Eagle Tribune, MA
March 20 2010
Memorial dedicated to late pastor
By Yadira Betances
NORTH ANDOVER ‘ The Rev. Vartan Kassabian served at St. Gregory
Armenian Church for only six years, but the late priest’s legacy will
live for a long time.
A monument was erected in the church’s memorial garden patio and
blessed by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan March 7. Kassabian’s son
Megerdich "Mgo," a stole-bearer, assisted in the service. Kassabian
died March 12, 2009, at age 52.
More than 150 people attended the event, including a large group from
Providence, R.I., where Kassabian was raised.
He was in the middle of a building campaign when he passed away.
Jaffarian Hall was renovated with the installation of a new floor,
windows and ceiling.
Phase two of the project included the renovation of the sanctuary,
hallways, classrooms, office and downstairs rooms.
In addition to celebrating services and overseeing the renovation,
Kassabian led holiday food drives for The House of Hope, a shelter in
Lowell.
A new pastor has not yet been named at St. Gregory and services are
celebrated by the Rev. Vazken Bekiarian.
Walk to raise money for Cor Unum
NORTH ANDOVER ‘ Members of St. Michael Church will walk two miles
April 25 to retrace the journey taken by priests from St. Patrick’s
Church in Lawrence who rode a horse and buggy to celebrate Mass in
town.
The walk is part of St. Michael’s 140th anniversary this year.
North Andover’s first recorded Catholic Mass was celebrated in 1756 by
Jesuit missionaries in the fields where the Cochichewick Brook and the
Merrimack River unite. As the Catholic population grew through the
19th century when the industrial revolution flourished, faithful from
North Andover would travel to Lowell and later to Lawrence to
celebrate Mass.
Instead of Catholics going to Lawrence, priests from St. Patrick
celebrated Mass in the Union Hall beginning in 1846. The group soon
outgrew Union Hall and purchased land on Water Street for $800.
St. Michael Church was dedicated on Nov. 19, 1869. Three years later,
St. Patrick Church was erected as a parish with St. Michael as its
mission church.
For the next 28 years, priests from St. Patrick would travel each week
to North Andover to celebrate Mass at St. Michael.
Participants of the commemorative walk on April 25 will raise money
for Cor Unum Meal Center.
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