Points of Light - Prayerful Care of Souls
Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian
Former Dean
St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
Pastor
St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church
White Plains, New York
Former Dean
St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
Pastor
St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church
White Plains, New York
In my 18 years of pastoral ministry I have been privileged to have established such pastoral relationships with parishioners that their appreciative expressions have truly humbled me.
One of my parishioners was experiencing deep depression as a result of some family conflicts and business failure. He would be reluctant to get up in the mornings. Even shaving became a big chore for him. Reluctantly he was seeing a psychiatrist, but with very slow progress. One day his wife asked me to speak with him. We instituted a system whereby on alternate days we would drive to each other’s house, park the car and talk while walking on the quiet street of our neighborhood. This "walk and talk" practice lasted for over two years. My friend slowly came out of his depression, much due to the psychiatrist. I developed a habit of walking (almost daily), which contributes to my staying healthy. Another time, I administered Holy Communion to an elderly mother who enjoyed attending services at our church in Westchester, New York. However, we were not in church, but in her hospital room. In a tearful and prayerful session, she received communion and felt comforted. A few months later, in a West Coast hospital, she was visited by another Armenian priest who offered to give her Holy Communion. She reluctantly said, "But my Der Hayr has already given me Holy communion. That's enough far me." Our pastor-parishioner relationship was so strong that in her painful moments, she used to call me from 1500 miles away to talk to me and ask for prayers over the phone. |
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CHRONICLES OF THE CALL A Calling To The Truth An Unexpected Call From God Flip A Coin From Sales To Souls God's Constant Call To Become A Priest Going With The Current Of God's Call Serve Your Church The Inspiration Of My Teachers RESOURCES FOR VOCATIONS AND CHURCH MINISTRY An Interview with the Director of Youth & Vocations Are You Listening? His Invitation is Still: 'Follow Me' The Armenian Sacrament of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood The Armenian Service of Calling to the Holy Priesthood The Call To Choose or to be Chosen POINTS OF LIGHT All that the Father Gives Me Will Come to Me (John 6:37) Go In Peace, Darling A Match to Light Our Worship A Prayer in the Car A True Christmas Story An Open Door to the Kingdom Baptism in a Shack Blessing of a Factory Confirmed in the Spirit He Gave His Life for Us It Is Worth All The Trouble Prayerful Care of Souls The Blind Man Warming Up Without Heat FAQs Prerequisites for Seminary Study Do I Have What It Takes? Seminary Studies: Courses, Teachers, Grades, Requirements Seminary Life Marriage and Celibacy |
