ACYOA Juniors Take Part in Hye M'rtsoom

Some 200 ACYOA Juniors from across the Eastern Diocese gathered at St. James Church in Watertown, Mass., over Memorial Day weekend for the annual Hye M'rtsoom event. The program brought teens together for worship, as well as for sports and other activities.

"It was such a pleasure to host so many ACYOA Juniors at St. James," said Maria Derderian, youth minister at St. James Church. "I am very proud of our St. James ACYOA Juniors for working so hard and adding new programming to the weekend's events to incorporate service and outreach."

The weekend began on Saturday, May 26, with a matins service followed by an "Insights Message" on the significance of Memorial Day from Jennifer Morris, the Diocese's youth outreach coordinator.

Following a full day of athletic events—including basketball and volleyball games, a three-point shoot out, tavloo, ping pong, and connect-four tournaments—participants gathered for a "Hye Lights" dance.

On Sunday, the young people took part in the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated by the Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, parish pastor. In his sermon, Fr. Aljalian encouraged the teens to focus on the importance of prayer in daily life and on worshipping in church as a community. He also reminded participants that pastors and youth workers are people they can turn to for support and assistance.

Sports activities continued on Sunday afternoon. The weekend also offered youth-led, faith-based discussions and an outreach initiative with a local children's charity called Cradles to Crayons. The Boston-based organization provides school supplies, clothes, and other items to low-income children. ACYOA Juniors members volunteered time sorting, cleaning, and repairing toys donated to the organization.

A dinner dance called "Hye Society" was held on Sunday evening at the Hyatt Hotel in Boston, overlooking the Charles River. The evening featured award presentations for team and individual sports. In addition, Ms. Morris presented four awards on behalf of the ACYOA Central Council.

The weekend came to a close on Monday with a farewell breakfast.

Hye M'rtsoom Awards

ACYOA Central Council Awards

Chapter A Award, Holy Translators Armenian Church, Framingham, MA

Abp. Tiran Nersoyan Vision Award, Taylor Carden, Fair Lawn, NJ

Abp. Tiran Nersoyan Service Award, Ara Bablouzian, Framingham, MA

Abp. Tiran Nersoyan Leadership Award, Aline Beylerian, Fair Lawn, NJ

Sportsmanship Awards

Laura Dosch, Fair Lawn, NJ, and Ari Kazanjian, Watertown, MA

Overall Sports Champion, St Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ

Individual Sports Awards

Beginner Tavloo

2nd Place: Aram Andonian, Watertown, MA

1st Place: Nishan Papazian, Worcester, MA

Beginner Chess

2nd Place: Armen Arsenian, Bayside, NY

1st Place: Greg Dorian, Cambridge, MA

Advanced Tavloo

2nd Place: Lauren Wasgatt, Worcester, MA

1st Place: Chris Artun, Bayside, NY

Advanced Chess

2nd Place: Armen Andonian, Watertown, MA

1st Place: Kami Findik, Bayside, NY

Girls Ping-Pong

2nd Place: Nyree Kupelian, Fair Lawn, NJ

1st Place: Linda Yenicag, Bayside, NY

Boys Ping-Pong

2nd Place: Matt Tarzian, Fair Lawn, NJ

1st Place: Armen Berberian, Philadelphia, PA

3-Point Shootout

Andre Antreassian, Bayside, NY

Team Sports

Girls Basketball

2nd Place: Regional Team Philadelphia, PA, and Chelmsford, MA

1st Place: Cambridge, MA

Boys Basketball

2nd Place: Watertown, MA

1st Place: Fair Lawn, NJ

Volleyball

2nd Place: Fair Lawn, NJ

1st Place: Philadelphia, PA

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Photos attached (by Jonathan Dadekian).

Photo 1: A basketball game underway at the Hye M'rtsoom event organized for the ACYOA Juniors last month.

Photo 2: Young people took part in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 27, at St. James Church of Watertown, Mass.

PublicRelations [publicrelations@armeniandiocese.org]