Msgr. Kozar to Lead CNEWA

In June, the Holy See confirmed the election of Msgr. John E. Kozar as president of CNEWA by its board of trustees. In addition, Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Msgr. Kozar as president of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine. Both are effective 15 September 2011.

A priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Msgr. Kozar is finishing ten years of service as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. Before that, he served as the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s development director, diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and director of the Diocesan Jubilee Office, while simultaneously serving as pastor of several parishes.

He will replace Msgr. Robert L. Stern, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, who has served as CNEWA’s chief executive since 1987.

Deacon Kandra to Lead ONE

Greg Kandra has joined CNEWA as the new executive editor of its award–winning bimonthly, ONE magazine.

A deacon of the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, Deacon Greg has spent nearly three decades in broadcast journalism, most of that time at CBS News, where he was a writer and producer for a variety of programs, including “48 Hours,” “60 Minutes II,” “Sunday Morning” and “The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric.” He is also the author of the popular blog, “The Deacon’s Bench,” carried on the spiritual web site, Patheos.

Deacon Greg has received numerous honors, including Emmys, Peabody Awards, prizes from the Writers Guild of America and press awards from the Catholic Press Association.

ONE Wins Once Again!

In June, the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada honored ONE magazine with 10 awards at its annual convention, held this year in Pittsburgh.

ONE received three first–place prizes, including one for Best Analysis and two for Individual Excellence: Senior Editor Christopher Boland and Graphic Designer Daria Erdosy. The magazine also received two second–place awards, including General Excellence and Best General Publisher Website.

The judges, selected from the schools of journalism at Marquette and Loyola (Chicago) universities, described the magazine as having “strong, in depth analysis and profiles that are nearly impossible to quit reading.”

New Head of Syro–Malabar Church

On 24 May, the Syro–Malabar Catholic synod of bishops elected Bishop George Alencherry of Thuckalay, Tamil Nadu, as major archbishop of Ernakulam–Angamaly. Pope Benedict XVI confirmed the election the following day.

Chief among the archbishop’s priorities are “evangelization, greater unity and communion with other churches,” he said. “My aim is to serve with love through dialogue.”

The sixth of 10 children, Archbishop George grew up on a family farm in the village of Thuruthy, Kerala. He has a sister who is a nun and two brothers who are priests.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1972, the archbishop later earned a doctorate in theology from the Catholic Institute in Paris. Prior to his ordination as bishop of Thuckalay in 1997, he served as director of the Pastoral Orientation Center in Cochin, Kerala, which is sponsored by Kerala’s Syro–Malabar, Syro–Malankara and Latin Catholic bishops.

Archbishop George will also serve as a member of CNEWA India’s board of trustees, along with Moran Mar Baselios Cleemis, major archbishop of Trivandrum and head of the Syro–Malankara Catholic Church.

University Honors Msgr. Stern

At 10 June ceremonies marking the graduation of its 35th class, Bethlehem University awarded CNEWA’s president, Msgr. Robert L. Stern, with a Doctorate in Humanities, honoris causa.

“Your leadership, expertise and dedication have led to significantly enhanced support of Bethlehem University — its students, faculty and alumni — and the people of Palestine,” said the university’s vice chancellor, Brother Peter Bray, F.S.C.

“I see highly motivated young men and women who have worked hard and made great sacrifices to be here,” Msgr. Stern said. “I see the mothers and fathers of tomorrow, the teachers and nurses, the guides and business personnel. I see graduates who have learned well the lesson that in unity there is strength. I see in your bright faces and bold hearts the bright future of Palestine.”

This year, more than 770 young men and women, including 52 graduate students, were awarded their diplomas over a two–day period; the ceremonies were divided to accommodate the university’s increasing student body.

New CNEWA Leadership in India

In late May, M.L. Thomas was promoted to CNEWA’s regional director for India, replacing Thomas M. Varghese, now vice president for India and Northeast Africa.

M.L. Thomas first joined CNEWA in 2003, as grants manager for our regional office in Ernakulum. Three years later, he was promoted to programs manager and last year, to deputy regional director.

Previously, Mr. Thomas served on the board of St. Anthony’s High School in Karottukara, Kerala, where he helped coordinate a CNEWA–sponsored expansion project.

CNEWA Adds Outreach Officer

In May, Rev. Dr. Elias D. Mallon joined CNEWA as its education and interreligious affairs officer and will collaborate in the agency’s external relations with intergovernmental and nonprofit organizations, foundations and universities.

A Franciscan Friar of the Atonement, Father Elias holds a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Languages and a Licentiate Degree in Old Testament Studies from the Catholic University of America. He currently serves as a member of the U.N. Israel–Palestine Working Group and regularly addresses audiences at the Council on Foreign Relations, the United States Institute for Peace and the National Catholic Education Association.