On the eve of the Holy Holidays and before the start of the Christmas vacation, from December 13th to the 16th, the large family of the Armenian Catholic Mesrobian High School, along with its students, teachers and parents, participated in a long series of events filled with joy, hope, love and faith that the Birth of the Christ grants to all Christians.
For our Nursery and Kindergarten children, those days were the time to do Christmas-themed work, learn songs, gain knowledge, and of course, enjoy Santa’s visit and the gifts he brings. This year too, the «Living Manger» of the Kindergarten was prepared with exemplary diligence and was attended by a large number of parents who came to strengthen the faith of their children with their encouragements.
The Christmas Masses, which were separately celebrated for the Elementary and Secondary, were marked by the active participation of the students. The St. Savior Church parish priests created an atmosphere of unity in prayer. Students and teachers expressed relevant intentions and prayers of thanksgiving were offered. During the days mentioned above, the students» Confession and the Promise of Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Sacrament took place, as a tradition already established at Mesrobian High School.
The 8th grade students participated in the Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Sacrament which was performed by Mesrobian’s chaplain, Rev. Father Raffi Hovhannessian. On this occasion, the Rev. Father indicated that the essence of this particular sacrament lies in the fact that the students voluntarily confirm their Christian Baptism and consciously strengthen their love for Jesus Christ. In his speech, Father Raffi stressed the need to maintain the sacredness of the family as well as sincere relationships which are essential in the life of the Christian Armenian, where mutual tolerance and forgiveness must remain paramount, especially in the current difficult conditions. Then the students said individual and group prayers in relevance with the theme of the day, confirming by their signature their promise of becoming true Christians.
According to a years-long tradition, the ceremony of transferring Baby Jesus to the manger took place in Mesrobian. Led by Father Raffi and accompanied by the St. Savior Church parish priests, the procession headed to the Christmas tree situated at the center of the main courtyard of Mesrobian, to place the symbol of the Incarnate God in the manger under it. Teachers delivered Christmas messages on this occasion and spiritual songs were sung, conducted by Mr. Manuel Keshishian.
All the spiritual events that took place in Mesrobian were led by the chaplain of the school, Rev. Father Raffi Hovhannessian, in collaboration with Father Khachig Kouyoumdjian and his assistant priests, along with Mrs. Salpi Keshishian – the teacher of religion, the heads of departments and the teachers. The Parents» Committee took an active part in organizing the events through their Christmas Bazar. In the end, all the efforts made by the Administration of Mesrobian to create a festive atmosphere perfectly served their purpose, granting all the members of the school’s family, regardless of their age, precious feelings of joy, hope, love, and faith that represent Christmas.
