PRELACY CLERGY GATHER IN WATERTOWN FOR ANNUAL CONVENTION
On Wednesday, May 28, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, the annual clergy convention took place at St. Stephen’s Church in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Following the opening prayer, the local pastor, Very Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, welcomed the clergy with good wishes for a productive gathering and expressed thanks to the Ladies Guild for their generous hospitality.
The session continued with the election of the convention officers. His Eminence Archbishop Khoren was elected chair and Rev. Fr. Vahan Kouyoumdjian, secretary. Very Rev. Fr. Ardag Arabian read the message of blessing sent by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to the Prelate and the clergy. In his message, the Catholicos stressed the importance of tradition, praised the pastoral and administrative work observed during the recent pontifical visits, and reminded that the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias is the spiritual center for all.
Addressing the attendees, the Prelate emphasized the spirit of love, in word and deed, that characterizes the Prelacy’s leadership. He extended a special welcome to Rev. Fr. Vatché Balekjian, who recently assumed pastoral duties at Sts. Vartanantz Church, in Ridgefield, New Jersey, with great enthusiasm, and to Archbishop Khoren, whose presence brought joy to the St. Stephen’s Church community in New Britain, Connecticut. Archbishop Anoushavan also thanked Fr. Hrant for hosting the gathering.
The guest speaker was Rev. Fr. Shnorhk Souin, who gave a talk on “The Spiritual Mission to the Critically Ill and Dying in Hospitals.” The first part of the presentation was a lecture, followed by a practical session involving the exchange of real-life experiences and ideas among clergy in an atmosphere of spiritual intimacy.
Following the talk, a discussion took place among clergy concerning pastoral experiences and current challenges. The day concluded with the evening service, after which Archbishop Khoren offered the reflection of the day.
On Thursday morning, the Prelate, accompanied by the clergy, visited Mount Auburn Cemetery, where a requiem service was held at the grave of the late Rev. Fr. Torkom Hagopian, former pastor of St. Stephen’s Church, and his wife, Yn. Zvart, in the presence of their family.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Archbishop Anoushavan spoke briefly about the late Fr. Torkom’s devoted 33-year service (1962–1994), stating that the current St. Stephen’s community owes much to his dedicated pastoral ministry. He added that from now on, during the annual National Representative Assembly, the participating clergy will visit the gravesites of clergy buried in the area.