WESTFIELD, NJ – The feast of the Holy Spirit was celebrated with special splendor and the presence of many of the faithful and priests of the Metropolis of New Jersey at Holy Trinity Church in Westfield on June 21.

In his sermon, Fr. Anastasios Kousoulas referred to the importance of the day and asked the faithful with their behavior and attitude to follow the divine grace, to humbly believe the word of the Church, in order to claim the enlightenment and the grace of the Holy Spirit leading to salvation.

Presiding priest of the Holy Trinity community Fr. Peter Delvizis shared his best wishes to the Greek community through The National Herald and thanked the priests who honored the parish with their presence.

"It is a great blessing," he said, "that we could all be here today to honor our church.

After very difficult months due to the pandemic, our church begins to be filled again with believers, our programs are slowly reopening, and I hope that by September everything will have found its normal rhythm. Best wishes for many and blessed years.”

Presiding priest of the Holy Trinity community of Westfield Fr. Peter Delvizis administers Holy Communion to the faithful. (Photo: TNH/ Michalis Kakias)

Archimandrite Anastasios Garaboa expressed through TNH the joy and honor he feels as the new presiding priest of St. Demetrios in Perth Amboy and thanked His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros for his appointment.

He said: “After several years in Houston, just two weeks ago, I came to the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey. The parish of St. Demetrios welcomed me with a lot of love and I thank them warmly. I pray to God to give me the strength to be worthy of everyone's expectations.”

The former president of the church council, George Colonias, referred to the work of the parish and shared his best wishes to the Greek community.

The Philoptochos Society’s Ellen Manos-Athenson and Nitsa Konstantinidis noted that all 200 members, despite the restrictive measures, did not stop providing financial and any kind of assistance to poor and sick parishioners and non-parishioners.

Members of the Philoptochos Society, left to right: Matrona Skiadas, Marina LoAlbo, Eleni Manou, Nitsa Bruno, Efi Kiriakatis, Fran Frangerio, Maria Sallas, Maria Halkias, Ellen Manos-Athenson, and Themi Ganifas. (Photo: TNH/ Michalis Kakias)

The president of the Trinity Circle program for retired parishioners, Evdokia Kiriakatis, said that more than 70 members organize and go on religious and recreational trips, excursions, to theaters, restaurants, and many other activities, which were stopped due to the pandemic, but, as she said, very soon they will start again.

Finally, after the Divine Liturgy, a festive meal was served in the community hall.