On the Sunday of All Saints, 15th June, we held our annual Father’s Day Picnic, a joyful tradition that marks the beginning of summer and celebrates the fathers and fathers-to-be in our parish community.
Following the Divine Liturgy, celebrated His Eminence, Metropolitan Silouan, the clergy and faithful made their way to the welcoming grounds of Northolt Rugby Club, where we traditionally hold our picnics. A team of volunteers, made up of the ladies from our St George’s Activities Group and helped by some of our youth, arrived earlier in the morning to set up and make sure everything was ready for a great day.
This year’s picnic featured a full and exciting program for all ages.
Delicious Food:
Guests enjoyed a wide selection of appetizers, freshly grilled BBQ (kofta, chicken tawouk, sausages), saj (Lebanese manousheh), a dedicated children’s menu (burgers and fries), and a beautiful celebratory cake.
Live Music:
Live entertainment was provided by Zahi Safiya, whose music brought people together in singing and dancing, adding joy and warmth to the afternoon.
Fun for All Ages:
Children delighted in the bouncy castle and an energetic game of Capture the Flag, while adults had the chance to relax and catch up. Later the adult men took part in our traditional Father’s Day Team Competition. Four teams of seven members competed in a test of strength, speed, and precision: penalty shootout, tug of war, and the classic egg and spoon race. After a close contest, the team led by Mario Assi emerged victorious and proudly took home the cup!
Celebration Cake, Gifts & Raffle:
After the games, a special cake was cut and shared with everyone. Follwing cake, each father received a small gift: a special mug with a printed message, a St George’s Cathedral-branded pen, and a handmade biscuit. The raffle draw followed, with valuable prizes awarded to lucky winners. All proceeds from the raffle will go toward supporting the needs of our parish.
Family Quiz – “Fathers, How Well Do You Know Your Wives and Children?”
During the day, fathers were put to the test in a fun family quiz, answering questions about their wives and children to see how well their answers matched. Laughter filled the air as families discovered just how attentive (or forgetful!) dad could be. After a tie-breaker round, three families won prizes, with first place receiving an icon of Saints Peter and Fevronia – saints from medieval Russia saints who are considered patrons of family life – and a shopping gift card for dad to enjoy.
A Day to Remember:
We give special thanks to His Eminence, Metropolitan Silouan, for being with us and blessing the occasion with his presence.
We also thank the members of the Board of Trustees, many of whom joined us at the picnic, for their continued support and active involvement in the life of our parish.
We are especially grateful to the ladies of St George’s Activities Group, who planned, organised, and carried out the picnic with great dedication. We also thank all the volunteers who assisted them in making the day run so smoothly.
More photos can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tpHQaQLG-RNwUOaEZfxf2-4p8W-9EJ6i?usp=sharing
We look forward to seeing you at our future social events. But above all, we hope to be together in church for the services, which remain at the heart of our life as a parish family.