News » 3rd Annual Pan North American ACYO Retreat Held in Toronto, Canada
3rd Annual Pan North American ACYO Retreat Held in Toronto, Canada
Published on Oct 11 2007 by Divan of the Diocese
The 3rd annual PNAAR retreat was held September 28-30, 2007 at Wesley Acres in Ontario, Canada. A total of about 30 participants representing the Western, Eastern, and Canadian dioceses attended the retreat, 7 of which were from the Western Diocese. The PNAAR retreat series began in 2005 to provide a venue for the youth of the ACYO-WD, ACYO-C, and ACYOA where they could gather to meet fellow youth and further the mission of the Armenian Church.
This year, the ACYO-C hosted the retreat which focused around the theme "The Holy Altar: Gateway to Answers." The weekend began with participants arriving at the Wesley Acres facilities late Friday evening. Once representatives were settled in Maida Icliates, chairperson of the retreat welcomed the participants. The evening continued with an introduction of the weekend theme and ice-breaker activities. Saturday continued with a series of workshops lead by Father Vartan Kasparian, Father Stepanos Doudoukjian, Father Myron Sarkissian, Deacon Matthew Ash, Nancy Basmajian, and Julie Hoplamazian. Participants also enjoyed some free time to relax, go on a hike, and canoe. The evening ended with a group campfire and a big send off of the ACYO-WD participants. The retreat concluded on Sunday morning with Badarak presided over by Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan.
The ACYO-WD Central Council is proud to announce that in a joint meeting of Central Council Members from each Diocese it was decided that the PNAAR program would be extended for another three years. The first in this new series of retreats will be once again hosted by the Eastern Diocese in the Fall of 2008.
A big thank you goes out to the ACYO-C PNAAR Retreat Planning Committee for organizing such a wonderful event as well as to all three dioceses for supporting this event and the youth of the Armenian Church.
The fellowship amongst the members of the Armenian youth organizations is of vital importance. It is through retreats and fellowship when friendships are consolidated, experiences are shared, and members of the youth organizations are united in the same mission to serve the Lord and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
-Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
