The Church’s Hometown
Archbishop Renato Martino, the Vatican’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, told an audience at Fordham University in April that the basis for the Holy See’s “special diplomacy” was a genuine and deep concern for all persons, regardless of religion or nationality.
“…For us the Holy land is our homeland, our country of origin; Jerusalem is the Church’s hometown … our brothers and sisters still live in these places.”
Archbishop Martino was a guest of Fordham University’s Middle East Studies Program which is in part funded by Catholic Near East.
Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Dies
Paul II Cheiko, the Catholic Patriarch of Babylonia of the Chaldeans, died in Iraq on April 13 at the age of 82.
The patriarch left behind “an example of great piety and pastoral zeal,”said the pope in a telegram to Chaldean-rite Catholics.
A Visitor from Syria
In June Catholic Near East was honored by a visit from the Grand Mufti of Syria, His Eminence, Sheik Ahmad Kaftaro. The Grand Mufti is the national spiritual leader and political advisor for Sunni Muslims in Syria.
Sheik Kaftaro spoke warmly and simply of our shared belief in one God. The point of his conversation, and of his visit, was to urge all believers to stand together in confrontation of the growing materialism and indifference to God in our changing world.
Canadian Bishops Urge Action
The Canadian Catholic Bishops urged the Canadian Government to step up efforts to help end the bloody conflict in Lebanon.
The bishops strongly encouraged the community to “deploy all diplomatic efforts that might contribute to the immediate halt of these bombardments and give rise to a new effort of reconciliation.”
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Teaching the Teachers
Last March Catholic Near East participated at the National Catholic Education Association’s annual convention. Our Association staffed a booth at the Chicago gathering where resource materials were distributed to thousands of participants from the United States and Canada.
Part of Catholic Near East’s increasing commitment to education includes the establishment of a Speaker’s Bureau for schools, colleges, universities, churches, and other organizations interested in the Middle East, India, Ethiopia, and the Eastern-rite Churches.
New Video on Palestinian Church
As an expression of solidarity with Palestinian Christians, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has produced a 60-minute documentary on the living Church in the Holy Land.
“Built of Living Stones” shares the story of the 125,000 Palestinian Christians’ struggle for survival. This new video will introduce viewers to our sisters and brothers living in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Galilee, Nazereth, and other towns throughout this ancient land.
Search for Peace
As President of Catholic Near East, Cardinal O’Connor traveled to war-torn Lebanon in May primarily to boost the morale of all Lebanese, both Muslims and Christians. The brief trip was a success in that the Cardinal brought hope to these afflicted people, while generating greater world attention to the country’s 14 year old civil war.
“The last time I was there I saw such confusion, lack of direction and not much hope … This time, there was a tremendous amount of hope and determination, especially among the students.”
We’re Number 1!
The Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada awarded Catholic Near East magazine 1st Place-General Excellence for the mission magazine category. Awards for best cover and photography were also received at the CPA meeting in Baltimore, Maryland this past year.
Fact Finding Mission
A committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops is drafting a statement on the Middle East for the Conference. Archbishops Roger M. Mahoney and William H. Keeler traveled in July to Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt with two members of Catholic Near East’s staff.
“A distinctive part of our trip was the gratitude expressed by the local Christian communities in each country for the concern expressed with our visits with them,” Archbishop Mahoney, chairman of the committee said. The group visited with church leaders, public officials, and private citizens in each country.
The statement is expected to be released in November.