The Diocese
Posted: 06/07/2024
The Armenian Church Youth Organization of the Western Diocese held its 58th Annual Sports Weekend on Memorial Day Weekend, May 24, 2024, to May 26, 2024, at Roosevelt High School, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and led by the Youth Director of the Western Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Yeremia Abgaryan. The Annual Sports Weekend is a weekend filled with excitement as our ACYO members and their families from across the Western Diocese prepare to compete in a multitude of team and individual sports in the body of Christ. Several ACYO chapters from across the Western Diocese participated in the Sports Weekend tournaments, including: St. Leon Burbank, St. Mary Costa Mesa, St. Sarkis San Diego, St. Gregory the Illuminator Fowler, St. Paul Fresno, St. Vartan Oakland, St. Gregory the Illuminator Pasadena, St. John San Francisco, St. Peter Van Nuys, Holy Apostles Tujunga, and Holy Resurrection Seattle.
The ACYO-WD Sports Weekend commenced with an exhilarating opening ceremony, where every chapter ran into the school venue as their ACYO family cheered them on. Candace Karasarkisian, Chair of the ACYO-WD Central Council, officially started the ACYO-WD Sports Weekend by thanking clergy, chapters, youth directors, and parents for their presence. Candace invited Olivia Moosakhanian Garabedian to the stage, who gracefully played the National Anthem of the United States of America, and the Homenetmen Fresno Sassoon Scouts invited everyone to sing the National Anthem of Armenia. Candace invited Very Rev. Fr. Yeremia Abgaryan, who nourished us with his spiritual prayer. Following this remarkable opening ceremony, the ACYO-WD Sports Weekend tournaments started as over 300 registered participants gathered their teams to start their first game.
