PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:
December 23, 2004
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STEWARDS PAST ARE CELEBRATED, WHILE NEXT GENERATION TAKE UP
RESPONSIBILITIES
Six years ago the parishioners of St. Mary Church of Hollywood, FL,
built a new sanctuary. They had been gathering at St. John the Baptist
in Miami, but the surrounding neighborhood had deteriorated, and they
decided to move to nearby Hollywood.
On Sunday, December 12, 2004, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), joined more
than 100 parishioners at St. Mary to celebrate the new parish’s sixth
anniversary.
“It was exciting because it’s just the beginning,” said Fr. Vartan
Joulfayan, the parish priest in Hollywood. “The sixth anniversary is
not like the 60th. It is the beginning of our new parish, the beginning
of coming together with new parishioners.”
The day of celebration was marked by a ceremony honoring two long-time
stewards and another ordaining the newest leader of the parish.
HONORING THE PAST
Honored during the Divine Liturgy were James and Shocky Pilafian, who
are the surviving founding members of the original St. John the Baptist
Church and on the building committee of St. Mary Church.
“They are truly representatives of a great generation who, throughout
the Diocese, recognized that the Armenian Church is indeed important,
but that the Armenian Church does not live without active parish
leaders,” said Archbishop Barsamian. “They are truly dedicated stewards
of the church, who have shown countless others how to live solid
Christian lives.”
During a touching ceremony, the Primate presented the couple with a
Pontifical Encyclical on behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
“After almost a half century, they received this encyclical for all the
devotion and time and effort and treasure they have given to the
original parish and that they continue to give to this new parish,” Fr.
Joulfayan said of the couple, who because of advanced age are no longer
active in parish leadership but who still, none the less, remain
constant supporters and benefactors of the parish. “They’ve become
stewards of the church. They are very kind, very devoted Christian
people. They are examples for many others who are now following them in
contributing to the life of the parish.”
WELCOMING NEW LEADERSHIP
During the badarak marking the parish anniversary, the Primate also
ordained Ryan Patino, 14, as a tbir. He had been serving the parish as
an altar server for a little more than one year.
“It is very, very important and exciting for parishioners who see a
young person coming forward who is willing to serve his parish and who
also has the faith and the devotion to his or her church,” Fr. Joulfayan
said. “This young man was looking forward to this ordination. He was
humbly willing to take this type of responsibility upon his shoulders.”
He was not the only young parish member to take part in the anniversary
celebration. Harout Esmerian, a young member of the parish, served as
the master of ceremonies during an anniversary banquet. And three
Sunday and Armenian School students offered musical performances to the
120 people at the banquet.
Though a small parish, with only about 60 highly active members and 120
people who attend services and events, Fr. Joulfayan said parish leaders
are committed to making sure people get involved and stay involved in
the church.
“Without the participation of parishioners, the church cannot survive,”
he said. “We would have the walls and dome and stained glass, but
without the soul in it a church cannot survive.”
— 12/23/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), presents a Pontifical
Encyclical to James and Shocky Pilafian, founding parishioners at the
St. Mary Church of Hollywood, FL, during a Divine Liturgy celebrating
that parish’s sixth anniversary on Sunday, December 12, 2004.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate ordains Ryan Patino as a tbir during an
anniversary celebration at the St. Mary Church of Hollywood, FL, on
December 12, 2004.
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