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:

August 8, 2006
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PRIMATE, DIOCESAN COUNCIL MEMBERS MEET WITH YOUTH GROUP LEADERS

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), along with members of the Diocesan Council, met with
the Central Council of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America
(ACYOA) at the Diocesan Center on July 29, 2006.

This was the first time the ACYOA Central Council, which was elected this
spring, met at the Diocesan Center in New York City. The leaders discussed
recent successes and began planning for the coming season of programming.

"It is obvious that this council is already a productive and committed
council, considering the accomplishments we have attained before our first
meeting," said ACYOA Chair Greg Andonian of the St. Gregory of Narek Church
of Cleveland, OH. "The apparent strength and clarity of the future of this
organization is secure in the outstanding leadership of the members of this
council. It is very exciting to hear the positive feedback from chapters
and increased ACYOA membership throughout the Diocese."

The projects that ACYOA leaders are focusing on this season including new
regional retreats, collaborative efforts with the Diocesan Council and St.
Nersess Seminary, a redesign of the group’s website (), and
several efforts to expand membership and chapters.

During the meeting, the leaders heard from Sarine Zenian, who was one of the
assistant leaders of the Armenia Service Program (ASP) trip, during which 25
young people helped build homes in Armenia with Habitat for Humanity. The
Central Council members discussed various possibilities for the 2007 service
program.

They also discussed the Pan North American Retreat scheduled for September
22 to 24 in California. This is the second such retreat; last year’s was
hosted by our Diocese. After hearing about the effort to unite the youth of
the three North American dioceses, one of the Diocesan Council members
attending the joint meeting, Papken Megerian, donated $2,400 to cover
airfare for ACYOA Central Council members to attend the gathering in
California.

Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, director of youth and vocation at the St. Nersess
Seminary, discussed the Primate’s challenge to the ACYOA Central Council
made during the ACYOA General Assembly in Providence, RI, this May. During
that assembly, the Primate challenged the Central Council to recruit 10
seminarians in the next three years. The group talked about various ways to
meet this challenge.

"We need to encourage our youth to follow their calling when God pulls them
to the seminary," the Primate said. "Too often, possible students do not
receive the proper support and then do not enter seminary. That is why I
challenged the ACYOA Central Council to take an active role in encouraging
themselves and their peers to study at the seminary. We need seminarians,
not just to educate future priests but to shape lay ministry workers to
guide our Armenian Christian education programs, to work with our youth and
seniors in our parishes, and to direct our summer camps."

It was announced that the Archbishop’s Tournament will be hosted by St.
James Church of Watertown, MA, on October 2 to 4.

CHURCH AND HOME

The ACYOA this year will focus its programming on the Diocesan theme of
"Church and Home: One in Spirit." Retreats, seminars, conferences, and the
Annual Young Adult Leadership Conference in March will be focused on the
theme.

Also young adults from throughout the Diocese will be recruited to serve as
parish liaisons with the Diocese to assist in implementing, supporting,
promoting "Church and Home" initiatives.

To help expand the organization, each ACYOA Central Council member was
appointed to a region of the country to which they will act as liaisons —
maintaining communication, assisting with chapter development, and promoting
ACYOA events.

Sarine Zenian will serve as a liasiaon to the NY Metro/Mid-Atlantic area,
Alex Derderian will serve the New England parishes, Johnny El Chemmas and
Stan Sheridan will cover Midwest chapters, and Ani Tovar and Talin Hitik
will serve as liaisons to the South.

The Central Council members are: Chair Gregory Andonian of the St. Gregory
of Narek Church of Cleveland, OH; Vice Chair Ani Tovar of the St. Sarkis
Church of Dallas, TX; Secretary Sarine Zenian of the St. Mary Church of
Washington, DC; Treasurer John El Chemmas of the St. John Church of
Southfield, MI; Programming Coordinator Talin Hitik from the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church of Chicago, IL; Public Relations Coordinator Alex
Derderian of the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood, PA; and
Chapter Relations Coordinator Stan Sheridan of the St. Mesrob Church of
Racine, WI.

Joining the ACYOA leaders at the meeting were the Primate; Diocesan Council
members Fr. Mardiros Chevian and Papken Megerian; Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian
from the St. Nersess Seminary; ACYOA Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian;
and Maria Derderian, last year’s ACYOA Central Council chair.

— 8/8/06

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, as well as Diocesan Council member Papken Megerian join members of
the ACYOA Central Council at the Diocesan Center on July 29, 2006.