Koinonia Men's Ministry
KOINONIA MEN'S MINISTRY
Ascension's "Koinonia" Men's Ministry group brings Greek Orthodox Christian stewards of the Ascension of Our Lord (25 years of age and older) closer together through Orthodox Christian fellowship, and educational, social and philanthropic ministries. Koinonia Men's Ministry typically meets every other month and among other activities, has planned, hosted and sponsored Ascension's annual golf outing, spearheads the Parish Family Picnic; hosts a dinner during Lent; and, manages the Easter greeting card.
If you would like to learn more about the Koinonia Men's Ministry and the social events and philanthropic initiatives the group is planning, please contact Nick Papastratakos at npapastr@gmail.com.
2022/2023 Koinonia Calendar of Events
September 18, 2022: Annual Ascension Parish Family Picnic
October 15: Annual Men's Retreat
October 20: Koinonia Social Dinner & Sports @ LightSource, Vernon Hills
October 23: Koinonia Hosts Altar Boy Lunch
November 14: Feed My Starving Children Parish Volunteer Event
November 20: Koinonia Hosts Coffee Fellowship | Toys for Tots Drive Kickoff
November TBA: DCFS Annual Christmas Gift Drive
December 30: Annual Wine & Cheese Sharing Event
January 17, 2023: 2023 Kickoff: Health Speaker & Spiritual Discussion
February 19, 2023: Koinonia Hosts Coffee Fellowship
March 15: Koinonia Hosts Lenten Dinner following Pre-Sanctified Liturgy
May 14: Koinonia Hosts Coffee Fellowship in honor of Mother's Day
June 9: Annual Parish Golf Outing & Family Dinner (tentative)
July 30: Annual Mid-Summer Social
Click Here to Download & Print the Calendar
- UPCOMING EVENTS -
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
The Koinonia Men's Ministry will be hosting the 24th annual Ascension Golf Outing and Family Dinner on Friday, June 9th at White Deer Run Golf Club, Vernon Hills. Please plan to join us for this great day of fellowship and help make our Golf Outing during our Parish's 25th anniversary a success! Don't play golf? Join us for fellowship and dinner!
Several sponsorship opportunities are available this year. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Carol Stamas Fanari Scholarship with the goal of sending 10 kids to camp ($8,000). For questions about the Golf Outing, please contact Rick Duros - rickduros@gmail.com. For questions about Sponsorship, contact Demetri Katsulis - dtk111@comcast.net.
VISIT THE GOLF PAGE & REGISTER NOW!
- PAST EVENTS -
The 2022 MEN'S RETREAT RECAP
Forty-four faithful participated in Ascension's 5th Annual Men's Retreat, which was held at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, Wisconsin, on October 15 2022. We were honored to welcome this year's keynote speaker. Fr. Luke Veronis from SS Constantine & Helen in Webster, Massachusetts, who offered dynamic and thoughtful sessions around the theme: "From Mirrors to Windows ... We are blessed so that we can bless others". According to Retreat Coordinator and Master of Ceremonies, David Rutkowski, "To have 44 men come together for fellowship and to hear the word of God is a true blessing for us all. I would like to personally thank Fr. Luke and Fr. Sotirios for their spiritual guidance, and give my gratitude to the planning committee and facilitators for a job well done. God willing, I hope to see everyone back next year. In the meantime, keep God in the pilot seat.” Photos of the fortifying day, can be viewed HERE.
View Fr. Luke's Presentation Slides!
Part 1 can be accessed HERE
Part 2 can be access HERE
A BLESSED EVENT - THE 2022 PARISH FAMILY PICNIC
Mother Nature provided the perfect weather for our September 18, 2022 Parish Family picnic where phenomenal food, deserts, frappes, fellowship, family and fun filled the afternoon!
The Koinonia Men’s Ministry would like to thank everyone, both those from Koinonia and those from outside the Koinonia Ministry, who contributed to this wonderful event from set-up to clean-up -- including organizers, financial donors, food donors, chefs, servers, runners, entertainers, bakers, frappe makers and clean-up crews -- thank you and God bless you! Koinonia would also like to thank everyone who gave a free-will donation at the picnic.
Ascension's free-will donations, which totaled $1,745, will be donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank to provide nutritious food and resources for our neighbors. We thank the good Lord, and thank you all, for making the picnic a wonderful event. We are already looking forward to next year’s Parish Picnic.
- 2021 MEN'S RETREAT RECAP-
THE 4th ANNUAL MEN’S RETREAT, held on Saturday, October 16, 2021, was a wonderful day of fellowship, meditation and spiritual renewal. We were blessed to have as our retreat leader Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis, Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa Bay, Florida, and writer of the daily Prayer Team. Fr. Stavros talked about Discipleship and balancing God, family and work, and reminded us that God is the Pilot of our lives, not the Co-Pilot. We look forward to offering the Men’s Retreat again next year and thank everyone on the planning team for bringing an enriching and rejuvenating program to this Parish!
Click HERE to view the morning session of the retreat
Click HERE to view the afternoon segment
