Mass. Clergy to Provide Key Leadership In Support of Armenian Heritage Park

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Clergy from the Armenian churches within Massachusetts met with members of the Armenian Heritage Foundation’s Board of Directors on Monday, October 5, at the Sheraton Commander Hotel.
Sheraton Commander General Manager Michael Guleserian hosted the breakfast meeting.

The purpose of the meeting was to update the clergy on progress and discuss strategies to meet fundraising goals, which includes endowing funds for the care and maintenance
of Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, Boston. Represented on the Foundation’s 37-member Board of Directors is every Armenian parish and organization within Massachusetts.

Attending the meeting were Rev. Arakel Aljalian, St. James Armenian Church; Archpriest Antranig Baljian, St. Stephen’s Armenian Church; Rev. Khatchadour Boghossian, Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester; Rev. Gregory Haroutunian, First Armenian Church; Rev. Khachatur Kesablyan, Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church; Rev. Vasken Kouzouian,
Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston; Rev. Bedros Shetilian, St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church and Rev. Aved Terzian, Armenian Church of Our Saviour.
Unable to attend were Very Rev. Raphael Andonian, Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church; Rev. Avedis Boynerian, Armenian Memorial Church; Rev. Krikor A. Sabounjian,
Armenian Church of the Holy Translators and Rev. Aram Stepanian, St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church, Whitinsville.

James M. Kalustian, president of the foundation, presented an update and, with the participation of the clergy, outlined specific steps for each clergy to effectively communicate with their respective parishes and to instill an enthusiasm within their congregations. Lead andMajor gifts which provide naming opportunities at the park were discussed as well as the Special Gifts initiative (minimum gifts of $1,000 and above) and the Every Member campaign in February when everyone will be asked to support/participate.

Representing the Foundation were Foundation Vice Presidents Haig Deranian and Charles Guleserian as well as Walter Nahabedian, Harold Partamian and Barbara Tellalian.
Armenian Heritage Park on the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is slated to be completed by fall 2010. A gift to the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and recognized as one of the better-designed parks, Armenian Heritage Park is consistent with one of the themes of the Greenway: to acknowledge the history of Boston as a port of entry for immigrants worldwide and those who have migrated to this state and contributed to the richness of American life and culture.

A link between Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Christopher Columbus Park on four-tenths of an acre on parcel 13 on the Greenway, Armenian Heritage Park has received overwhelming support from neighboring community groups in the North End and Wharf District as well as many of Boston’s civic, community and political leaders.
Armenian Heritage Park includes lawns, benches, fountains, shade trees as well as two key features, a labyrinth and sculpture, both to  engage children and adults.
The labyrinth, a circular winding path in grass and inlaid stone with a single jet of water at its center, is symbolic of life’s journey and in celebration of achievements in art, science, commerce and service.
The sculpture, a 12-sided, abstract geometric sculpture — a split rhombic dodecahedron — rests on a 16-foot diameter reflecting pool to commemorate lives lost in the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923 and all genocides that have followed and to celebrate those who left their country of origin and reconfigured their lives in this country in new and different ways.  The waters of the reflecting pool wash over its sides commemorating lives lost and re-emerge as the single jet of water at the labyrinth’s center, representing hope and rebirth.
Annually, the sculpture will be reconfigured to commemorate lives lost and to celebrate all who came here and reinvented themselves in creative and new ways. The annual reconfiguration with endless changing views will also bring wonder and delight.
Annually an endowed lecture on Human Rights in collaboration with The Bostonian Society will be held at Faneuil Hall. The series is being fully endowed by a philanthropic families. Internationally-recognized scholars and leaders will be invited to speak. Endowed funds are also being established to annually support the care and maintenance of the park in perpetuity as well as the annual reconfiguration of the sculpture.
Visit www.ArmenianHeritagePark.net for further information. For sponsorship information and naming opportunities, call or e-mail Jim Kalustian, (781) 777-2407,  jkalu@comcast.net; Charles Guleserian, (617) 484-6100, mgmcos@msn.com; Haig Deranian, (617) 484-2215, dhkd@comcast.net; Walter Nahabedian, (781) 891-7249, wnaha@verizon.net or Dr. Jack Kasarjian (617) 232-6350.

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