Family Matters

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with pastor & therapist Fr Paul Jannakos on how to address and overcome the challenges that couples experience in the course of their marriage.

Anna and Andy talk about how having a “covid baby” was a really special experience, how they love bringing their daughter along with them everywhere and don’t necessarily feel the need for extra “one-on-one” time, how they had to learn to speak to each other in a way that the other could hear in order to overcome challenges, and how having true unconditional family love is what makes everything ok...

Fr Alex Goussetis highlights the creative wonder of God and how families can enjoy this Fall season together.

Presvytera Melanie shares an anonymous letter, a heartfelt plea from an Orthodox Christian mother to other moms, on behalf of her teenaged son on the Autism Spectrum; and, adds her own plea to the spiritual fathers, the clergy, of our church families.

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Sarah Byrne-Martelli regarding her new book, which offers insights for individuals and/or groups in addressing the issues of grief and bereavement.

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Dr Timothy Patitsas on how our everyday decisions are impacted by our belief system. In this turbulent period in American society, where ethics are fluid and based on one's ideological perspective, how do Orthodox families apply the ethos of the church in their daily lives?

Presvytera Melanie shares some lessons learned and encouragement for fellow caregivers of children with disabilities and special needs, at the onset of a new school and church year. No matter what your child's learning curve, and your own, "it's all OK."

Description: Fr Alex Goussetis and Presvytera Melanie DiStefano discuss the highlights of their new book, which offers couples the opportunity to take a shared spiritual journey into the heart of marriage through a series of creative exercises. Release Date: Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Fr. Michael and Pres. Maria discuss their meeting, how Pres. Maria did not want to end up with a priest and her gradual change of heart. They talk about being long distance in their relationship and how it helped them improve their communication skills, how their children give them a chance to work on their weaknesses, and how asking often for forgiveness helps their family.

Presvytera Melanie speaks with seminary student Justin Heard, advocate for the blind on local and national levels. He shares how he found the Orthodox Faith, met his wife, and his hopes to help the Church get up to date by changing infrastructure roadblocks and attitudes that affect persons with disabilities. Justin hopes to serve Christ as a priest - at least the chance to test what accommodation...

Alex & Emily talk about their whirlwind romance, getting engaged 2 months after they met and married 10 months later. They discuss how Emily “accidentally” discovered Orthodoxy with a mistaken course placement, how she struggled with making it her own, and how motherhood solidified her faith. They also discuss how believing in the good intentions of the other helps them get through challenges in l...

Can Asperger's Syndrome be a superpower? Meet living proof! Presvytera Melanie speaks with recent high school graduate and class valedictorian, Trevor Wallace, about the his experiences as a young person with Aspberger's, and how he sees each person as uniquely endowed with superpowers.

Despina and Mari discuss all of the couples they have interviewed so far and share their favorite lessons they have learned from each one.

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Fr Stephen Muse regarding his newly published book, which features narratives, wisdom, and encouragement for all parents.

Fr Alex Goussetis offers insights into the distinction between a childlike and a childish faith.

Presvytera Melanie speaks with her parents Pete and Alexis Tsikouris about learning from their past mistakes, what they want most for their grandson with disabilities, and what they cherish most about their relationship with him.

Fr Alex Goussetis offers a Memorial Day message on ways to share our family history with our children.

Presvytera Melanie speaks with Natalie Kapeluck Nixon, the Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and founder of the St. Nicholas Program, a church camp experience for persons with special needs of all ages, and their families. The 2022 St. Nicholas Camp session runs from August 5-8. See this website register: https://www.uocyouth.org/stnicholasprogra...

Presvytera Melanie speaks with her husband Father Joseph DiStefano about their lives together as a family navigating their son's intensive special needs over the years, how they address losses of their dreams for family life, and are finding new discoveries of meaning, deeper understandings of love, and simple joys of shared life together. It all comes together when the focus is on what is most im...

Presvytera Melanie speaks about her son Michael Seraphim, describing the lessons he has been teaching her family including through the details of his timely birth, and the unique way God enlightens people through Michael, when they "have eyes to see" him as a child of God.

Fr Alex Goussetis describes the wide variety of people who will attend Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday.

Suetta and Nate discuss their Amish and Mennonite backgrounds, how they both entered marriage with the mindset that they were “extraordinary” and how that affected their marriage. They discuss the steps they took to save their relationship and how Orthodoxy provided a solution for the spiritual structure they were seeking and how their journey in life has showed them the beauty in being “ordinary....

Presvytera Melanie speaks with Eleni Anast about finding faith, hope, and direction through prayer, spiritual counsel, and community as she and her husband grew their family through open adoption and faced their daughter's Autism diagnosis. She and her husband focus on and cultivate their children's strengths, cherish daily routines together, and balance their active lives according to every famil...

Fr Alex Goussetis offers practical suggestions for families as we approach the season of lent.

Fr Alex Goussetis speaks with Social Worker Rebecca Samra on the challenges and stressors that impact families - and healthy coping practices to consider.