Western Diocese

On July 2, on the occasion of the annual convention of the National Apostolate of Maronites, which was held at the Hyatt Regency in Century City, the Primate of the Western Diocese, Abp. Hovnan Derderian, participated in a luncheon welcoming His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. His Eminence was joined by the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Yardemian, Vicar General, and Dn. Matthew Ash.

The Cardinal, in his remarks, warmly welcomed the representatives of the Armenian Church who were in attendance, and proceeded to speak candidly about the esteem in which the Catholic Church holds the Maronite faithful.

For the Western Diocese this was an excellent opportunity to extend the warm greetings of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, who has received Cardinal Sandri at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the past.

The Western Diocese warmly congratulates Fr. Abdallah Zaidan, Rector of Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon-St. Peter Cathedral in Los Angeles, and the organizing committee of the NAM on the success of their convention.