GLENDALE — The Armenian Catholic Diocese of Our Lady of Nareg of North America, held its annual youth conference this year again, with the invitation and under the auspices of Bishop Mikael Mouradian.
The hosting church for this year’s conference was St. Gregory the Illuminator Catholic Church, the diocesan cathedral or Mother Church. The theme this year was “Pilgrims of Hope,” in preparation for the 2025 “Holy Year,” as declared by Pope Francis.
On Friday, June 28, Bishop Mouradian started the youth conference and spiritual education with a Holy Mass and Divine Liturgy. Then, 50 young people from many different parishes from around Canada and the United States headed to “Celebrity Ranch” summer camp, located in Hemet, where they participated in the three-day spiritual retreat.
Following the spiritual education, on Sunday, June 30, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Glendale, the diaconate ordination of sub-deacon Haig Shahinian took place during Holy Mass, by Mouradian and in the presence of the newly ordained assistant bishop of the diocese, the Most Rev. Bishop Parsegh Baghdasarian. Also present were, Rev. Father Ghazar Bedrossian from Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church in Belmont, Mass., Rev. Father Levon Stepanian from St Gregory the Illuminator Church in Glendale, as well as Rev. Father Andon Noradungian and Father Richard Shakil from Sacred Heart Church in New Jersey.
Following the ceremony, those present gathered in the church hall, where a warm reception took place.
The next morning, in the same church hall, about 100 parishioners from Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Toronto congregated for the annual conference. In the evening, the attendees enjoyed an outdoor dinner organized by the ladies’ guild of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Armenian Catholic Church of Los Angeles, at the invitation of Most Rev. Father Armenag Bedrossian. The diocesan conference ended with a friendly send-off at Terrace lounge in Burbank.
