January/February 2007

2005 and 2006 Lenten Drives A Huge success–Thank You!!!

The 2005 Diocesan-wide Sunday School Lenten Drive benefited the Armenians of Javakhk, the southern tip of the Republic of Georgia where the Armenian Church has been the only source of advocacy and social service for the troubled region. Our support enabled the Primate of the Diocese of Javakh, Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian, to assist his faithful with basic social services and stop the destruction of Armenian churches and khachkars. To see photos detailing some of the fruits of our donations, click here, here, or here.

The campaign collected $11, 183.78 from 30 Sunday Schools.

"Anything our parish can do to help those in need in Javakhk, Georgia or Armenia means a lot to me and our parish," St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, OH, Sunday School Superintendent Cheryl Arslanian remarked during the 2005 campaign.

"We are so fortunate to be in America and able to help provide for our fellow Armenians overseas," she added. To raise money, they sponsored a coffee hour luncheon after church, serving vegetarian soups and salads. The meal was prepared by Sunday School teachers with ingredients donated by fellow parishioners.

St. Mesrob Church of Racine, WI, decorated flower pots, planted green house plants, and painted pottery in the shapes of crosses.

"They were a hit," shared Bonnie Bishop, St. Mesrob's Sunday School superintendent. "We call it 'Art for the Heart.' Sunday School students in pre-school through grade 3/4 make art projects--from the very simple to complex--that we sell at church the following Sunday. The upper grades students host a bake sale at the same time. The families love it."

This year, $14,460.62 was raised with the help of 27 participating Sunday Schools to benefit the Armenian Foster Care Program, a new initiative launched by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) in cooperation with UNICEF.

FAR's Armenian Foster Care Program was established in 2005 in response to the alarming upward trend of Armenian parents who are abandoning their children or placing them in one of the nation's 13 orphanages or 65 boarding schools.

It is a community-based alternative whose network of foster care families helps children at-risk in Armenia and Karabagh grow up in a safe, loving and nurturing family environment. The Armenian Foster Care Program offers support and stability to children in need of care through what is inevitably a traumatic and often painful period in their lives.

As part of the Armenian Foster Care Program, FAR is also providing support services to Armenian parents.

Andrea Carden, the St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ, Sunday School superintendent, one of many enthusiastic Sunday School superintendents, was determined to raise even more charity funds than last year.

"Last year, we raised $800 by selling hand-sewn crosses to our parishioners and having a parent/student Easter basket raffle at our Communion breakfast. We feel it's important for our students to give of themselves locally and globally." To their joy and ours, St. Leon Sunday School was able to raise the outstanding sum of $3,150 for the 2006 Lenten Drive.

Six students of the small and spirited Sunday School of the Holy Virgin Mary and Shoghagat Church in Belleville, IL, were able to raise an astounding $923 by hosting a special Palm Sunday luncheon for the parish!

Thanks to the efforts of our students and staffs, Lenten almsgiving served its time-honored double purpose: Everyone had the opportunity to grow spiritually through the sacrifice of giving, and other people were helped.

Well done, good and faithful servants!