Supporting the next generation of priests

PARENTS PLAY A ROLE IN HELPING NEW PRIESTS

By Jake Goshert

When he was a little kid, Justin Ajamian wanted to be a leader: President of the United States. Today, the sub-deacon wants to be a different kind of leader: a priest.

The junior at Ramapo College in New Jersey, is combining his history studies with classes at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, with an eye towards becoming a priest in the future. In today’s modern culture, where status and financial success can be seen as key, being a priest is something Jason’s parents — Greg and Betty — think is a great idea.

“I have three boys, and I just want them to make a difference in the world,” Betty Ajamian said. “A success in your life is if you use the talents God gave you. People believe money is happiness and success, I’ve never believed that. I have a very strong personal faith, and I believe my children will be assigned to assist the world, whether in the church or in another field.”

But while she supports Justin in answering God’s calling, his mother said she made sure to let him know she would support whatever he does, as long as he feels it is God’s calling for him.

“I support it, because that’s what he wants to do,” Betty Ajamian said. “When he told me, I just wanted him to realize that if he didn’t do it, that would be fine too, because being a priest is such a high aspiration, and it’s not common.”

For one recent graduate of St. Nersess Seminary, Dn. Ara Kedehjian, once his parents saw he was serious about pursuing the priesthood, they supported him, as long as he finished his education outside the seminary first. He graduated from the seminary in 2000 and returned to get a master’s degree in divinity from St. Nersess and St. Vladimir Orthodox Seminary. Now he is the interim coordinator of the Diocese’s Mission Parish program.

“Parents need to support their children, if they’re interested in full-time ministry, and they also need to ensure their children get an education first,” he said. “As their children find their way, their parents should be supportive of them, whatever they want to do, even if they want to become priests.”

While his parents were supportive of his seminary studies, both emotionally and financially, Dn. Ara said parental support can only help once a young man hears the call of God.

“It doesn’t just depend on parental support, it has to come from the young person,” he said. “If they feel that is where God is leading them, to give their talents to the church, then they should do it.”

MORE PARENTAL SUPPORT NEEDED

Not all possible seminarians find it that easy, said Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean of St. Nersess Seminary. Strong parental support for potential priests is far from common.

“Parents are crucial. The primary obstacle we face now to recruit young men to come forward to the seminary is the lack of support of their parents,” he said. “I can name any number of young men out there who would probably come to seminary soon, if only their parents would support them. In some cases, parents even actively try to sway their sons and daughters away from ministry.”

It can be common to hear parents say the Armenian Church needs more educated, skilled priests and, in the same breath, exclude their sons, whom they see being successful doctors, lawyers or architects. But he says many parents operate with an outdated concept of what a priest is. Priests, Fr. Findikyan said, are often well-educated, often with graduate degrees, and are active in their parishes and the larger community.

“If we truly love the church, if we truly care for our church, we don’t want to settle for mediocrity when it comes to clergy,” Fr. Findikyan said. “We don’t want to recruit young men who couldn’t succeed in other areas. We want to continue to bring in clergy who would succeed in any undertaking. Those are our future clergy, who will make us proud by making great contributions to the church.”