During one of my visits to St. Mesrob Parish in Wisconsin, I visited a senior parishioner who could no longer come to church. Though she herself was not Armenian, she had married an Armenian man, and over the years, she had become part of the parish family. We sat together by Lake Michigan, enjoying coffee, looking at the peaceful water, and she shared a story that touched my heart. She told me that the first time she came to the Armenian Church with her late husband, she fel

With our diocesan clergy brothers during our visit to the Basilica of Saint Josaphat in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 29, 2026. Last year, every Thursday evening, we met on Zoom with one of our parishes to talk about our diocesan theme, “Love One Another.” We often began with a simple icebreaker question: “Who, for you, best reflects this commandment to love one another?” I was deeply moved when, in parish after parish, many gave the same answer: “Our pastor, our Der Hayr.” It

Many times, the pain we carry does not come only from what is happening. It also comes from what we imagine may happen. The mind runs ahead. The heart begins to tremble. And before the trial even arrives, we have already started suffering. One of the desert fathers once said, “He who fears suffering suffers from fear itself.” What a deep and honest truth. Fear has a way of making us live the trouble before its time. It places tomorrow’s burden on today’s shoulders. It makes t