Diocese of California: 23rd National Youth Conference

2009-07-01

Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East

23rd National Youth Conference

San Jose California
U.S.A

Hundreds of Assyrian Church youth members from various parishes gathered in San Jose California USA from July 1st to July 5th to participate in the 23rd National youth conference of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East.

This annual event brings together youth from all around the world and encourages parish members to participate through worship, bible studies and fellowship. In doing so, The Church believes that the young faithful benefit and thus better understand, preserve and maintain Church Doctrines, faith, customs and the Assyrian cultural and social traditions.

With a successful gathering of over 450 youth members, the Assyrian parishes from Australia, India, Canada, London and the United states of America; took part in Church worship service, interactive bible study sessions, seminars, lectures, presentations and several social activities.

Participants from the Diocese of Australia included Rev. Genard Lazar Ss. Peter and Paul Parish Priest, Deacons Ninos Elya and Ramsen Youkhanis, Lector Raman Youkhanis, Nenos Youkhanis, Daniel Kochou, Denis Kochou, Robert Khnanisho, Yaqub Khoshaba and Moren Youkhanis.

This year’s theme titled: ‘the Holy Spirit, let Him lead’ taught and embraced the importance of the Holy Spirit which is active in our every day lives. Guest speakers in attendance were His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV; Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, His Grace Mar Awa Royel; Bishop of California, Prof. Philip Jenkins; Professor of History and Religious Studies at Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Donny George; Assyrian Archaeologist, Assyrian filmmaker; Lina Yakubova and Assyrian pop singer; Linda George.

Registered members of the conference were accommodated at the AAA Diamond-rated; Embassy Suite hotel in Milpitas Silicon valley which facilitated the needs of the Clergy, committee and Church members.

Many thanks go to Mar Yosip Khnanisho Parish and all those who participated in a joint-effort for the planning, preparing and managing of the entire event.

The Church prays that all participants in this years event return home focussed on allowing the Holy Spirit to lead them into becoming proactive Christians in their everyday lives.