MGSOSA Annual Conference 2006

by George Aramath

The 21st annual convention and family conference took place from July 6th to July 9th at Hudson Valley Resort. This resort is located a few hours away from New York City, in a calm and scenic environment. Most of the participants from different parts of the country started arriving Thursday evening. 

The introductory session with Rev. Fr. Jacob Joseph focused on the spiritual aspects of this year’s theme: “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord” (Romans 12:11). The main speaker for MGSOSA, V. Rev. Raban Stephanos Issa, serves as the priest for Saint Barsaumo Church in Canada. In his sessions for the youth, Raban Stephanos emphasized the call to service by viewing God, Church, and World as our own: My God, My Church, and My World. From this perspective, one will naturally fulfill their call to serve. In his second session, Fr. Stephanos conveyed this theme into his personal life by explaining that one must surrender themselves to God before taking His message to others.

In-between sessions, the diocese choir led praise and worship. Friday afternoon, Mr. Mike Wingert from St. Mary’s California, enlightened the youth on the importance of the Syriac language in our church. An introduction to the language and its history followed. The youth had an opportunity at the end to practice speaking and writing Syriac. 

After recreation time, in which yoga classes were even included, a procession filled with drums and music started from outside the resort center and into the main auditorium. Fr. Stephanos, who requires all couples in his parish to take a 10-day course on marriage, then led a young adults session on this subject. One should view marriage from the perspective of giving, not receiving. Fr. Stephanos beautifully illustrated this point by viewing marriage as an empty box that needs to be filled. The first full day ended with cultural programs.

After Fr. Stephanos finished his final session on the theme of serving, Ms. Anita Jacob from St. George, New City gave an emotional testimony of weathering the storms that comes in one’s life. She spoke of how prayer allowed her to overcome her storms, especially the prayers of others. At the basic level, prayer for others is a simply way of serving. 

The youth delegates then met to elect new officers for the organization and discuss other important matters. Following group pictures, the finals for the basketball tournament took place in which St. George, Chicago took the trophy. Mr. Sheryl Mathai from St. Peter’s Philadelphia then lead a general session with parents and youths on “bringing family into the family conference”. They were guided through the challenges each member of the family faced living in the 21st century. 

After the coordinators presented a summary slideshow of their regional activities, Rev. Fr. Jacob Joseph, the newly elected Vice President of MGSOSA, closed out the sessions with a small discussion of MGSOSA’s future, culminating with the song, “I have decided to follow Jesus”. 

Holy Qurbana began Sunday morning, concelebrated by H.G. Mor Severious Abraham, H.G. Mor Dioscorus Kuriakose, and our Archbishop H.G. Mor Titus Yeldho. After Qurbana, H.G. Mor Titus briefly spoke of his vision for the archdiocese, emphasizing the importance of the youth serving the church, especially in regards to becoming priests in the diocese. With this vision and theme of serving, the annual family conference ended soon after lunch.

Special thanks goes to V. Rev. Raban Stephanos Issa, the diocesan choir, Mr. Mike Wingert, Ms. Anita Jacob, Mr. Sheryl Mathia, and all the former officers and coordinators for MGSOSA.