By Kevork Keushkerian
PASADENA — Sunday, October 20, was a historic day for the family of St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena. After the celebration of the Holy Badarak, a multitude of faithful gathered for the grand opening of the Mushegain Family Pavilion under the auspices of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
The benefactors of the pavilion, the Mushegain family consists of two brothers’ families, Tommy and Richard. The older brother, Tommy, could not be present for the opening due to his advanced age. However, Richard Mushegain was present with his wife Lauren, their children and grandchildren.
Richard Mushegain is a businessman who trained as an attorney. He received his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He has been a member of St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena for many years and has devoutly served the many different organizations of the Church.
On that day, the celebrant of the Divine Liturgy was the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. In his homily the Primate praised Mushegain as a faithful Christian, and a devout member of St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena.
The Primate also mentioned that he first met Mushegain in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin in 1999. They had both traveled to attend the enthronement of Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II. At that time, Derderian was the Primate of Canada while Mushegain was representing the Diocesan Council of the Western Diocese.
