Opening of Mushegain Family Pavilion Celebrated in Pasadena
By Kevork Keushkerian
Translated by Deacon Garen Hamamjian
Pasadena — Grand opening of the Mushegain Family Pavilion at the St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena was held on Oct. 20, under the auspices of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.
The benefactors of the Pavilion were the Mushegain family, consisting 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 an attorney who received his law degree from the University of California Berkley near San Francisco. He has been a member of St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena for many years and has served many different organizations in the Church.
The celebrant of the Divine Liturgy was the Primate who magnified the many virtues of Richard Mushegain as a man, but especially as a faithful Christian, and a devout member of St. Gregory Armenian Church in Pasadena. The Primate also mentioned that he first met Richard Mushegain in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin in 1999. They had both traveled to attend the enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of all Armenians. At that time, Archbishop Derderian was the Primate of Canada while Mushegain was representing the Diocesan Council of the Western Diocese.
Following the Holy Badarak, the Primate, accompanied by Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, Fr. Moushegh Tashjian, and the Mushegain family were led by the Choir with a procession out of the Church toward the Mushegain Family Pavilion.
Afterward, a home-blessing service (Dnorhnek) was conducted at the entrance of the Pavilion, after which The Primate and the Mushegain family cut the ribbon and entered the Pavilion.
There was a brief program led by former chairman of the St. Gregory Parish Council Dr. Kourken Matossian who remembered the Architect of the Pavilion, Sam Yousefian who had recently passed away. Dr. Matossian introduced Mr. Richard Mushegain while noting that he has also served on the Hovsepian School Board as a chairperson for 25 years, as well as chairperson for the Diocesan Council and Parish Council of St. Gregory Armenian Church. Mushegain has also been a board member of the Armenian Assembly of America, representing the western region.
Finally, Dr. Matossian invited St. Gregory Armenian Church’s Parish council Chair, Sarkis Nazerian who commended Moushegain’s work throughout the years. The Hovsepian Armenian School students sang “Pam, Porodan” written by Parsegh Ganachian, as well as “Shogher jan” by Gomidas Vartabed.
Mushegain stated in his remarks, “I am grateful to St. Gregory Armenian Church for giving me the opportunity to serve my community. Thank you also for honoring me today.”