ABOUT US

WHO ARE WE?

SOCAL GOYA was established by the Southern California Greek Orthodox Parent Committee and is composed of concerned and committed parents working together in collaboration with their parish priests to coordinate regional SOCAL GOYA events. The Committee’s intent is to advance broader community building among our Southern California Greek Orthodox parishes and foster deeper communal relationships among our parishes, families and youth. This effort is envisioned to further enhance and be an extension of local youth ministry work being done at the local parish level.

With the blessing of our parish priests, select parents from the Greek Orthodox parishes of St. John the Baptist in Anaheim, Assumption in Long Beach and St. Basil in San Juan Capistrano have volunteered to set up this regional organization as a legal entity under St. John the Baptist in Anaheim and will carry out the administrative needs of this organization under the direct guidance of the Proistamenos at St. John the Baptist in Anaheim. The Proistamenos of St. John the Baptist will act as a liaison and communicate/coordinate with the other regional clergy in support of the SOCAL GOYA organizational needs and events as needed.

WHAT IS OUR ROLE?

The intent of this organization is to provide “synergia” and “syndiakonia” among Southern California Greek Orthodox parishes to coordinate, plan, promote and financially support regional GOYA youth ministry events throughout the calendar year. These efforts will be accomplished with our local / regional clergy and through our Metropolis Youth Ministry Leadership Team within the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, as needed.

WHO DO WE SERVE?

The Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA) established GOYA Guidelines as defined by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Youth and Young Adult Department. SOCAL GOYA ministers to teenagers in the sixth/seventh through twelfth grades to participate, depending on how junior high/middle school is structured within your area. It is recommended that GOYA ministry be divided into two distinct groups, the middle school GOYA ministry (Junior GOYA) and the high school GOYA ministry (Senior GOYA).

WHAT IS OUR MISSION AND GOAL?

The mission and goal of SOCAL GOYA is to support a regional GOYA ministry to lead our young people into experiencing the Holy Orthodox Faith. By developing a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and becoming active sacramental participants of the living Church, our young people will be equipped with the tools necessary to assist them in their journey toward salvation through the use of the basic principles of GOYA Ministry—worship, fellowship, service, and witness.