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Our World

Stories and events from around the world of CNEWA.

Armenian Patriarch Dies

Archbishop Yegishe Derderian, the Armenian Apostolic Patriarch of Jerusalem, died in his home in the Old City, Jerusalem, on February 1.

The Patriarch of Jerusalem is the spiritual leader of the 8,000 Armenian Apostolic Christians in Israel, Jordan and Palestine.

Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, was named acting patriarch. Archhishop Manoogian led American relief efforts for Soviet Armenia following the earthquake in December 1988.

U.N. Adopts Bishops Tract

The U.S. bishop’s handling of Palestinian issues in their recent Middle East statement, “Toward Peace in the Middle East: Perspectives, Principles and Hopes,” was adopted as an official document of the United Nations General Assembly.

Archbishop Renato R. Martino, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, stated that this was the first document by a national conference of Catholic bishops to be recognized as such. The document was issued at the United Nations January 18.

Underground Rite Emerges

For the first time in more than 40 years, bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church participated in discussions with Russian Orthodox officials concerning their once outlawed faith.

Five bishops, all secretly ordained, were invited to attend the January 13-57 meetings between Vatican and Russian Orthodox delegations in Moscow.

“I am confident,” said Cardinal Myroslav Lubachivsky, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in exile, “that these talks will continue in a spirit of justice, reconcili¬ation and Christian love.”

Promoting Vocations in India

In an effort to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life in Kerala, S. India, the Carmelite Fathers of Mary Immaculate have started the Life Guidance & Vocation Promotion Centre.

The center, which is partially funded by Catholic Near East Welfare Association, purchased audio visual equipment to interview and record the daily life of priests and religious.

The program plans to use these films in its formation classes and development camps for prospective candidates to religious life.

Relations Restored

The Government of Hungary formally restored diplomatic relations with the Vatican February 9. The government also nullified its 40-year-old decree which restricted the numbers of seminaries and the activities of religious orders.

Msgr. Stern Honored by Patriarch

Archbishop Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, invested Msgr. Robert L. Stern as an Honorary Canon of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre and a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre on Dec. 23, 1989, in the Old City.

The Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre support and maintain the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

New Melkite Eparch

Ignatius Ghattas, B.S.O., was ordained bishop for the Melkite Eparchy of Newton, Mass., by Melkite Patriarch Maximos V Hakim on Feb. 23.

Bishop Ignatius was born in Nazareth, Israel, joined the Basilian Salvatorian Fathers in Lebanon, and since 1952 has been pastor of St. Elias Melkite community in Cleveland, Ohio.

Bishop Ghattas replaces Archbishop Joseph Tawil, who served as the eparchy’s first bishop since its institution in 1976. The Eparchy of Newton serves an estimated 26,000 Melkite Catholics in the United States.

Eastern Europe Needs God

According to Pope John Paul II, the collapse of Eastern Europe’s communist regimes proves that society built on atheism cannot progress without God. The pope made the comments during a January audience in the Vatican.

“On one hand we are watching the collapse of human projects that explicitly excluded every reference to God, while on the other hand we see new evidence of a deep thirst for the word of God,” he said.

Ecumenical First in Middle East

Australian Archbishop Edward Cassidy was appointed by Pope John Paul II to lead the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. He succeeds Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, the Vatican’s chief ecumenist for more than 20 years.

In another appointment, Msgr. Pierre Duprey, Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, was ordained a bishop by his Holiness, Pope John Paul II.

New Head for Ecumenism

Australian Archbishop Edward Cassidy was appointed by Pope John Paul II to lead the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. He succeeds Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, the Vatican’s chief ecumenist for more than 20 years.

In another appointment, Msgr. Pierre Duprey, Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, was ordained a bishop by his Holiness, Pope John Paul II.

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