Family Matters

In this Fully Human Father's Day message, His Grace Bishop John Abdalah of the Diocese of Worcester and New England, for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, speaks about fatherhood from the unique vantage point of a father and grandfather, spiritual father and hierarch, and licensed counselor. This conversation offers much spiritual and practical edification to all pare...

What does it mean to be fully seen — not just for our struggles, but also for our gifts? In this conversation with Apostolos Christos Lianos, a remarkable young man living with Tourette’s Syndrome, we meet someone whose daily life includes challenges many of us may not fully understand, but whose witness reveals something deeply human: the desire to be known, accepted, and embraced. Together, we’l...

Deacon Demetrius Romanczuk serves Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Mission in North Carolina, is a retired educator with a background in special education, an Accessibility Coach with the On Behalf of All initiative: Toward an Accessible Divine Liturgy for Children with Disabilities, husband of Matushka Cathy, and devoted father to Luke and Kate, who have level 3 autism. Honest about his family's challe...

Further information on substance abuse resources: https://afm.box.com/s/krmo5uy493i2wezjvqh698cu2lm6l32u Father Nikolas Delaveris, the Director of the Saint Anastasia Fellowship, and Adriana Makrov, the Program Manager, join Presvytera Kerry Pappas for a discussion about the origin and mission of the Fellowship, which serves those who are navigating addiction from a Christ-centered perspective, gr...

Father Peter J. Spiro, Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese's FREEDOM (Faith-based Resolve to Eradicate Enslavement: Didactic Outreach Ministry) joins Presv. Melanie to discuss how human traffickers seek to manipulate and capitalize on any human vulnerability, including vulnerabilities associated with disabilities. He offers practical steps families can take to protect their children and oth...

Abby Vlahos is the co-liaison for the On Behalf of All (OBOA) initiative's pilot parish, St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, Illinois. Her youngest child, Cosmas, is 9 years old and was born with a rare genetic syndrome causing a range of disabilities including intellectual disabilities and autism. She supports disability advocacy and ministry efforts in her work, her parish,...

Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Yagze, currently the Pastor of St George Orthodox Church in Fishers, Indiana and Fully Human Steering Committee member, shares insights on keeping our relationship with God open and authentic every day, and specifically during the challenging times in our lives. He lifts up examples of people in Holy Scriptures who remained in conversation with God in the midst of trials and...

In this month of November when we celebrate National Gratitude Month and the American Feast of Thanksgiving, the Center for Family Care is spotlighting the virtue of gratitude. In this conversation, Pres. Kerry Pappas interviews Pres. Pat Tsagalakis, the Assistant Director of the Family Wellness Ministry for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco on the importance of gratitude for a faithf...

October is designated as Clergy Appreciation Month (CAM) for all Christian churches in the US, honoring St. Paul's exhortation to acknowledge those "who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you," and to "hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work" (1 Thess. 5:12-13). In honor of CAM, Pres. Kerry Pappas speaks with Fr. Louis Christopulos, a priest of...

October highlights many disabilities as awareness days/month in the US, and this month's podcast seeks to create awareness on one family's experience with Spina Bifida. Kevin Deutsch, an On Behalf of All (OBOA) Initiative pilot parish liaison, shares how he and his wife Nicole met a test of faith early in their pregnancy when their daughter Kora was confirmed to have Spina Bifida. Turning to God i...

Presvytera Kerry Pappas speaks with Fr Alex Goussetis, the outgoing host of the Family Matters podcast series, about what he learned about marriage and family life as Director of the Center for Family Care these past nine years. He offers advice for married couples, parenting tips, and insights into the parish's role in strengthening the home.

Have you ever felt misunderstood and isolated as a parent of a child with disabilities, or struggled to know how to educate members of your community regarding your child's needs? This month Angela Karadsheh shares her advocating approach and offers suggestions for those who find advocating to be challenging. Being a mom to a neurodivergent son has opened her heart to the Parental understanding of...

Beth Thielman joins the conversation on disability in the church, clarifying that creating inclusive environments in our parish settings and ministries is more than saying "everyone is welcome," and then not taking steps to remove barriers for full participation in worship and church life. When we make pivots in the way we operate in order to make church life accessible, we offer a love that remov...

Fr. Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr. Sofie Azmy regarding John Gottman's well-known metaphor describing four communication styles that often predict difficulties in a marriage relationship–and how to change course toward a healthier bond.

This Father's Day Edition features a conversation with Fr. Dean Panagos of St. John's Greek Orthodox Church in Blue Point, NY. Father Dean shares honestly about his initial reluctance for his community to apply to become a pilot parish in the GOARCH Initiative funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. On Behalf Of All: Toward an Accessible Divine Liturgy for Children with Disabilities; and, how attending th...

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr Randa Anderson regarding the potential benefits as well as the potential risks related to gaming, including the incorporation of Orthodox values in the decision-making process

Meet Amanda Chagnon, mom to three beautiful boys including her youngest, Alexios, who has medical complexities due to a condition called Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disease that causes non-cancerous tumors or lesions to grow in the brain and other areas of the body, including the eyes, lung, heart, kidneys, and skin. Amanda shares how motherhood a...

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Dimitrios Moraitis on the collateral damage that family and friends often endure when a loved one is struggling with substance abuse - and advice on how to establish healthy boundaries and support for their loved ones in recovery.

Fr. Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Peter Spiro, Director of the GOA National Human Trafficking Awareness Ministry, on who are the traffickers, who are the victims, and what parents need to know to protect their children.

Meet Jeremy Swartz, a recent addition to the Center for Family Care team as the On Behalf of All Grant Assistant Director. Jeremy brings his experience in project management, studies in philosophy and theology, and lived experience as a caregiver of a child with disabilities to our ministry. Listen as he shares how life with his family and their unique journey has taught him to pivot on his patern...

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Theo Nikolakis, CIO of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, on positive internet usage, child safety, and related software for families.

Pres Melanie speaks with Marissa Eliades, the cofounder of the Like a Daisy Foundation in memory of her sister Samantha Eliades, who had Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Samantha passed away, unexpectedly, on September 28, 2023. Marissa shares the origins of her family's journey with special needs in the church, beginning with participation in the Challenge Liturgies for families with disabilities est...

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr David Ford, professor at St. Tikhon's seminary, on the historical and theological understanding of the sacrament of marriage and its practical application for us today.

Lindsay Pals-Bieberich is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist who speaks with Pres Melanie about her clinical specialties working with religious and spiritual trauma, PTSD, and late diagnosis ADHD in women. They explore reasons that many girls receive inaccurate diagnoses in childhood. Her passion is to help clients reframe their experiences from shame to acceptance of physiological diffe...

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr Sarah Riccardi-Swartz on social media's impact on family dynamics, interpersonal communication, and social development - and how parents can change the narrative in the home.