St. Nersess Front and Center at ACYOA Leadership Conference

St. Nersess Front and Center at ACYOA Leadership Conference

Danny Mantis and Other Participants of the 2008 ACYOA Leadership Conference

The theme of the conference, Church and Family was introduced by Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Seminary Dean, who also served as the conference chaplain. Also speaking to the attendees was Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, Director of Youth and Vocations. Fr. Stepanos led a Bible-based discussion entitled, What is Love?.

St. Nersess Alumni Join Forces with Youth

Other St. Nersess alumni making presentations were Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, Pastor of St. Mesrob Armenian Church (Racine, WI), who spoke about the Armenian service of Home Blessing and its role in the life of the church and familiy. Fr. Diran Bohajian, Pastor of St. Leon Armenian Church (Fair Lawn, NJ) spoke about the Armenian sacrament of marriage. He shared his experience counseling couples, and highlighted specific issues that young people need to consider when contemplating marriage.

The Seminary dean, seminarians, Director of Youth and Vocations and a number of alumni helped to make last weekend's ACYOA Leadership Conference an uplifting and enjoyable experience for 82 American-Armenian college students.

College Students Gather to Discuss Church and Family

The Leadership Conference, now in its tenth year, brought together youth leaders from Armenian parishes in the Eastern Diocese for a weekend of prayer and fellowship, along with opportunities to deepen participants' knowledge of the Armenian Church and faith. This year representatives from the Western and Canadian Dioceses also attended.

Nancy Basmajian and Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian Parley Before a Discussion on Love and Marriage

Other alumni participating in the conference were Nancy Basmajian, Executive Secretary of the ACYOA; Maria Derderian and Megan Jendian, who both serve in the Eastern Diocese's Department of Youth and Education; and Daron Bolat, Youth Director of St. Mary Armenian Church (Washington, DC).

Also present for the entire weekend was V. Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, Vicar-General of the Eastern Diocse. Fr. Haigazoun represented His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian, who was in Armenia.

Bethany Mangigian with St. Nersess alumna Maria Derderian

Seminarian Greg Andonian, former Chair of the ACYOA Central Council