NEW YORK, NY – GreekNews USA
The Hellenic Community of St. Demetrios in Merrick will soon celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for its long awaited “Constantine & Carol Cassis Center”. The joyous event will follow the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 19, officiated by H.E. Archbishop Elpidophoros who will bless the laying of the foundation.
“May 19th will be a historic day for the Community; a day to remember, and an event that future generations will cherish”, said Protopresbyter Nikiforos Fakinos, St. Demetrios’ presiding priest, bringing the good news to his parishioners on Sunday February 18th. “We are honored that His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros will bless this new beginning, as May 19th is the only Sunday available in the hectic Archiepiscopal schedule until September. Our children will remember May 19th and talk about it to their children and grandchildren. They will recall pushing the groundbreaking shovels into the ground so that our foundations are firm and based on the great mission the Center serves, which is to promote Orthodoxy and our culture for the years to come”, he added.
Fr. Nikiforos was reminded of his college years and noted that “when we were students, we needed a deadline to submit an assignment. May 19th is our deadline so that every single family makes a pledge and offers a donation for the Center to be built without loans and without high interest debt in the future. We have been inspired by the donations that were already given, from college students all the way to senior citizens. This is OUR new edifice, and we should all be part of it, whether we commit a brick, a door, a classroom, or even the new Greek School. No gift is too small, especially when everyone contributes. The athletic teams, the Church & Greek School, the philanthropic missions, our elderly, our families, and our youth will congregate to celebrate our precious heritage”.
According to the parish website the “Constantine and Carol Cassis Center” will be a 18,500 square -feet state-of-the art construction, including a multipurpose Gymnasium [Basketball, Volleyball and Futsal Court], locker rooms, food and drink stations, 11 large classrooms, 4 Offices, reception area, game room and the “Constantine and Carol Cassis Kafeneio”.
“This is not just a structure, it is the glue that binds and connects a community. Community and unity are intertwined to convey that we are all invited to work together and contribute for this worthy cause. One can donate a brick, another one a window, another one a classroom, another one an auditorium. We need the auditorium; we will not throw away the brick. We are fueled from the enthusiasm; but we need the action. It is a blessing to look back one day and narrate to the next generations how it all started. First it was a dream. But we were compelled to prove that we are not just dreamers: we are visionaries”, added Fr. Nikiforos.
