This year’s Lenten Retreat for Clergy of the Eastern Diocese in the New England region took place March 24-26, at Betania II Catholic Evangelization Center in Medway, MA. Under the auspices of Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, 18 clergymen from the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut (as well as from locales in Florida, Texas, and Virginia) gathered for prayer and reflection on the theme, “The Spirituality of the Preacher.”
Bishop Mesrop opened the retreat with a meditation on “The Heart of Effective Preaching,” focusing on the deep truth that the preacher’s spiritual depth is the source from which the life-giving rivers of the Word flow (John 7:38). He impressed upon the clergy that preparing a sermon should be a meditative process.
The second day of the retreat featured a special guest, familiar to, and beloved by, the gathered clergy: Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian, who recently retired from his role as Primate of Armenian Diocese of Australia, and who spent many years of his earlier ministry serving in the Eastern Diocese.
Archbishop Haigazoun offered a trio of insightful talks: “Baptism and Preaching” (based on the Lord’s command to go forth, teach and baptize), “The Priest as the Ideal Teacher,” and “The Priest, His Family and His Parish.” Lively discussions followed each of the presentations.
Each morning and evening of the retreat, the Primate led the clergy in praying the various “liturgies of the hours” of the Armenian Church. The clergy also visited the nearby Holy Translators Church in Framingham, MA, for worship and a lenten meal.
During a closing service, the Primate read the official encyclicals of His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, bestowing honors on several of the attending priests. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, Fr. Vasken Kouzouian, and Fr. Krikor Sabounjian were conferred the rank of Archpriest, or Avak Kahana, by His Holiness. Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian and Fr. Khatchatur Kessablyan were honored with the right to wear the floral cope (Dzaghgya Pilon).
Two further Lenten Clergy Retreats are scheduled for the coming weeks: the Midwest Regional retreat will take place March 31-April 2, and the Mid-Atlantic Regional gathering on April 7-9.