the
following was written about our
facility:
“this retreat center offered
an excellent space for our
annual trip...the same
atmosphere of solitude,
reflection, family fun, recreation and relationship building was still present. The
week was full of opportunities for the boys to enjoy recreational sports,
swimming, night hikes, canoeing, campfires, evening devotional talks, solitude
time for reflection, and even a train ride around the property!”
THE RETREAT CENTER’S “RIGHTEOUS PATH”
AWAITS YOU!
You won’t find exclusive shops and restaurants such as those on
North Michigan Ave., downtown Chicago at our Metropolis
Retreat Center but you will find something very “magnificent” for
your soul. “The Righteous Path” consists of two separate paths,
covered with wood chips leading to 15 Proskynetaria. One path is
about ½ mile long, the other 1 ½ miles. One can either walk the
paths or take a golf cart.
What awaits you are 15 Saints and Feast Days in the life of the
Church. Take the paths and you will find a place to venerate, to
think, to pray about one’s life away from the concrete jungle. No
cell phones, no TV, no internet, but a place full of the peace that
comes from God.
Inviting you to visit:
Christ, the Good Shepherd
The Holy Anargyroi – November 1
Archangel Michael - November 8
St. Nectarios - November 9
St. Catherine - November 25
St. Barbara - December 4
St. Athanasios - January 18
St. Haralambos - February 10
St. George - April 23
St. Emelia - May 8
SS. Constantine and Helen - May 21
The Holy Apostles - June 30
St. Paraskevy/ St. Panteleimon - July 26 /July 27
The Dormition of the Virgin Mary - August 15
St. Phanourios - August 27
One might leave the Magnificent Mile, downtown Chicago with earthly treasures, (and an
empty wallet). One will leave our “Righteous
Path” at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center with an
abundance of heavenly treasures!
Thank you...
To the donors of the 15
Proskynetaria and the
hard work of those who
planned, built and put
them together!
Thank you to all our
donors who have
supported the Retreat
Center from the
beginning!
Tell your family and
friends about it!
We need everyone’s
support!
Board of Directors
METROPOLITAN IAKOVOS OF CHICAGO
BISHOP DEMETRIOS OF MOKISSOS
Bill J Vranas—President
John Balourdos—Vice President
Nick Kirkeles—Secretary
Tom Kanelos—Treasurer
Planned New Facilities
Hotel Style Residence Hall and Cabins
We currently have 12 rooms of 25 donated and are looking for more
George Vourvoulias—Past President
Rev. Fr. Angelo Artemas
Rev. Fr. James Dokos
Rev. Fr. Andrew Georganas
Rev. Fr. Nicholas Georgiou
$100,000 donors. We are also looking for 2 $500,000 donors for our
Rev. Fr. James Greanias—Ex Officio
cabins. Consider joining our Wall of Recognition with a Leadership Gift
Rev. Fr. John Ketchum
and becoming an Annual Donor!
Rev. Fr. Ted Poteres
Please cut out and return the forms below.
Chris Avramopoulos—Ex Officio
Irene Arsoniadis—Ex Officio
Fred Chapekis
Annual Giving Campaign
Brad DeSent
George Haralampopoulos
Arthur Labros
Alex Pappas
We are also looking for donors who are willing to making an Annual Commitment to the Re-
Harold Peponis
treat Center. This Annual Giving Campaign will insure the future of Retreat Center. Thank you!
Joanne Stavrakas
Please send all Donations to: St. Iakovos Retreat Center
40 East Burton Pl. Chicago, IL 60610
To reserve a date for your
group outing please send an
email to:
[email protected]