“Connecting individuals, couples, families and clergy through the heart toward healthy Christ-centered relationships.” This is the mission statement for the Metropolis of San Francisco Family Wellness Ministry. Innovative programs, regional conferences, and clergy couples retreats have been the hallmarks of this ministry for several years. These efforts will be expand with a vision focusing on “Equipping the Saints” which will work towards developing Family Wellness Ministries on the parish level. This important work will support the clergy and their work as spiritual leaders and enhance their respective parishes by offering tangible ways for our faithful to be better equipped to handle the challenges of life.
Since 2015, Rev. Father Timothy Pavlatos, LMFT, has served as the Director of the Family Wellness during which time he elevated the work of this ministry and brought heightened visibility through a new website, social media pages, and engaging articles and resources. “We are grateful to Father Pavlatos for his leadership and dedication, and pray that God will give him strength to continue his good works,” stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco.
As of August 15, 2018, the Metropolis of San Francisco is pleased to announce that marriage and family therapist George Papageorge has been appointed as the Family Wellness Ministry Director, with Presvytera Pat Tsagalakis as the Assistant Director. They are committed to finding creative, meaningful and effective ways to communicate the mission of the Family Wellness ministry by connecting directly with the parishes in the Metropolis and empowering them to implement Family Wellness Ministries in their communities. Following the success of four regional conferences in 2017, new opportunities will be identified to offer similar one-day free conferences to bring the important message of this ministry into all areas of the Metropolis.
“Both George and Presvytera Pat bring experience, passion and commitment to this ministry. Their love for the Lord and their sincere desire to share it through programs designed to bring healing, wholeness and peace to our faithful is most inspiring,” remarked Metropolitan Gerasimos. “I know this ministry will continue to grow and thrive, building upon the foundation that has been established over the years, and charting a course for even greater wellness opportunities for our clergy and faithful.”
George Papageorge is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been working with couples, families and young people for the past 30 years. With a private practice in Pleasanton, California, his work targets empathy based relationships, parenting with emotional intelligence, family systems therapy and addiction recovery. He is also a highly sought out seminar speaker in a variety of areas of family life and personal growth. As a team member of the Family Wellness Ministry for the past three years, George is excited to take the ministry to the next level as he has accepted the Director position of the Family Wellness Ministry for the Metropolis of San Francisco. George offers patients and workshop participants a path toward integrating sensible psychological insights upon a solid Orthodox foundation. George and his wife Kim have two children, Olivia and Petros, and they are stewards of the Ascension Cathedral in Oakland, CA.
Presvytera Pat Tsagalakis and her husband Father Tom, have been part of the Family Wellness Ministry team since its inception. They have been retreat leaders and speakers for seminars in many parishes throughout the country. At home, at Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, Presvytera Pat is a youth group leader, choir director, active in Philoptochos, co-chair of Camp Agape Northwest and a music educator. Of all the titles given to Presvytera Pat, the two she cherishes most is “mom” to her two grown children Nicholas and Maria Sophia and “thea” to countless children and young adults. She is thrilled to join George Papageorge supporting families as Family Wellness ministries are established in parishes throughout our Metropolis.
Joining George and Presvytera Pat on the Family Wellness Executive Team area: Rev. Father James and Presvytera Donna Pappas; Rev. Father Tom Tsagalakis, MFT; and Joe Borgonia, MFT.
For more information, visit: www.familywellnessministry.org.