RETIRED BUT ACTIVE

Today, I would like to talk about a subject that will become more meaningful when, following my presentation, you watch the video entitled “Retired but Active.”

I feel so blessed that, as Prelate, I am surrounded by active, dedicated pastors, as well as retired but active, former pastors. From 2005 to 2018, when I was appointed Vicar General by our former Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, and to this day, I have always been grateful to the Almighty Lord that our retired clergy, despite their age, have been on duty whenever the need has called upon them. Just to name a few of them, blessed be their memory: Rev. Fr. Arshag Daghlian, if not every Sunday, at least every other Sunday was on a plane, and sometimes got home after midnight due to flight delays or cancellations. Rev. Fr. Vazken Bekiarian was the most prominent one. He was always escorted by Yn. Anahid while driving to cover the entire East Coast, visiting our communities from Worcester to Chicago to Atlanta and from Detroit to Florida. Rev. Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian, always cheerful, had business cards bearing the motto: “Retired but always ready to serve.”  He was always distributing them with a comment and a big smile familiar to all.

Among our retired clergy, Archpriests Khoren Habeshian, now residing in California, Antranig Baljian, Nerses Manougian, Gomidas Baghsarian, Daron Stepanian, and Aram Stepanian are all dedicated clergy, ready to serve wherever there is a call, with one, clear mission: to meet the spiritual needs of our faithful scattered in so many states without any reservation.

The reason why I chose to share this subject with you is to single out one of them, Archpriest Nerses Manougian, Pastor Emeritus of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, who after his retirement not only has authored several useful religious and spiritual books, but also established a Charitable Fund and quietly brought joy into the hearts of Armenian teachers in Lebanon on Christmas over the past several years. This year, on Easter, with a substantial sum, in conjunction with the Jinishian Memorial Foundation, he wished to bring the same joy into the lives of our needy brothers and sisters in Lebanon who are suffering terrible hardship because of the socio-economic and political situation.

After watching the self-explanatory video, “Retired but Active,” I am sure that not only the Prelacy but also the faithful will feel highly proud of our clergy who zealously, in different ways, continue to spread the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ by word and deed. While some might think that these efforts are a modest drop of water in the oceanic need across such vast distances, they nevertheless reflect the dedication and the spirit of our clergy who are tirelessly concerned with quenching the spiritual thirst and addressing the material necessities of our brothers and sisters here and abroad.

It is indeed an exemplary testimony of caring and sharing. Blessed are those who give their fruits like trees and their fragrance like flowers.