A meeting of the Women’s Guild Central Council (WGCC) took place on the evening of June 9, as an online gathering led by Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian.
After leading the group in prayer, Fr. Odabashian conveyed the warm good wishes of Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, thanking the WGCC members for their ongoing efforts, and encouraging them to strengthen women’s ministry in the churches.
In addition to receiving updates on the group’s ongoing and upcoming programs, the meeting reviewed the proceedings of the 36th annual Women’s Guild Assembly, which ran May 1-3, concurrently with the Diocesan Assembly, and brought together 34 delegates from Women’s Guilds across the Eastern Diocese. At the WGCC Assembly’s closing “Women of Wonder” luncheon, Charlotte Mosto and Katherine Meranian were honored for their dedication, and posthumous honors were bestowed on Azaduhi Loosian, Melanee Naroian, and Sylvia Tavitian. All five honorees were from the Diocesan Assembly host parish, Holy Archangels Church of Haverhill, MA.
The June 9 video meeting was the first formal gathering of the new Women’s Guild Central Council, elected during the recent assembly sessions. The WGCC roster for 2024-25 includes Sara Andonian (chair), Serena Gostanian (vice chair), Donna Hortian (recording secretary), Carol Cholmakjian (corresponding secretary), Hasmig Minassian (treasurer), Yn. Patrick Buttero (assistant treasurer), Lena Kupelian Neau (advisor for fundraising), Louisa Baghsarian (advisor for the Vanadzor Old Age Home project), Dawn Papalian and Lauren Kayaian (advisors for Saintly Women’s Day).