Vatican City (Fides Service) - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples has appointed (14 February 2003) National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Syria, Reverend Father Julius Baghdassarian for a five year term 2003-2008.
Rev. Baghdassarian was born at Alep in Syria on 28 October 1957. He attended school in Alep and then trained for the priesthood in Lebanon at St Anne's seminary, Holy Spirit University, Kaslik and St Paul's Institute Harissa. He was ordained a priest on 29 April 1984 and has since been: assistant priest; priest in charge of St Joseph's church, used by Catholics and Orthodox Christians; scout leader; bursar general; deputy head of Amal school; head of Al Wouroud school; head of Kassab-Lattaquieh holiday centre; bursar for the Greek-Catholic archbishop of Alep, aide to Fr Dick, former National Director PMS. (Fides Service 20/2/2003 EM lines 11 Words: 150)