March 26, 2026
My dear Sister Presvyteres,
As we find ourselves nearing the end of Great Lent and turning our hearts toward Holy Week, I gently encourage each of us to be mindful of something very important—care for our families, and for ourselves. Let us make the time to ensure our spouses are well rested, our children are cared for, and that we, too, pause and restore our own strength.
Even as we anticipate the beautiful and life-giving Feast of Pascha, we know what follows—end-of-school activities, graduations, weddings, baptisms, and the full rhythm of daily life. WHEW! I find myself taking a deep breath just writing it all!
Amidst all of this, we have Clergy Laity. I would like to share some important updates. The Archdiocese, in collaboration with the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, has been working diligently in preparation for the upcoming Clergy-Laity Congress, taking place June 30 – July 3. We extend our deepest appreciation to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the entire Archdiocese for their continued love and care for clergy families—including each of us.
If you have not yet made your hotel reservations, please do so as soon as possible. Registration is now open at www.clergylaity.org. As a reminder, everyone must be registered, including children ages 2–17. The children's registration is at no cost.
We are also blessed with wonderful news: registration for ALL Presvyteres is $200. This includes lunch, the Tuesday evening event, the Grand Banquet on Thursday, and the Clergy Family Event on Wednesday evening. Please note that registering for Clergy-Laity serves as your RSVP for the Clergy Family Event—no additional registration is needed.
You will soon receive more information regarding our Presvytera Thursday afternoon luncheon. Please continue to watch for updates via email and on our private Facebook page. As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions, and remember that your Metropolis Representative is also available to assist you.
A few weeks ago, the National Board had the blessing of meeting in Lynn, Massachusetts, at the parish of St. George. We are so grateful to our Boston Metropolis Representative, Patricia Orphanos, her husband Fr. Alex, and the entire parish community for their warm and gracious hospitality. It was especially meaningful to pray together as His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios presided over the Second Stanza of the Salutations to the Theotokos—a truly beautiful and spiritual blessing.
In the coming weeks, please be attentive to emails from your Metropolis Representative regarding elections to the National Board. As outlined in our constitution, each Metropolis meets annually, and every other year elects a representative. Additionally, the Nominating Committee will be sending information regarding Executive Board elections.
During this Lenten season, I have been trying to live out the many spiritual lessons we read about—kindness, listening, and leading with a heart full of love. What I continue to learn is this: a kind heart, a listening ear, and a soul filled with love are the greatest gifts we can offer one another.
Over these past 21 months, I have been blessed to meet so many incredible people. Often, I am asked, “What is the NSP?” And it fills me with such joy to share about all of you—who we are, our families, and the beautiful bond we share in Christ. It is truly a blessing to know each and every one of you.
When I say to you, “Choose Joy,” please know that I mean it with all my heart. I choose joy because of my daughters and son-in-law, my beloved grandchildren, and my family—which includes YOU.
Thank you for being who you are—wonderful women who, like me, fell in love with a man who chose to serve our Lord. What a blessing that is.
Kali Anastasi,
Pearlann