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May 22, 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: www.westernprelacy.org <http://www.westernprelacy.org/>
WESTERN PRELACY 35TH REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
ASSEMBLY HIGHLY COMMENDS ACTIVITIES OF
PRELATE AND COUNCILS
- REVISED SCHOOLS' BY-LAWS RATIFIED
- CHAPLAIN RAFFI GARABEDIAN HONORED
On the afternoon of Friday, May 18, the 35th Prelacy National
Representative Assembly convened presided over by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, and with the participation of Central Executive
Council member Mr. Khajag Dikijian, Religious and Executive Council members,
members of Boards of Trustees and parish councils, Board of Regents,
principals and directors. The Assembly took place at the "Dikran and
Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall of the Prelacy.
The Assembly officially opened with a prayer and a hymn led by
the Prelate, followed by remarks. The first remark was the taped message of
H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. His Holiness
commended the completion of the new Prelacy headquarters as well as the
efforts and devotion of the Prelate, council members, and supporters of the
Prelacy then focused on two vital topics, education and spiritual guidance
of youth. His Holiness urged for special care to be given to our schools
and for new schools to open because our schools and churches collaboratively
are the institutions that offer spiritual nourishment for the new
generation. He also noted that special attention must be given to the youth
and real efforts have to be made to draw them closer to our national
institutions. His Holiness concluded by offering his blessings to the
Assembly.
Chairman of the Executive Council Dr. Garo Agopian then welcomed
the delegates and in speaking of their duties reminded them that their
mission is not limited to this meeting but rather is an ongoing process that
they should be carrying out throughout the course of the year. He concluded
by thanking the Board of Trustees of Forty Martyrs Church for hosting the
Assembly.
In his remarks the Prelate firstly also thanked the host church
and commended the Prelacy staff for their hard work especially in the
preceding few months. He then greeted the newly elected delegates from the
Crescenta Valley parish who were participating in the Assembly for the first
time. The Prelate expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Holiness for
his message and guardianship and continued by briefly referencing the
fundamental activities that are the framework of the Prelacy's mission. He
concluded by wishing success to the proceedings of the Assembly.
The next speaker was Central Executive Council representative
Mr. Khajag Dikijian who urged the delegates to spare no resources in drawing
our people closer to our church, and to not be satisfied with the status quo
but rather to continually work to establish new parishes and schools in
service to our people and to meet the needs of the new generation.
On behalf of the host church Mr. Hrair Jermakian greeted the
delegates and wished them a productive meeting. At the conclusion of
remarks and the election of the Resolutions Committee, representatives from
each parish gave their annual activities reports followed by the
presentation of the financial report by Executive Council Treasurer Mr.
Vahan Bezdikian and the report by Auditing Committee member Mr. Zareh
Markarian.
Before proceeding to the items on the agenda, the Prelate
reminded the delegates that for the past few years, it has become a
tradition for the Assembly to honor individuals who serve our church and
people. This year, Chaplain Raffi Garabedian was honored and was presented
with a memento by the Prelate for his decades-long service and commitment to
the Armenian Church and more specifically for the spiritual guidance he
offers to Armenian inmates in our area.
The reports continued with Board of Regents Chairman Mr. Avo
Kechichian addressing the current state of our schools, with regards to both
quality of education and financial situation. In speaking of Armenian
subject instruction, he assured the delegates that the Board of Regents is
in the process of drafting programs for the enhancement of this field.
Supplementary reports were given by Religious Council Chair Very Rev. Fr.
Muron Aznikian and Executive Council Secretary Mr. Boghos Sassounian
followed by a question and answer session.
At the end of the reports and discussion, the Resolutions
Committee deliberated and issued the following statement: "After hearing the
reports of the Prelate, Religious and Executive Councils and supplementary
reports, the financial and auditing reports, as well as the questions and
comments of the delegates and responses, the committee finds the activities
of the Prelate, Executive Council, Religious Council, Board of Regents, and
Christian Education Department highly commendable."
The resolution was adopted unanimously and the session was
closed at 9:00 p.m.
The second day of the Assembly was officially opened on Saturday
morning with prayer. The first item on the agenda was the analysis of the
revised schools' by-laws. Dr. Garo Agopian gave a brief account of the
revision process and thanked the contributors for their input. After close
assessment, the Assembly voted to adopt the revised by-laws. The Assembly
then proceeded to draft a yearly agenda and welcomed suggestions brought
forth by the Religious Council parish representatives and delegates.
Following the approval of the budget for the next fiscal year, the election
of a new auditing committee, and a discussion of unforeseen matters,
concluding remarks were delivered by Dr. Agopian and the Prelate commending
all the servants of our church for their hard work and urged them to
continue their service with loyalty and commitment.
Prior to the official close of the Assembly with prayer, the
Board of Trustees of St. Mary's Church expressed their readiness to host the
next Assembly.
PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: www.westernprelacy.org <http://www.westernprelacy.org/>
WESTERN PRELACY 35TH REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
ASSEMBLY HIGHLY COMMENDS ACTIVITIES OF
PRELATE AND COUNCILS
- REVISED SCHOOLS' BY-LAWS RATIFIED
- CHAPLAIN RAFFI GARABEDIAN HONORED
On the afternoon of Friday, May 18, the 35th Prelacy National
Representative Assembly convened presided over by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, and with the participation of Central Executive
Council member Mr. Khajag Dikijian, Religious and Executive Council members,
members of Boards of Trustees and parish councils, Board of Regents,
principals and directors. The Assembly took place at the "Dikran and
Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall of the Prelacy.
The Assembly officially opened with a prayer and a hymn led by
the Prelate, followed by remarks. The first remark was the taped message of
H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. His Holiness
commended the completion of the new Prelacy headquarters as well as the
efforts and devotion of the Prelate, council members, and supporters of the
Prelacy then focused on two vital topics, education and spiritual guidance
of youth. His Holiness urged for special care to be given to our schools
and for new schools to open because our schools and churches collaboratively
are the institutions that offer spiritual nourishment for the new
generation. He also noted that special attention must be given to the youth
and real efforts have to be made to draw them closer to our national
institutions. His Holiness concluded by offering his blessings to the
Assembly.
Chairman of the Executive Council Dr. Garo Agopian then welcomed
the delegates and in speaking of their duties reminded them that their
mission is not limited to this meeting but rather is an ongoing process that
they should be carrying out throughout the course of the year. He concluded
by thanking the Board of Trustees of Forty Martyrs Church for hosting the
Assembly.
In his remarks the Prelate firstly also thanked the host church
and commended the Prelacy staff for their hard work especially in the
preceding few months. He then greeted the newly elected delegates from the
Crescenta Valley parish who were participating in the Assembly for the first
time. The Prelate expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Holiness for
his message and guardianship and continued by briefly referencing the
fundamental activities that are the framework of the Prelacy's mission. He
concluded by wishing success to the proceedings of the Assembly.
The next speaker was Central Executive Council representative
Mr. Khajag Dikijian who urged the delegates to spare no resources in drawing
our people closer to our church, and to not be satisfied with the status quo
but rather to continually work to establish new parishes and schools in
service to our people and to meet the needs of the new generation.
On behalf of the host church Mr. Hrair Jermakian greeted the
delegates and wished them a productive meeting. At the conclusion of
remarks and the election of the Resolutions Committee, representatives from
each parish gave their annual activities reports followed by the
presentation of the financial report by Executive Council Treasurer Mr.
Vahan Bezdikian and the report by Auditing Committee member Mr. Zareh
Markarian.
Before proceeding to the items on the agenda, the Prelate
reminded the delegates that for the past few years, it has become a
tradition for the Assembly to honor individuals who serve our church and
people. This year, Chaplain Raffi Garabedian was honored and was presented
with a memento by the Prelate for his decades-long service and commitment to
the Armenian Church and more specifically for the spiritual guidance he
offers to Armenian inmates in our area.
The reports continued with Board of Regents Chairman Mr. Avo
Kechichian addressing the current state of our schools, with regards to both
quality of education and financial situation. In speaking of Armenian
subject instruction, he assured the delegates that the Board of Regents is
in the process of drafting programs for the enhancement of this field.
Supplementary reports were given by Religious Council Chair Very Rev. Fr.
Muron Aznikian and Executive Council Secretary Mr. Boghos Sassounian
followed by a question and answer session.
At the end of the reports and discussion, the Resolutions
Committee deliberated and issued the following statement: "After hearing the
reports of the Prelate, Religious and Executive Councils and supplementary
reports, the financial and auditing reports, as well as the questions and
comments of the delegates and responses, the committee finds the activities
of the Prelate, Executive Council, Religious Council, Board of Regents, and
Christian Education Department highly commendable."
The resolution was adopted unanimously and the session was
closed at 9:00 p.m.
The second day of the Assembly was officially opened on Saturday
morning with prayer. The first item on the agenda was the analysis of the
revised schools' by-laws. Dr. Garo Agopian gave a brief account of the
revision process and thanked the contributors for their input. After close
assessment, the Assembly voted to adopt the revised by-laws. The Assembly
then proceeded to draft a yearly agenda and welcomed suggestions brought
forth by the Religious Council parish representatives and delegates.
Following the approval of the budget for the next fiscal year, the election
of a new auditing committee, and a discussion of unforeseen matters,
concluding remarks were delivered by Dr. Agopian and the Prelate commending
all the servants of our church for their hard work and urged them to
continue their service with loyalty and commitment.
Prior to the official close of the Assembly with prayer, the
Board of Trustees of St. Mary's Church expressed their readiness to host the
next Assembly.