Metropolis of San Francisco Clergy Couples Gather for Second Wellness Retreat

By Father John Hondros

Clergy couples from the Metropolis of San Francisco gather for a retreat in Southern California

What do a cord of three strands and ocean cliffs have in common? This image of the ideal marriage united in Christ that "is not easily broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12) was offered to those attending the Clergy Couples Wellness Retreat in early November at the Serra Retreat Center in southern California.

With the blessing and direction of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, as part of the ongoing Family Wellness Ministry of the Metropolis, 20 clergy couples gathered November 2 - 5, 2009 for seminars, interaction, worship and fellowship. The retreat, which was the second of its kind offered for clergy couples, was facilitated by George Papageorge, MFT, who has a family therapy practice in Pleasanton, CA.

Utilizing this year's retreat theme, "Crowns of Glory that Never Fade: Keeping Marriages Holy and Alive," Metropolitan Gerasimos remarked to the participants, "I know that taking time away from your parish and family has been a sacrifice for you, and I commend you for making these next three days a priority for your marriage." Echoing the marriage prayer on which the theme was based, His Eminence said, "May the miracle of the Wedding at Cana of Galilee remind you of the everlasting power and love of Christ, and may He always preserve your crowns, keeping them holy and undefiled."

During the workshops Papageorge spoke on boundary models for couples, particularly the confusion that often arises regarding what a spouse is responsible "to" versus "for" both in their marriage and family relationships. Additional workshops addressed the root of unhealthy and addictive and behaviors, and how to develop communication that better connects the couple. His final seminar utilized the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33) as it relates to what is spiritually healthy in tending "the marriage side of the road."

Father James Retelas, pastor of Annunciation Church in Sacramento, CA, remarked following the retreat, "I cannot possibly come up with enough superlatives to describe the Clergy Couples' retreat Barbara and I just attended.  The intimate fellowship with brother priests and their wives was truly powerful and the content of the presentations by George Papageorge was of the highest professional caliber. . . I hope more of our clergy couples will join us in the future."

The organizing committee for the retreat was Father James and Presvytera Donna Pappas, Father John Alexandres, Presvytera Patricia Tsagalakis, Father John Hondros, and Kristen Bruskas, the director of the Metropolis Family Wellness Ministry.

Father John Hondros is pastor of Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Las Vegas, NV. He also serves as President of the Clergy Syndesmos for the Metropolis of San Francisco.