Dear St. Mary Parishioners,
I'm excited to share a detailed recap of the 99th Diocesan Assembly of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, held this year at St. Paul Armenian Church in Fresno — the very birthplace of our Diocese in 1927. As we stand just one year from our historic 100th anniversary, this Assembly marked a powerful transition: from vision to direction, from reflection to resolute action.
Our parish was proudly represented by Assembly Delegates:
- Very Rev. Fr. Yeremia Abgaryan (Parish Priest / Vicar General)
- Michael Hollis (Parish Council Chairman)
- Dr. Levon Keleshian (Elected Delegate)
- Puzant Zorayan (Elected Delegate)
I'm also happy to congratulate congregant Mark Asdourian, who was elected to the Diocesan Council. Your delegates returned inspired, energized, and committed to carrying the Assembly's message back to our community.
The central theme, articulated beautifully in His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian's Primate's Message, was "Toward the 100th Anniversary: From Vision to Direction." Drawing from Proverbs 21:5 ("The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance"), the Primate reminded us that we are completing a full circle — returning to Fresno, our foundation, while preparing to celebrate the centennial at Diocesan Headquarters in Burbank.
The Primate's Message: Recalling the Vision and Charting the Path Forward
At the 98th Assembly, we collectively embraced a renewed Mission, Vision, and Values statement and eight fundamental principles for spiritual renewal. This past year, those principles moved from words into practice through leadership seminars, guidebooks, video presentations, regional meetings, pastoral visits, and strategic planning tools.
The Primate emphasized that our Diocese is now guided by three essential pillars:
- Faith – deepening our relationship with God and living the Gospel daily
- Fellowship – building caring, supportive communities of belonging and purpose
- Heritage – preserving and living our spiritual and cultural legacy
Within this framework, the Diocese has identified clear focus areas for the next three years:
- Evangelism (the heart of the priestly calling)
- Community building
- Development of the Innovation and Media Center
The Primate outlined four concrete priorities for every parish:
(a) Strengthen spiritual formation through intentional programs and consistent engagement (b) Develop realistic, evidence-based strategic plans (c) Cultivate stewardship and expand membership (including dues-paying membership) for long-term sustainability (d) Invest in leadership development at every level
A major new initiative launched at the Assembly is a comprehensive parish survey to better understand our strengths and areas for growth. Parish leadership is now called to convene special meetings to align all programs with this diocesan direction. All parishioners are encouraged to complete the survey and provide their feedback. The message was clear: "discipline in execution and full collaboration between clergy and laity are non-negotiable."
Stewardship: From Stability to Sustainability (Executive Director's Report)
Harout Markarian, Executive Director, delivered a powerful presentation and participated in a panel discussion on Stewardship. He reminded us that stewardship is not merely about finances — it is about how we manage our time, talents, and treasures in service to the Church.
Key takeaways:
- Stability has been a blessing, but we must now transform it into sustainability.
- Parishes must move toward self-sufficiency so they can fully live their mission rather than rely on long-term diocesan support.
- Good intentions are not a plan. Every parish needs clear financial and ministry planning rooted in data, honest assessment, and foresight.
- Stewardship must always serve the mission — leading to deeper engagement, stronger youth presence, and visible, outward-serving communities.
The report was both honest and hopeful: the Diocese will continue to support parishes in need, but the time for renewal and shared responsibility has arrived.
Institutional Innovation: The Church as a Way of Life
Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian, Director of Institutional Innovation, presented a compelling vision titled "Institutional Innovation in the Western Diocese: Vision, Programs, and Transformative Activities."
At its core is a profound shift: the Church is not just a place we visit — it is a way of life, rooted in faith and inspired by heritage.
Four core principles guide this work:
- Building a living relationship with God ("Get Closer to God")
- Integrating faith into daily life
- Embracing Armenian identity as a living heritage
- Diakonia — service as the "Liturgy after the Liturgy"
Two flagship initiatives are driving this vision forward:
- Innovating Our Parish — revitalizing local parishes as vibrant spiritual homes
- Innovation and Media Center — leveraging digital technology and storytelling to reach homes, workplaces, and the next generation
Dr. Tchilingirian also highlighted robust leadership formation programs:
- Altar Servers Leadership Program (serving over 250 deacons and servers)
- Church Leadership Orientation (for more than 400 parish council members and delegates)
- Lay Ministry Program (empowering knowledgeable, committed laity)
These efforts ensure that governance moves from administrative maintenance to visionary, Spirit-led service.
Education & Leadership Mission: Forming Disciples for Generations to Come
In a companion presentation, Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian also detailed the Diocese's comprehensive Education & Leadership Mission — one of the most vibrant and far-reaching ministries in the Armenian Diaspora.
Highlights include:
- Sunday Schools in 18 parishes serving over 750 students with a unified six-year curriculum
- Saturday Schools in 16 parishes with over 1,600 students, now incorporating stronger Church history components
- New Day Schools under construction in Glendale and Las Vegas
- ACYO renaissance, with retreats, pilgrimages, service projects, and sports events reaching hundreds of youth
- Hye Camp at Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian Camp (60th anniversary celebrated in 2025!), serving nearly 500 campers annually
- Ongoing clergy formation, deacon/altar server training, and the new Altar Servers Leadership Program
- Lay Ministry Program, Parish Leadership Training, Bible studies, Christian Study Courses, retreats, and extensive publications
- Major scholarship and educational partnerships, including the Archbishop Hovnan Derderian Scholarship Fund, support for Yerevan State University, American University of Armenia, and more
The message was unmistakable: education is the foundation of Christian formation and the key to transmitting our faith and heritage to future generations.
Looking Ahead: Alignment, Action, and the 100th Anniversary
The 99th Assembly was not merely a reporting session — it was a call to alignment. The Primate, Executive Director, and Dr. Tchilingirian all emphasized that the coming year must be one of disciplined execution at the parish level. Our delegates returned with clear marching orders: communicate the diocesan vision consistently, complete the parish survey, and empower leadership to begin the work of strategic planning and deeper stewardship.
As we prepare to celebrate our Diocese's 100th anniversary in Burbank next year, we do so not only with gratitude for the past but with bold hope for the future. The vision has been set. The direction is clear. Now is the time for every one of us — clergy, parish council, committees, youth, and faithful — to step forward as active participants in this living Church.
What can you do right now?
- Pray for the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit on our Diocese and our parish.
- Participate in the online parish survey sponsored by the Diocese.
- Engage more deeply in worship, education, fellowship, and service.
- Support stewardship initiatives that ensure our parish's vitality for generations to come.
- Stay tuned for direction from parish leadership where we will share more about how we will align with the diocesan priorities.
We are grateful to our delegates for their faithful service and to Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Diocesan staff, and all who contributed to this transformative Assembly. Together, rooted in faith and inspired by our heritage, we move forward — from vision to direction, from abundance of plans to abundance of fruit.
In Christ's service,
Michael Hollis, Chairman St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance." — Proverbs 21:5
For the full Primate’s Message, Executive Director’s Report, and other Assembly materials, please visit the Western Diocese website or Facebook page.