PRESS RELEASE: LIVINGSTON, NJ- Fr. Shnork Souin, the pastor of St. Mary Armenian church in Livingston, New Jersey, went on a pastoral mission to Louisiana in order to visit the Armenian Community of the St. Garabed parish in Baton Rouge, which sustained wind and water damage to the roof and interior from the effects of Katrina, from Wednesday November 16^th to Monday November 21.

The mission which was inspired by a feeling of compassion and a compelling need to reach out and to offer spiritual support and comfort was gratefully received and supported by the visiting pastor of the parish, Fr. Nersess Jebejian and the parish council of St. Garabed Church.  The parish council of St. Mary too, supported Fr. Shnork’s mission with their good wishes and their prayers for their brothers and sisters in Louisiana. 

During the mission, Fr. Shnork was able to spend a couple of days visiting the homes of the Armenians living in the New Orleans area.  While visiting homes, he was able to see first hand the destructive forces of Hurricane Katrina which devastated the region.  Many homes of Armenians as well as places of work were damaged, some beyond repair.  In other cases, some have already gone ahead with repairs and restorations; doing everything they can to recover a sense of normal life.  Many of the Armenian families in La Place and Baton Rouge, have provided shelter to those most severely affected and displaced.  Offering consolation and prayer, Fr. Shnork blessed homes and provided a message of hope with the assurance that through Christ all things are possible.  He asked that the water of the blessing wash away the water of destruction and provide a cleansing renewal to the home as well as the community.  In one home, the conditions were so poor that Fr. Shnork blessed a bottle of half consumed water and an MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) that was provided by FEMA.   Everywhere, people asked Fr. Shnork to offer thanks to all the Armenians back in New Jersey who not only offered monetary gifts through the diocesan collections, but for the prayers which they believe have helped to sustain them in these trying times.

The message of love and support, which Fr. Shnork came to bring, was manifest at the conclusion of the mission during the Divine Liturgy at St. Garabed Armenian Church in Baton Rouge when during the Kiss of Peace; Fr. Shnork came down among the people himself and embraced each of the parishioners, who came from New Orleans and Baton Rouge, explaining that he comes to offer his love on behalf of the entire congregation of St. Mary as well as the Armenians of the New Jersey.  During the distribution of Holy Communion, almost every person in the church, men, women and children came forward to receive the life giving sacrament.

Following the Liturgy, in the humble but warm environment of the Church hall, there was a fellowship dinner where the chairman of the parish council, Mr. Vasken Kaltakjian invited people to make their commitment to the church and to become members of the parish.  There were many new first time members who pledged their commitment to the parish.

The church is a very vibrant and close knit community who have grown deeper in their love for each other through this tragedy and hope to see their parish thrive as they look forward to the consecration of the building some time in April or May by Abp. Khajag Barsamian.  Although in the long term they hope and believe that they will have a full time pastor, the short term needs are great.  The parish is in need of many items to go along with the monthly mortgage payments and utility bills, especially in these times where the faithful are challenged with the pressures of enduring job loss and a frail economy not to mention the clean up and restoration of their homes.

Anyone wishing to make contributions to the Building Fund of St. Garabed is encouraged to do so by sending their offerings to:

St. Garabed Armenian Church-Building Fund, 6208 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge , LA 70806