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:
March 14, 2006
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FIRST DIOCESAN “ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK” GIVES BACK TO COMMUNITY
For most church members, the term “spring break” does not usually
conjure warm images or wholesome associations. But this year, dozens
of young Armenian students from colleges throughout the Eastern
Diocese are giving “spring break” a different meaning, by helping
others build better lives.
Through the Diocese’s College Ministry Program, participants in the
“Alternative Spring Break” are heading south to build homes with
Habitat for Humanity. And in between sawing lumber and hanging windows,
they’re visiting local Armenian parishes and connecting with their
faith and heritage.
“This program was much more then I could have hoped for,” said Alex
Derderian, a student at St. Joseph’s College in Pennsylvania who just
returned from a trip to Charlotte, NC. “I had the chance to spend
spring break with friends doing good for others. It’s an experience
I will treasure for a long time to come.”
The first set of students was in Charlotte, NC, from March 4 to 11,
2006. The second group is in Richmond, VA, from March 12 to 19. A
final group will head to Jacksonville, FL, from March 18 to 15. Along
with construction work, the participants’ days include prayer, Bible
readings, meditation, and fellowship.
“Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity has been such an awesome
experience. The team accomplished so much, and I will never forget
the skills I picked up or the friendships I’ve made,” said Noushig
Hovhannesian, a student from the Community College of Philadelphia who
took part in the trip to Charlotte, NC. “Working so hard has never
felt so great. The experience has added to my faith in knowing God
always places you where He knows you are needed.”
The local parishes in each community are “adopting” the participants,
welcoming them into their communities for the week. Fr. Daniel
Karadjian, pastor of the St. Sarkis Church in Charlotte, wasn’t sure
what to expect when he agreed to welcome the students to his parish.
“But this has been a great project for our parish and our youth,”
he said. “Our parish is bonding together around this project,
and our youth are meeting young people from across the Diocese,
and growing together in faith.”
In Charlotte and Richmond, the participants are staying in the host
Armenian parish building. In Jacksonville there is no building,
so the participants are staying in another church location.
“Since these wonderful young Armenians gave of their time to come
and serve others on their Spring Break, we want to spend the time to
make them feel at home here,” said Charlotte parish council member
Lena Kupelian Neau, who led the effort to set up makeshift bedding
and blankets at the church and to set out simple breakfasts for the
group before they headed off to build each day.
During this “Alternative Spring Break” the Diocese is working with
Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge, which encourages college
students to band together to spend spring break helping others. Along
with meeting Armenians from across the Diocese, participants in the
Diocese’s program are also teaching the other students about the
Armenians and their faith.
In Charlotte, the young Armenian students quickly bonded with a group
of non-Armenian students from Providence College. The non-Armenians
were quickly welcomed to the St. Sarkis parish for a fun, traditional
Armenian dinner.
“We love being adopted Armenians,” said Megan Prahin, a Habitat for
Humanity volunteer from Providence College who met the participants
from the Diocese in Charlotte. “We’re gonna make shirts that say
‘Hye Em’ so other Armenian people can find us!”
The week of hard construction labor went too quickly for the
participants.
“This was the best spring break ever! The best way to spend your spring
is building homes,” said Janet Mirzoyan, a student from Georgia State
University. “I am having so much fun — and I’ve learned how to use
an electric saw.”
For more information on the trips, including photos, visit the
Diocese’s college ministry website at
* * *
The following are the participants signed up for the Diocese’s
“Alternative Spring Break”
Charlotte trip: Talene Kelegian, team leader; Ara Major, Georgia
Perimeter; Alex Derderian, St. Josephs College in Pennsylvania;
Anna Abrahamian, Boston College; Asya Gyurjyan, Virginia Tech;
Adrienne Ashbahian, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia;
Noushig Hovhannesian, Community College of Philadelphia; Kristen
Ashbahian, University of Pennsylvania; Janet Mirzoyan, Georgia State;
Raffi Gulbenk, Sacred Heart University
Richmond trip: Daron Bolat, team leader; Karinne Hovnanian, Geroge
Washington University; Nicole Varteresian, Westfield State; Haig
Seferian, RPI; Lena Jinivizian, Rutgers; Lydia Mahserjian, Sienna
College; Gayane Arzumanova, Cleveland State; Lusine Baghdasaryan,
Cleveland; Elise Durgarian, Farleigh Dickinson
Jacksonville trip: Jason Demerjian, team leader; Manneh Ghazarians,
Arineh Nazarian, and Margo Voskanian , all University of
Massachusetts; Arpi Paylan, Northwestern University; Taleen Aiazian,
Cornell University
— 3/14/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in
the News and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Anna Abrahamian, a student at Boston College taking
part in the Diocese’s “Alternative Spring Break,” works on a Habitat
for Humanity project in Charlotte, NC.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Noushig Hovhannesian, a student at the Community
College of Philadelphia, and Asya Gyurjyan, from Virginia Tech, work
on a project with Habitat for Humanity during the Diocesan organized
“Alternative Spring Break” in Charlotte, NC.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Participants in the Diocese’s “Alternative Spring
Break” in Charlotte, NC, gather for a session of prayer and worship
at the St. Sarkis Church.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): College students participating in the first of
three week-long “Alternative Spring Break” trips organized by the
Diocese gather with members of their host parish, the St. Sarkis
Church of Charlotte, NC.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress