PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected] Website;
Honoring the Babayan Foundation and the Pillars of the Diocese
On Saturday, May 15, 2004 upon the invitation of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian a reception was held to honor the Babayan Foundation as well as the
Pillars of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese.
Over two hundred and fifty guests and benefactors, representatives of
Montreal, Toronto, Windsor, Ottawa and Edmonton Armenian communities were gathered on
this occasion. At Dikran Karibian Hall of the Diocesan headquarters, Bishop
Galstanian together with the President of Babayan Foundation’s Board of
Trustees Mr. Haig Selian made the official opening of two plaques where the names of
the benefactors of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese were
carved. Attending the ceremony was the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in
Ottawa His Excellency Ara Papian. His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian
greeted the faithful and thanked them for their assistance and support to the
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church through the Diocese of Canada.
In the evening, an official banquet was organized at Marie Manoogian Hall of
St Gregory Armenian Cathedral. Mr. Meguerdich Kanondjian, Chairman of the
Parish Council of St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral was the MC. A
brief cultural program, the newly established website (presented by Mrs. Shoghik
Shabazian) of the Diocese and the current financial status (Diocesan Council
Chairman, Jack Stepanian) of the Diocese were presented by audiovisual means.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Ara Papian congratulated the
Primate the Diocesan Council the babayna Foundation and the Pillars of the
Diocese on this occasion and wished the Diocese successful implementation of its
projects for the years to come. Mr. Haig Selian, President of the Board of
Trustees of Babayan Foundation thanked Bishop Galstanian for the initiative and
reaffirmed the Babayan Foundation’s commitment to support the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada.
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, expressed his joy and once again,
extended his gratitude and thanks to all benefactors and sponsors, who have
supported the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada and many of its missions and
projects both in Canada and in Motherland, Armenia since the establishment of
the Diocese in 1984. In his address, Serpazan stressed the significance and
the importance of the role of the Armenian Church in the Diaspora in general,
and in Canada particularly. He said, “Today, as we confront the many challenges
and difficulties of the ‘modern world’ we, more than ever, need to stand
together to preserve and educate a new, dynamic generation thus establishing a well
founded Canadian Armenian community”.
On this occasion, donations were made by the faithful to express once again
their staunch support and unreserved backing to the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of Canada.
60TH Anniversary Celebration of the Canadian Council of Churches
On May 13, 2004 the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Canadian Council of
Churches was held at the York Minster Park, Baptist Church of Toronto.
Attending the ceremony were representatives of Christian churches in the
Province of Ontario, high ranking clergies and faithful. His Eminence Bishop
Bagrat Galstanian, Rev Archpriest Fr Zareh Zargarian, Deacon Vrej Berberian, the
choir of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church as well as a group of Armenian
faithful were present. Prior to the religious ceremony a reception was held, during
which Church Leaders and Ecumenical guests had the opportunity for discussion.
The event was presided by the Secretary General of the Canadian Council of
Churches Reverend Dr. Karen Hamilton. During her speech, Rev. Dr. Hamilton
highly acknowledged the work of the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Toronto
His Eminence Terrence Finley and invited him to deliver his message to the
faithful. After His Eminence’s speech, the choir of the Holy Trinity Armenian
Church of Toronto performed Armenian Liturgical songs, Sharagans conducted by
Maestro Hagop Dugmedjian.
Family Support Services Of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church
Family Support Services consists of a team of 13 members and came into being
in January of 2004 as the newest organization under the umbrella of Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Scarborough, Ontario.
To provide quality assistance, programs and advocacy for persons and families
through referrals and collaboration with Community Services. To promote
communication and understanding towards positive emotional, social and spiritual
growth.
Our programs and services will include the following:
” Social/Life Skills Assistance
” Crisis Intervention
” Vocation/Employment Services
” Educational Workshops
” Family and Youth Support
” Research
” Parent Education and Workshops
” Volunteer Program
” Information and Advisory Services
” Assessment and Follow-Up
” Newsletter
Since the onset of our program and over the past few months we have been
involved in or sponsored the following events:
February 6, 2004 – Family Support Services (FSS) held its first lecture as
part of the Health and Wellness series. The topic of choice was Crisis
Intervention through the Scarborough Mobile Crisis Unit. The welcomed guest speaker was
Krystal Arndt, a mental health therapist with the Mobile Crisis Unit. Ms
Arndt successfully outlined the functions and goals of the Scarborough Crisis
Unit. The audience was educated on defining crisis situations and made aware of
the services available to them.
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February 7, 2004 – The Volunteer Program of Family Support Services along
with ACYOC took part in packing boxes of food for the needy at the North York
Food Harvest. The event was attended by our youth who received recognition and
credit for the volunteer time.
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March 27, 2004 – Tree of Remembrance fundraiser launched with the setting up
of our tree in the foyer of the church.
March 28 – April 24, 2004 – Tree of Remembrance fund raiser for FSS. Faithful
parishioner’s who wished to make a donation to FSS in memory of a loved one
purchased a white dove upon which a scroll was placed in its beak with the name
of the person to be remembered on it. These doves were then placed on a tree
in the foyer of our church and will be gifted back to the donor’s in the days
to come. The 178 memorial names were recited aloud during the Badarak
requiem service. We thank everyone for their support.
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April 24, 2004 – The Youth Volunteer Program of the Family Support Services,
participated in the “Clean-Up and Rehabilitation Day” organized by the
Centennial College Environmental Student Society and the City of Toronto.
April 25, 2004 – A Grand Opening Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting for the newly
formed Family Support Services of Holy Trinity Armenian Church was held on
Sunday, April 25, 2004, following Badarak in the mezzanine level above the Maral
Ishkanian Hall.
During Badarak, the members of the Family Support Services Team received the
blessing of His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galsdanyan, Primate of the Canadian
Diocese, His Eminence, Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian, Primate of Artsakh and Rev.
Arch Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church with wishes
for success in all undertakings. We also had the attendance of Jim Karygiannis,
MP of Scarborough-Agincourt, who has been a strong fighter in Parliament for
Armenian rights and Genocide.
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May 2, 2004 – The second in a series of Health and Wellness Lectures
sponsored by the Family Support Services was held featuring guest speaker Rev. Dr.
Paul Scuse, a marriage and family therapist. He addressed issues of family and
marriage and the importance of Christian values in tying individual and family
members together.
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Armenians belonging to a large community, we can all benefit from Family
Support Services, if not for ourselves, then to be equipped with knowledge that
may help others now or in the future. Most of us are unaware of the great
resources available in our own communities and the Family Support Services (FSS)
hopes to provide a link between Armenian community members and these community
agencies. You can reach the Family Support Services of Holy Trinity Armenian
Church at (416) 431-5549 and leaving a voice message or by email at
[email protected].