This year’s Omatha boys mid-year retreat took place from 19th to 21st of July. Thirty-six boys and eleven teachers attended across three different camp sites. The highlight was the Sunday Divine Liturgy service at the Pantanassa Monastery, at which all attendees were provided with the blessing of venerating some personal items of St Paisios during the Matins service. Each Omatha had their own programs with Bible studies, talks, time for friendship, bushwalks, games, Christian songs and hymns. There were wonderful spiritual moments that arose which will remain with the boys for ever.

During the Months of January and February, the Boys and Girls Ομάδες (13 to 18 years of age) as well as the Men of the Greek Orthodox Christian Society held their annual retreats at Mangrove Mountain, north of Sydney. The Boys retreat was held at Wesley Vision Valley, Arcadia from the 15th - 20th January, with 55 boys and 15 leaders attending. The program included talks and Bible studies, as well as sport, group and other recreational activities. The Girls retreat was held from the 15th - 19th January, with 45 girls and 10 leaders in attendance. They commenced [...]

Starting in the evening of Friday 4th of August, 40 young men of the Greek Orthodox Christian Society attended their weekend retreat to Mangrove Mountain. The lessons centred around Panagia and the Transfiguration, in preparation for those upcoming feasts. For the first time at a mid-year retreat, the young men on attended a five-hour night vigil at Pantanassa Monastery to celebrate the Transfiguration of Christ. At the end of the camp, it was announced that around 10 members will be moving to the second group.