On December 17th, toys were dropped off to the UCSF Pediatric Ward for our annual toy drive. This year marks the 13th year that St. John Church has participated in a toy drive. We have donated over $15,000 in toys over those years. This tradition was started by our own junior ACYO and has grown to include our parish and community. The ACYO would hold dances and fundraisers including bake sales to raise money for the toy drive. We would also receive generous donations from parishioners like you to help support the toy drive.

On Sunday, December 20, Following the Divine Liturgy and a spiritual message by Fr. Mesrop Ash, the faithful gathered at The Paul Family Hall for a Christmas Party Reception hosted by Parish Council.

This year Ladies Society held their annual Christmas Party and General meeting on Thursday, December 17, 2015, more than 50 members were present to celebrate Christmas together.

Fr. Mesrop Ash blessed the table and wished everyone a happy and safe Christmas. Following lunch Linda Lester invited everyone to sing along to classic Christmas Carols. This year the ladies decided not to exchange gifts, instead each one brought gifts to be donated to the elderly patients at nearby Laguna Honda Hospital. Following the meeting all the presents were wrapped and delivered to the hospital.

St. Vartan Armenian Church of Oakland was host to the 67th Annual ACYO Convention which was held over Thanksgiving Weekend, November 27-29, 2015. More than 30 ACYO delegates from chapters across the Western Diocese participated in the convention presided by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Diocesan Primate. 

Under the leadership of Fr. Mesrop Ash, St. John ACYO Jr. Members participated in the Assembly and attended the elegant banquet, where they had lots of fun dancing and spending time with their friends.

Under the direction of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, a very special pilgrimage took place within the Western Diocese called “7 Churches in 3 Days.” From November 20-22, the Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian, parish priest of the St. Peter Armenian Church in Glendale led the pilgrimage which included stops at Armenian Churches in the Central Valley and Bay Area of California.

On Sunday November 8, 2015 St. John wholeheartedly welcomed author Maral Boyadjian to discuss her acclaimed book “As the Poppies Bloomed” with her sister Salpi Ghazarian, Director of the Institute of Armenian Studies at USC. During the conversation with her sister and the audience, Maral shared some of her familial stories from her grandparents, all four of who were survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

St. John Armenian Church is proud to announce that long time parishioner, Tigran Antonian was recently honored as Alumni of the Year of the Krouzian Zakarian Vasbouragan Armenian School in San Francisco. Tigran serves a positive example of the Armenian American 

This year as in the past St. John Parish Council hosted an appreciation luncheon following church services, for all the volunteers who worked diligently to make the Food Festival a successful event. The event was well attended. Fr. Mesrop Ash welcomed everyone and thanked not only the volunteers that helped during the festival but to all the parishioners for all their support and love throughout the year.  Dr.

On Thursday, November 19, St. John Ladies Society held their monthly Luncheon and Meeting at Waterfront Pizza restaurant in Foster City. Christina Ardemis welcomed everyone and invited Fr. Mesrop to bless the table.

I want to thank everyone for an outstanding job done on our food festival this year.  The 2015 Food Festival at St.