March 2025 News & Updates
Lenten greetings to you all, dear friends of Saint Basil. We have much to report on for last month, which was jam-packed with activities both on and off campus.
On March 1st, the District 6 Daughters of Penelope held their Mid-Year Conference in the Main, while the District 6 Maids of Athena continued their incredible work building out and decorating the Sensory Room (grand opening on June 14!). The very next day, we traveled down to our beloved church neighbors, Saints Constantine and Helen in West Nyack, for Liturgy, a Kathara Defthera luncheon hosted by AHEPA District 6, and of course our annual kite flying extravaganza. As always, it was a blast!
The week after that, a very special little creature joined our Saint Basil Family. Her name is Floppy, and she is an adorable baby lamb from a neighboring farm whose mother rejected her. Because of this, Floppy has to be bottle fed until she is eating enough grass and grain to comprise her diet. Luckily, Floppy found a place where everyone is extremely happy to care for her, bottle feed her, play with her, you name it! Watching our children care for her with such love, gentleness, and playfulness has been touching beyond belief. Our children helped Floppy become strong enough to fully reintegrate into her flock which she did just last week. Now we all get to visit her and watch her grow up on the farm! And before you ask whether she will become anyone’s Easter meal, don’t worry: Floppy will be used only for wool production and breeding.
On Saturday, March 15th, Father Jason Dickey from Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church in Poughkeepsie led a wonderful program called Empowering Peacemakers that was all about how we can alleviate the impact of crime through our roles as peacemakers in the Orthodox tradition. He was joined by guest speaker Frank Guglieri who is the Regional Safety Coordinator for BOCES in both Putnam and Westchester Counties. We were also delighted that Senator Rob Rolison joined us for the event. He was blown away by the scope of Saint Basil’s work. And of course he was a huge fan of Floppy’s!
On Saturday, March 22, we held our much anticipated Lenten GOYA Retreat where we were joined by GOYANs from across New York and New Jersey. Father Michael Palamara delivered the keynote address, and it was a remarkable day of worship, fellowship, experiential learning and more. The Spirit of Orthodoxy Pan-Orthodox Choir gave a beautiful concert and even sang with our Saint Basil Children’s Choir! It was a day to remember, and we can’t wait until the next GOYA retreat!
March culminated in our annual participation in the Greek Independence Day Parade along 5th Avenue in Manhattan. Our children looked so beautiful in traditional Greek dress, and it was a wonderful display of Hellenic heritage. Zito i Hellada!
As we move into the second half of Lent preparing for Holy Pascha and Christ’s Resurrection, we ask you to keep Saint Basil Academy in your prayers. We are so grateful for your love and support, and we hope to see you soon! Kali Sarakosti!
With love and gratitude,
The Saint Basil Academy Family
Please Join Us!
Please join Saint Basil Academy staff and residents this Saturday, April 5th, for what we hope will be the first of many parenting conversations with Dr. Philip Mamalakis, professor at Hellenic College Holy Cross and author of Ancient Faith Publishing’s best selling Orthodox parenting book, Parenting Toward the Kingdom.
For more info or to RSVP, please email Ms. Lauren at L.Biniaris@sbagoa.org
Did You Know?
Saint Basil is home to Basilia’s Boutique, a give-and-take “shop” in the AHEP education building for everyone in the Family, Bridge, and Youth Programs. The boutique provides a sustainable “thrift store” on campus for residents to use without any monetary vales assigned. The boutique also serves as a vocational learning center for the children on campus, so they can learn the beginnings of working in a retail environment.
Save the Dates!
- Saint Basil Academy Graduation on Saturday, June 7th at 11 am (Please note the updated date!)
- District 6 Maids of Athena Sensory Room Unveiling on Saturday, June 14th (details coming soon!)
- 2025 Saint Basil Academy Walk-a-thon on Saturday, September 20
Support Our Work
As a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity, Saint Basil Academy depends upon the financial support of its beloved friends and donors. Our supporters contribute in many different ways, from monetary and material donations to naming Saint Basil as a beneficiary in life insurance and estate planning. Saint Basil Academy also has several earmarked funds in place for therapeutic art classes and outdoor excursions. Sponsoring a resident, becoming a host family, and/or referring a child to Saint Basil Academy are other vital ways of providing support as well. When you give to Saint Basil Academy, you are helping a child in need in a powerful way.
© Saint Basil Academy