This week, the 123rd Diocesan Assembly will convene at the Hilton Hotel in Woburn, MA. Holy Archangels Church of St. Michael and St. Gabriel, in Haverhill, will host the Clergy Conference (meeting April 29-May 1), and the Diocesan Assembly (meeting May 1-3), bringing together hundreds of Armenian Church leaders from the Eastern Diocese.
Palm Sunday, April 13, was a special day at St. Thomas Church of Tenafly, NJ, as the parish welcomed Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, who celebrated the Divine Liturgy, delivered the homily, and presided over a banquet marking the 60th anniversary of the church’s consecration.
This week the second of three Lenten Retreats for Clergy of the Eastern Diocese took place, this time for pastors of the Diocese’s Midwest region. Pastors from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio gathered from March 31 to April 2 at the Conference Center of the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL.
Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan presided over retreat, which began with a presentation focusing on the “The Spirituality of the Preacher.” On the second day of the retreat, Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian, former Primate of Australia, presented three thought-provoking lectures on the priest as preacher, baptizer, pastor, and administrator. Of particular interest was his presentation of church canons related directly to the character, work, and mission of the priest.
The 13 participating clergy spent the second evening of the retreat visiting Chicago’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, where they prayed the Peace Hour, reflected on a meditation led by the Primate, and joined in a Lenten meal lovingly prepared by parish members.
The third and final Clergy Lenten Retreat will take place April 7-9 in Long Branch, NJ, for the clergy of the Mid-Atlantic region.
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Nearly 40 teens from Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois gathered for an inspiring two-day ACYOA Juniors Lenten Retreat hosted by St. John Armenian Church. Centered on the theme “Made in His Image,” the retreat provided a meaningful opportunity for young people to deepen their faith, form friendships, and reflect on what it means to be created in God’s image.
Members of the ACYOA Central Council traveled across the Eastern Diocese during the season of Lent, to lead three regional day-long retreats for ACYOA Seniors and young adults. More than 70 participants came together among all three locations to explore this year’s theme: “Made in His Image.”
