The Mourad Armenian Saturday School of Providence, Rhode Island, celebrated New Year and Christmas on Saturday, January 6. The advanced year students recited the Nicene Creed during the Divine Liturgy.
Following the Blessing of the Water, the students and more than 130 guests gathered in the Aramian Hall for the holidays’ celebration. In her speech, co-principal June Mangassarian expressed her good wishes to the public for the New Year. Rev. Fr. Kapriel Nazarian, Pastor, offered the opening prayer following welcoming remarks.
Co-principal Lala Attarian highlighted the importance of the 90-year-old institution in the struggle to preserve the Armenian identity. She also mentioned that the students had taken part in the fundraising effort for Artsakh. More recently, the Mourad School and the “Nor Ooghi” School of Ararat region, Armenia, joined a sister school program.
Hagop Khatchadourian, chairman of the school Board of Trustees, highlighted His Holiness Catholicos Aram I’s proclamation of 2024 as the Year of Human Resources Preparation, and called on the community to continue the mission with a renewed spirit.
An enjoyable school function ensued, which included a performance by the choir conducted by Raffi Reshtuni. Santa Claus then distributed the gifts to the students. The event ended with Fr. Kapriel’s words of appreciation and blessing.