Msgr. Stern Addresses Bishops

Introduced by CNEWA Vice President William Cardinal Keeler, Msgr. Robert L. Stern, Secretary General, briefed the United States Catholic bishops about the work of CNEWA on 16 November at their annual meeting in Washington, D.C. It was the first time a secretary general of CNEWA had addressed the bishops about our work.

Earlier that day, CNEWA’s Board of Trustees held its annual meeting, also in Washington.

Holy See Speaks About Jerusalem

At the invitation of His Beatitude, Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Catholic bishops and Orthodox representatives met in Jerusalem on 26 October to discuss the city’s future.

The participants heard Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States, declare that “the sacred character [of Jerusalem] involves Jerusalem in its entirety.

“Israelis and Palestinians…cannot overlook the fact that the city has aspects which go far beyond their legitimate national interests. They therefore have to take these aspects into consideration in looking for and in reaching a solution.”

New Cathedral for Iraq

Associate Secretary General Msgr. Denis J. Madden represented CNEWA at the consecration of the newly completed Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Nareg in Baghdad, Iraq, on 18 October.

CNEWA had assisted in the construction of the cathedral.

Grant to Oriental Library

For the third year in a row, CNEWA has awarded a $50,000 grant for the expansion of the library of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.

The library, which is noted for its collection, is a primary resource for scholars interested in the Eastern churches.

Factory Dedicated

A major accomplishment of our Beirut office was the construction of a cattle feed factory in the Shouf region of Lebanon. The factory will serve six villages and more than 300 farms.

The 8 October dedication in the village of Majdel Meoush was attended by Msgr. Madden, who acted as a representative for CNEWA’s Beirut office.

Knights and Ladies

The status of the peace process in the Holy Land was the topic of Msgr. Madden’s keynote address of the annual meeting and investiture of the Northeastern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem on 7 November in Springfield, Massachusetts.

That same day, Assistant to the Secretary General Brother David Carroll, F.S.C., discussed the responsibilities of the knights and ladies in his address to the Middle Atlantic Lieutenancy in Washington, D.C.

Patriarch Elected

Archbishop Basile Moussa Daoud was elected Syrian Catholic Patriarch of Antioch on 13 October. The new patriarch succeeds 88-year-old Patriarch Ignace Antoine II, who headed his church for 30 years.

Patriarch Moussa comes to the new position with much experience: until 1996 he served for 22 years as Bishop of Cairo and was then appointed Archbishop of Homs, Syria.

Patriarchs Meet in Rome

Pope John Paul II, Patriarch of the West, met with the Catholic patriarchs of the East at the Vatican on 29 September.

When he called together the patriarchs, the Pope said: “You are particularly aware of how this Petrine ministry constitutes ‘a difficulty for most other Christians whose memory is marked by certain painful recollections’ (Ut unum sint, n. 88). I invited the other churches to engage with me in a patient and fraternal dialogue on the ways to exercise this ministry of unity. With much more insistence and affection, I extend this invitation to you, venerable patriarchs of the Eastern churches.”

Good Luck to Our Beauticians

Careers are blossoming in Ethiopia. Three young Ethiopian women have successfully completed their training and are about to launch into new careers as beauticians. We are especially proud of these young women: Negest Kiros, Adanech Amtafawe and Asegedech Amanual grew up in Abune Endreas Orphanage in Dire-Dawa, Ethiopia.

Until they turned 18, they were supported by CNEWA’s benefactors through our Needy Child Sponsorship Program.