PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
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. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:
March 9, 2007
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ACYOA BREAKS RECORDS AT EIGHTH ANNUAL YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
When Nancy Basmajian, executive secretary for the Armenian Church Youth
Organization of America (ACYOA), realized 75 young people would be attending
the organization’s Young Adult Leadership Conference March 2 to 4, 2007, she
was excited, because it would be a record number of attendees to the annual
gathering. But she was also worried, being told by others that bringing
that many young people together for a weekend could cause trouble.
During the conference, held at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Stony Point,
New York, she was approached by a Catholic priest, attending a different
meeting at the center. He asked her if she was with the group of
youngsters.
"I thought, ‘Oh no, here it comes. What’s the trouble,’" Basmajian said.
"And then he told me that the Armenian Church should be proud to have such
well mannered young people willing to delve into their faith and heritage so
deeply."
FOCUS ON FAITH AND LEADERSHIP
By all accounts the conference was a critical success. The 75 young people,
ranging in age from 17 to 29, represented 24 parishes. Guided by 13 clergy
and Diocesan staff, the young participants explored their personal faith,
talked about ways to strengthen the bonds between young Armenians and the
church, and gained valuable insight into how to be leaders of their local
communities.
"This weekend had a very special effect on me," said Violet Mirzoyan of the
Armenian Church of Atlanta, Georgia. "I met a lot of new Armenians, and I’m
going home with great, new ideas. I hope I can bring young Armenians
together in my parish."
The participants gathered on Friday night for an opening prayer and to be
welcomed by ACYOA Central Council Chair Greg Andonian. In introducing
themselves to each other, participants were encouraged to share memories of
how their home life intersected with their Christian faith.
The act of worship plays an integral part of every National Young Adult
Leadership Conference. Vespers services were conducted on Friday and
Saturday nights and Matins on Saturday morning. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean
of the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary of New Rochelle, New York, celebrated
the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, with several participants joining him on the
altar.
In his sermon he related the conference theme of "Church and Home" to the
story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, found in the Gospel of Luke
(19:1-10).
"Just as Jesus took the initiative to visit Zacchaeus in his home, Jesus too
wants to come into our homes," Fr. Findikyan said. "He wants to be our
guest. He wants to experience our hospitality. He doesn’t want to be
locked up in the church or in the sacraments. Your home travels with you and
is not a home until you invite Jesus in."
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited with the participants on Saturday morning.
Addressing the youth, he said he was pleased they chose to spend their
weekend at the conference worshipping, learning, and making friends. He
then answered questions of the young participants.
"You are the engine that will drive our church and our local communities for
years to come," he told the youth. "And it is encouraging to see you making
the choice to come here, to equip yourself with knowledge and a deeper
understanding of your faith. It shows that the next generation is preparing
for the challenge to lead."
Before the Primate left, he greeted each one of the participants and
presented them with a wooden cross from Armenia and a copy of "A Dictionary
of the Armenian Church," by Archbishop Malachia Ormanian.
WORKSHOPS AND LESSONS
During the weekend, participants took part in a number of sessions designed
to strengthen their faith and prepare them to lead.
"This conference helped me get back in touch with the Armenian Church after
having been away at college," said Taleen Terjanian of the St. Stepanos
Church of Elberon, New Jersely. "It helped me determine how I can still
make a difference in my parish through the ACYOA, and gave me ideas on how
to keep the youth active in their faith."
"Ten Things You Should Know about Our Liturgy," led by Fr. Findikyan
included discussion on such topics as "it’s all about love," "it’s about God
and us, not just God and me," and "it’s a matter of life and death."
In a related workshop, "Ten Things You Should Know about Scripture," Fr.
Vahan Hovhanessian, pastor of the Church of the Holy Martyrs of Bayside, New
York, and perhaps one of the foremost Biblical scholars in the Diocese,
offered his "list" of the top ten things everyone should know about the
Bible. Participants found the session very informative and were especially
interested in how the Armenian Church interprets Scripture.
"This conference was an amazing experience that gave me a better
understanding of the Armenian Church," said Anush Djaniants, from the St.
Sarkis Church of Charlotte, North Carolina. "The lectures were full of
information that will strengthen my personal faith."
Participants also heard from several seminarians during a session titled
"Vocations: Responding to God’s Call." Justin Ajamian, Greg Andonian, Maria
Derderian, Dn. Vahe Hovsepyan, Megan Jendian, and Ryan Tellalian all shared
their personal journeys and discussed their vocational goals, which range
from entering the priesthood to serving in lay ministry. The consensus of
the panelists was that a calling is usually not a single dramatic moment but
a gradual process over time.
In a workshop titled "ACYOA: What Are We Called To Be?" Central Council Vice
Chair Ani Tovar of Dallas, Texas, Chapter Relations Coordinator Stan
Sheridan of Racine, Wisconsin, asked participants to respond to questions on
the mission of the ACYOA and to explore if the group was living up to its
mission and what participants were called to do.
During a session on "Leadership at Church and Beyond," former ACYOA Central
Council member and a current Parish Council member and Diocesan delegate
from the Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, Antranig Garibian
spoke about his experiences as a young adult parish leader and as a new
attorney. He talked about the importance of character and morality during
the college years and in the professional world.
"Stay true to yourself, serve as role models for the next generation and
share yourself, your gifts and talents with your parish and the larger
church," he told participants.
Participants also heard from Dr. Thomas Samuelian, an Armenian American who,
after receiving his doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and
a law degree from Harvard, returned to Armenia. For the past ten years he
has practiced law in Armenia and now considers the nation his home. In a
workshop titled "Home to Church via the Homeland," he spoke about the
various homeland immersion experiences available to Armenian Americans and
encouraged the participants to accept the challenge of helping strengthen
the Armenian nation. He said that the experience can restore and
reinvigorate an individual’s faith, while strengthening our local parishes
and homes.
"This conference not only taught me a lot about being an Armenian Christian
and a leader, but it gave me the opportunity to meet new Armenians and
strengthen bonds with those I already knew," said Tamar Pounardjian of the
St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, Ohio.
Along with formal sessions, participants joined in a Leadership Conference
tradition by asking questions anonymously for Fr. Findikyan to answer.
Known as "hot topics," this experience helps build a deeper understanding of
our heritage and faith in the participants.
"I really learned a lot about Christianity," said Allina Choudanian of the
St. James Church of Evanston, Illinois. "Now more than ever before, I am
motivated to be more a part of the ACYOA."
EXPANDED PARTICIPATION
There is no charge for the conference, the ACYOA picks up all of the cost
except for the participants’ travel. That meant that past conferences were
open only to two people from each parish. This year, however, thanks to
additional funding made available by the Diocese, parishes were encouraged
to send as many youth as they could.
The change in availability resulted in the record number of attendees coming
to seek nurturing of their spiritual side.
"This conference does a fantastic job of adding a powerful spiritual aspect
to the lives of young people. It was truly inspiring," said Nareg
Korogluyan of the St. James Church of Evanston, Illinois.
Participating clergy included: Fr. Findikyan, who served as conference
chaplain; Fr. Yeprem Kelegian; Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian; Fr. Mikael
Devejian; Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian; Dn. Artak Khachikyan; and Dn. Vahe
Hovsepyan.
Diocesan staff who led sessions and attended the weekend included ACYOA
Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian, Youth Outreach Coordinator Jennifer
Morris, and College Ministry Facilitator Julie Hoplamazian.
"This was a fantastic experience that expanded my knowledge of the Divine
Liturgy," said Margo Voskanian of the Church of the Holy Translators in
Framingham, Massachusetts. "ACYOA Sports Weekends are always fun, but these
types of gatherings are rewarding in the sense that you spend quality time
with clergy, Diocesan staff, and other young Armenians in a more intimate
setting."
— 3/9/07
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): A record number of 75 young people joined the Primate,
clergy, and Diocesan staff for the ACYOA National Young Adult Leadership
Conference, which ran from March 2 to 4, 2007.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Participants in the 2007 ACYOA National Young Adult
Leadership Conference discuss their faith and the future of the youth
organization.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), meets with some of the
participants of the ACYOA National Young Adult Leadership Conference, which
was held from March 2 to 4, 2007.