Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more… I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God].
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.’ (Rev 21:1,3-4)
In CNEWA’s founding documents, both in the letter of the Congregation for the Eastern Church, 10 March 1926, and in the letter of the secretary of state, 11 March 1926, Pope Pius XI established Catholic Near East Welfare Association under the direction of the archbishop of New York.
This year, CNEWA celebrates its 100th anniversary. We take this opportunity to mark a moment of historic transition in the governance of CNEWA. We express our profound gratitude to His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan for his nearly 17 years of service as the chair of CNEWA’s International Board of Trustees. His leadership has been marked by apostolic zeal and love for the first and most ancient Catholic churches in their places of origin.
Over the years, motivated by his pastoral zeal, he has visited many of the locations where CNEWA serves, including India, Iraq, Lebanon, Ukraine, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Palestine. Often these visits were made under very difficult circumstances. Cardinal Dolan, thank you!
On 6 February, Archbishop Ronald Hicks, formerly bishop of Joliet, Illinois, was installed as the 11th archbishop of New York, becoming chair of CNEWA’s International Board of Trustees. We offer him our prayers, our loyalty and our support. We look forward to his leadership, his wise and prudent counsel, and his prayers. Archbishop Hicks, welcome!
As this issue of ONE was going to press — and the hope for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza started to take root — the situation in the Middle East, where CNEWA works, was plunged into yet another crisis with the Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran on 28 February, and Iran’s retaliation throughout the Arab world, putting the lives of tens of millions of people in peril.
My thoughts went immediately to our staff on the ground at our offices in Beirut, Jerusalem and Amman, and to their families and the people they serve. Their heroic work among those in need is an extraordinary and living witness to the Gospel and to the mission of CNEWA. I ask that you join me in praying for them and for the immediate return to dialogue, diplomacy, justice and peace.
CNEWA was founded as a Gospel response to the geopolitical crises of the early 20th century. Today, 100 years later, the mission of CNEWA is still much needed, perhaps now more than ever.
This issue of ONE will look back at CNEWA’s founding with the first article of a yearlong series by Michael J. La Civita, executive editor of ONE and director of communications and marketing, that will mark CNEWA’s centennial. Mr. La Civita, who has been serving CNEWA for more than three decades, will trace CNEWA’s major milestones and the ways in which CNEWA has responded to the changing needs of the Eastern churches, impacted by the significant shifts in the regions where CNEWA works.
This issue also includes a report on the near collapse of the health care network in Gaza; the commitment of the church in Ukraine to form lay leaders and professionals in the shadow of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine; the work of the Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara Catholic churches in health care and social services in southern India, despite the growing affluence in the region; and a feature on the enormously popular Shrine of St. Charbel in Lebanon and its patron, a monk of international renown.
As with previous issues, ONE also has planned features for publication online only, namely on the increasing daily challenges of Ukrainians under ongoing Russian attacks, and the growing devotion to the Rev. Miklos Soja, a Hungarian Greek Catholic priest, whose life was dedicated to the pastoral care of the Gypsy community in eastern Hungary, by Laura Ieraci, editor of ONE.
My column in December 2025 offered reflections on how we might approach the centennial. My hope is that we will remain open to the movement of the Spirit, the intercession of the Virgin Mary, and God’s daily graces to guide our journey, our partnerships and our strategies. My hope in this 100th year is that we will remain open and strive to broaden the opportunities to build a culture of encounter and dialogue on ecumenical and interfaith levels.
My heartfelt prayer is that the Scripture passage from the Book of Revelation quoted above will provoke a deep passion within each of us to be agents of healing and hope in realizing that God’s dwelling is with us! God dwells with us, here and now, today!
Are we not called to be God’s missionary servants in wiping away the tears of those who suffer and live in fear: victims of war, religious persecution or natural disasters; migrants, refugees and the internally displaced; those in need of health care, psychosocial counseling or education, and victims of human trafficking in any of its pernicious forms?
Permit me to share with you some events we have planned later this year to mark our centennial:
13 December: Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, 10:15 a.m.
15 December: CNEWA Centennial Gala Dinner. The guest of honor will be Frà John Dunlap, 81st grand master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. CNEWA’s Faith & Culture Award recipient will be Her Excellency Sister Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and president of the Governorate of Vatican City State. The gala will be held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
With my gratitude and prayers for your support of the mission of CNEWA/PMP!
Peter I. Vaccari
President