The ACYOA Seniors of St. Sarkis Church in Carrollton, TX, hosted the 2022 ACYOA General Assembly and Sports Weekend in Dallas over Memorial Day weekend, welcoming more than 325 ACYOA Seniors and clergy from across the Eastern Diocese from May 27 through 30.
The weekend was a joyous reunion for many, as it was the first in-person ACYOA General Assembly and Sports Weekend since 2019. Its activities encompassed the ACYOA’s Five Circles of the Cross: Worship, Witness, Service, Education, and Fellowship.
The weekend commenced with the 2022 ACYOA General Assembly, which hosted 65 delegates, observers, and clergy for a day of fruitful discussions and elections for the ACYOA Central Council, Auditing Committee, and Nominating Committee. Newly elected to the 2022-2023 ACYOA Central Council are Mardig Klachian (Secretary), Michael Sarafian (Treasurer), Yn. Lucine Sabounjian (Ministries & Outreach), Madeline Ovassapian (Ministries & Outreach), and alternate Michael Kashian.
Returning to the Council for 2022-23 are Ani Misirliyan (Chair), Christine Beylerian (Vice Chair), and Andrew Yenicag (Communications). The ACYOA Central Council sends its heartfelt gratitude to outgoing members Sona Dagley, Alina Grigorian, Rafael Grigoryan, and Melissa Fanizza for their years of dedicated service to the ACYOA and Armenian Church.
In addition to the elections, the ACYOA General Assembly approved a series of revisions to the ACYOA Bylaws; a vote to confirm the newly proposed ACYOA Bylaws will take place at the 2023 General Assembly. Highlighting the proposed revisions made by the ACYOA Bylaws Committee were the implementation of the ACYOA Stewardship Program (in lieu of Chapter Membership) as well as the introduction of regional ACYOA chapters and campus groups to provide additional opportunities for young adults to connect with the ACYOA.
Awards and Honors
Presiding over the entire weekend was the newly elected Primate of the Eastern Diocese, Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan. Bishop Daniel Findikyan was also in attendance, as were host parish pastor Fr. Ghevond Ajamian (St. Sarkis, Carrollton, TX), Fr. Aren Jebejian (St. John, Southfield, MI), Fr. Andreas Garabedian (St. Gregory, Chicago, IL), Fr. Avedis Kalayjian (St. Mesrob, Racine, WI), and Fr. Krikor Sabounjian (Holy Translators, Framingham, MA).
During the General Assembly’s Primate’s Luncheon, ACYOA Central Council presented its annual awards to individuals and chapters for their service and dedication to the organization and Armenian Church.
- ACYOA Seniors “Chapter A” Award—St. Leon ACYOA (St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ)
- Sam Nersesian Service Award—Lucine Boloyan (St. James, Watertown, MA)
- Gregory Arpajian Leadership Award—Sevag Koulian (St. Sarkis, Carrollton, TX)
- Fr. Haigazoun Melkonian Award—Fr. Avedis Kalayjian (St. Mesrob, Racine, WI)
- Fr. Haroutiun & Yn. Patricia Dagley Award—Yn. Tirouhe Boyajian (Sts. Joachim & Anne, Palos Heights, IL)
ACYOA Juniors awards will be presented in their home parishes and the award winners will be shared at a later time.
Friday evening celebrations kicked off at the new St. Sarkis Church campus with A Taste of Texas, a fiesta of Texas flavors served up by a convoy of food trucks and an evening of entertainment and laughter by comedian Arman “Antic” Margarian.
Saturday was a very active day for Eastern Diocese parishes to compete in basketball, volleyball, soccer, e-sports, backgammon, and chess. A Diocesan “Insights” program was presented by Fr. Mesrop, as well as the hosting parish’s Yn. Hasmik Ajamian and Dn. Daron Bolat. The young adults also participated in a service project collecting children’s clothing donated to Haitian children in need.
Sunday, May 29 started with ACYOA members attending the Divine Liturgy at the newly consecrated St. Sarkis Church. Badarak was celebrated by Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, and worshippers were blessed to witness Fr. Mesrop and Bishop Daniel consecrate St. Sarkis’ new khatchkar, crafted in Armenia, on the 104th anniversary of the Battle of Sardarabad.
Amazing Energy
Following badarak, the 2022-23 ACYOA Central Council members were officially installed with the blessing of the Primate. Following an afternoon lunch prepared by the St. Sarkis Women’s Guild, athletes participated in a rousing series of Sports Weekend championships held at the new St. Sarkis Athletic Center, with the following individuals and chapters bringing first place trophies back to their home chapters:
- Co-Ed Volleyball: St. Sarkis (Carrollton, TX)
- Women’s Basketball: St. Leon (Fair Lawn, NJ)
- Men’s Basketball: St. John “Detroit Orange” (Southfield, MI)
- Co-Ed Futsal: St. Leon (Fair Lawn, NJ)
- Backgammon: Edgar Movsisyan (St. Sarkis, Carrollton, TX)
- Chess: Arman Avetisyan (St. Sarkis, Carrollton, TX)
- FIFA (Esports): Shahe Der Torossian (St. James, Watertown, MA)
- Super Smash Brothers (Esports): Andre Balian (St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ)
- Mario Kart (Esports): Andre Balian (St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ)
The weekend was capped off with a gala banquet at the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, presenting the sports and game winners with their trophies, and closing with the ACYOA and the St. Sarkis community joyously dancing to the live entertainment of the Kevork Artinian Band.
“This was one of my favorite weekends ever,” said Jennifer Morris of the Eastern Diocese’s Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. “The energy was amazing, and the ACYOA members were great. I really loved seeing the joy in their faces as they were all reunited.”
The ACYOA congratulates the Dallas General Assembly and Sports Weekend Committee, St. Sarkis ACYOA Seniors, and the entire St. Sarkis parish community for an incredibly successful weekend.
To view photos from the weekend, click the following links for a gallery from the host parish, and a gallery on the ACYOA’s photo platform.
By Andrew Yenicag (with reporting by Joan Stuckmann)