Cardinal OConnor Honored
Marking the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, John Cardinal O’Connor, Archbishop of New York and President of CNEWA, was honored at a dinner in Rome on 6 March. The affair was hosted by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, Achille Cardinal Silvestrini, who expressed his gratitude for Cardinal O’Connor’s long-time support of the Eastern churches, as President of CNEWA and in his personal initiatives.
CNEWA Family Members Mourned
We recently suffered the loss of two CNEWA-PMP family members: Kelvin Andrew Dougan, our Director of Accounting, and Margaret (Peggy) Cleary, a long-time donor and dear friend.
A quiet gentle comrade and a dedicated employee, Kelvin died on 14 April. For many years, Peggy, who died on 18 March, volunteered in our New York office.
Both Kelvin and Peggy were generous donors. Both sponsored children in need. Both will be greatly missed. May God bless them for their goodness.
A New Avenue for Donations
Federal workers and military personnel should note that CNEWA will participate in the 1996 Combined Federal Campaign. CNEWA will be included in the list sent to all federal civilian and uniformed service personnel for contributions to private voluntary organizations. This marks our first participation in the campaign, which is conducted from 1 September to 15 December.
Hungarian Eparch Visits CNEWA
On 12 February, the Most Rev. Szilard Keresztes, the Byzantine Catholic Bishop of Hajdudorog, Hungary, met with CNEWA’s senior staff to discuss the needs of the Byzantine Catholic Church in Hungary.
Among the topics reviewed was St. Athanasius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Nyiregyhaza, where more than 60 seminarians from Central and Eastern Europe are in formation. More than 40 are sponsored through our sponsorship program.
Spreading the Word
In mid-February, Brother David Carroll, F.S.C., the Assistant to the Secretary General, spoke about the world and work of CNEWA at each of the Masses celebrated at the Aquinas Center of Purdue University, in Lafayette, Ind.
In April, Msgr. Robert L. Stern and Brother David spoke in Chicago at the investiture ceremonies for the Northwestern Lieutenancy of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre. While there, Brother David took the opportunity to meet with donors and friends in the area to update them on projects their generosity has made possible.
Liturgical Guidelines Published
Citing the work as “a major effort” of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, Msgr. Stern announced that the Congregation has published a new book on the Eastern Catholic liturgies. The volume, entitled “Instruction for the Application of the Prescribed Liturgies of the Code of Canons of the Oriental Church,” provides guidelines for liturgical worship in the Eastern Catholic churches.
Cardinal Silvestrini had disclosed publication of the book at the ROACO meetings in Rome in January.
Eritrean Church
The newly consecrated Eritrean Catholic Bishop of Keren, Abuna Tesfamariam Bedho, was installed on 11 February in a three-and-a-half-hour-long Liturgy of Enthronement in Keren. Abuna Zekarias Yohannes, Bishop of Asmara, and Abuna Luca Milesi, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop of Barentu, concelebrated.
Brother Donald Mansir, F.S.C., Chief Overseas Operations Officer, and Brother Vincent Pelletier, F.S.C., Director of our Addis Ababa office, also attended.
CNEWA has provided significant support in revitalizing the Eritrean Catholic Church, particularly after Eritrea’s peaceful declaration of independence in 1993.
News from Damascus
The Director of our Beirut Office, Issam Bishara, met with Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, in Damascus, Syria, on 17 February.
Mr. Bishara discussed the ecumenical work of CNEWA and the Pontifical Mission, and His Holiness expressed his pleasure and gratitude for our help and solidarity. The present situation in Iraq was also discussed and Mr. Bishara presented the Patriarch with a generous gift to help Iraqi refugees in Syria.