Annunciation Greek Orthodox Teen Ministry / GOYA
Our Teen Ministry/GOYA (the Greek Orthodox Youth of America) provides a community group for our youth to connect and build strong ties to one another. GOYA helps our youth form their sense of identity and bridges their sense of belonging to Greek Orthodox of the Annunciation Rochester.
A Look Ahead…
Coming Spring 2024:
Join us this Spring for a wide array of teen and all ages events including Altitude trampoline park, IndyKart go-karting races, Museum of Play arcade nights, and more!
Upcoming events
Reminder: District-Level St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival 2024 ~ This Saturday (4/20) @ 11:00am
This year, Rochester will be hosting Western New York’s District-level St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival! Our event kicks off at 11:00am and is preceded by a continental breakfast to energize our speakers. Youth from churches throughout the New York district will be presenting so please be sure to join us and…
Reminder: Teen Meet-Up – Game Night ~ This Sunday (4/21) @ 7:30pm
Join us for our monthly Teen Meet-Ups with PIZZA! Join for pizza and fun in the Church Hall following Greek Dance Practice Sunday, April 21st from 7:30pm to 8:30pm. We will be featuring a trivia game show unlike any other you may have played. Pair off in teams for an…
Reminder: All Ages Event: Dave & Buster’s Rochester ~ Next Saturday (4/13) @ 5:00pm
All Ages Arcade Event! This April, we’ll be visiting Dave & Buster’s at Marketplace Mall Rochester! Adults can enjoy a bite to eat while our youth enjoy wall-to-wall arcades and fun! Dave & Buster’s provides “a playground for all ages, filled with a myriad of cutting-edge games and classic favorites….
Youth Ministry ~ April 2024 Update
Hello everyone! We’re headed into our busy period with Great Lent, Holy Week, and, of course, Greek Festival preparation! Coming off the heels of March, we continued our efforts to bring activity and fun for our youth and young adults – and we did a lot! Our Young Adult Swillburger…
About GOYA
GOYA ministers to teenagers of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in middle and high school (7th -12th grades. All Youth in the Greek Orthodox of the Annunciation Rochester are members of GOYA. Parents organize events for the GOYANs.
Fellowship binds us to our Church and our community of 2nd and 3rd generation Greek Orthodox Youth. As our teenagers move through their life-the joys and struggles, the tests of adolescence, being pulled in different directions, work, sports, school, relationships, and social media management, their roots keep them grounded and strong. Our GOYA is a continuation of Sunday School and Greek School. These are our children’s life friends-the people they have grown up with and that haven’t changed. They are grounded together in similar beliefs and cultural practices.
GOYANs experience worship by:
- Actively participating and being present for feast days and Divine Liturgy.
- Learning the hymns and prayers
- Serving as Altar boys
- Participating in Choir
- Presenting at the Annual Oratorical Festival
- Participating as a Reader for our Church Services
GOYANs experience fellowship by:
- Participating in St. Timothy’s Summer Camp
- Participating Annunciation camps and retreats
- Traveling to Syracuse and Buffalo for Church events
- Attending the Columbus Day picnic
- Attending the Ski Trip
- Volunteering at the Annual Greek School Apokriatiko Dance
- Attending the March 25th Greek School celebration
- Performing at the Greek Festival
- Attending church, all additional GOYA events, and other church related activities
GOYANS serve by:
- Actively engaging in service projects of our church
- Volunteering at the Greek Festival
- Volunteering at the annual Apokriatiko Dance
- Volunteering at Greek School
- Assisting in Sunday School
- Participating in the Rochester Breast Cancer Walk