PRESS RELEASE
St. Garabed Armenian Church of Louisiana
6208 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Tel: 225-248-0627
Fax: 225-248-0628
Email: stgarabed@yahoo.com

2005-09-18
Contact: Tamar Meguerditchian ~ Tel: (504) 723-2906

LOUISIANA’S ARMENIANS DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE KATRINA

Twenty-six Armenian Families Face an Unforeseeable Future

New Orleans, LA – Twenty-six Armenian families’ homes and businesses
were severely destroyed and damaged by Hurricane Katrina and its
devastating aftermath. During this period of reconstruction and
recovery, many of these families are faced with an unforeseeable
future.

The Armenian community of Louisiana is a unique community – unique in
size and spirit. The first Armenians settled here over thirty years
ago hailing from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Armenia and Iran. In 1984, a
few community leaders gathered and decided the community needed to
start a parish and hold church services in Armenian. In an attempt to
foster growth in the community, Fr. Nersess Jebejian was appointed by
the Primate, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian of the Eastern Diocese of the
Armenian Church, as the mission parish priest to hold services in
churches in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The name St. Garabed
Armenian Church of Louisiana was given to the mission parish.

In January 2005, after months of fundraising, planning and
construction, St. Garabed Armenian Church of Louisiana opened its
doors as the first Armenian Church in Louisiana. This debut was a big
step for this community, which has progressed slowly over the years,
but nonetheless progressed.

Now many of the Armenians living in the New Orleans Metropolitan area
have been devastated, as many of their homes and businesses have been
damaged. The Armenian community in both LaPlace and Baton Rouge has
reached out to the affected community members by opening their homes
to them, providing them comfort and consolation. Many of the
community’s students – elementary, high school and college/university
students – have been displaced and are either registered elsewhere or
absent this semester. Faced with the daunting task of rebuilding their
homes and businesses, as well as the shocking sights in the area, it
will be a long time before some will be able to move back home. It
will be months before they sense or establish normalcy; and, even when
these families are able to move back home and businesses are repaired
and reopened, the uncertain economy will still create obstacles and
challenges.

Hurricane Katrina uprooted more than trees, homes and buildings, it
uprooted lives and divided families. It has, most definitely, divided
the Armenian community. Armenians nationwide have reached out to the
community, sending donations to the affected community members. The
Diocese of the Armenian Church, under the leadership of the Primate,
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, has sent money to the affected community
members. Numerous other donations have arrived from individuals and
organizations around the country as well. As Times-Picayune columnist
Chris Rose wrote, `…We thank you. For your money, your water, your
food, your prayers, your boats and buses and the men and women of your
National Guards, fire departments, hospitals and everyone else who has
come to our rescue.’

If you would like to help, please send monetary donations only, as so
many are unaware as to where and when they will have a permanent
address. Donations may be sent to: St. Garabed Armenian Church of
Louisiana, 6208 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Any questions or
comments should be directed to Fr. Nersess Jebejian, the pastor, at
(727) 545-0380 or Parish Council Chairman Vasken Kaltakdjian at (225)
413-4620. You can also e-mail the Parish Council at
stgarabed@yahoo.com.

Soon, these `Cajun Armenians’ will celebrate Mardi Gras, host their
crawfish boils, and cheer on the Saints, but until then faith and
community will prevail. `When you meet us now and you look into our
eyes, you will see the saddest story ever told. Our hearts are broken
into a thousand pieces. But don’t pity us. We’re gonna make it. We’re
resilient. After all, we’ve been rooting for the Saints for 35
years. That’s got to count for something,’ Rose wrote.

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