Earlier this evening I traveled to St Anthony of the Desert Maronite Church (Fall River, MA) where we served the Melkite Divine Liturgy served by Bishop François Beyrouti, Bishop of Diocese of Newton for the Melkite Catholic Church in the United States and the local Melkite clergy. The Liturgy highlighted the presence of a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis –soon to be canonized– who had the mission for Eucharistic revival. The organizers also curated 150 panels of the Eucharistic miracles around the world.
Tag: Melkite
Blessing of Flowers
Melkite Blessing of Flowers
Dormition of the Holy Theotokos, August 15
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord have mercy.
Priest:
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, you admired the lilies of the fields and asked us to imitate them by putting aside worldly care and depending on your Divine Providence. We ask you to bless these flowers which were offered in honor of your all-holy Mother, the Ever-virgin Mary, on the occasion of her passing to heavenly glory.
Accept, O Lord, these flowers as a sweet fragrance. Fill the hearts of those who offered them and those who will receive them with love for You and your Holy Mother who is also the heavenly mother of us all. And through her intercession, make us worthy to cast off the old man and put on the new man created in your likeness.
For You are the source of all holiness, and to You we render glory and to your Eternal Father and your All-Holy, Good and Living-giving Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.
Amen.
New bishop of the US Melkites
Today, the Melkite Patriarch enthroned Bishop François (Beyrouti), 51, as the new eparchial bishop for the Eparchy of Newton at the Annunciation Cathedral in West Roxbury, MA. His motto is Becoming Disciples, Making Disciples.
Bishop François was ordained bishop last Wednesday, October 12, at the co-cathedral of St Ann in Los Angeles by Patriarch Joseph, Bishop Nicholas and Archbishop Borys Gudziak.
After 11 years of service as bishop of the Eparchy of Newton, Bishop Nicholas retires. He’s served the eparchy with great interest, prayer, pastoral insight and a pastor’s heart.
Prayers for Bishop Francois and the eparchy!
American Melkite Appointed New Secretary at Vatican
VATICAN – Holy Father Francis has appointed Bishop George Demetrio Gallaro as the new Secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches. Published on Tuesday February 25, 2020, at noon Italian time in the Sala Stampa, the former Bishop of the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi di Sicilia was appointed to the rank of titular Archbishop as well.
George Demetrio Gallaro was born on January 16, 1948 in Sizilien Pozzallo, Italy. After his seminarian studies at the seminary of Noto, he moved to the United States and was ordained a priest in 1972 in Los Angeles. He worked as a parish priest in various parishes of the Eastern Rite in the United States, and in 1987 he was incardinated in the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton.
Archbishop Gallaro taught Canon Law at the Melkite Seminary in Massachusetts and he also served as a professor of Canon Law at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, PA. On March 31, 2015 he was named by Pope Francis as a bishop of the Italo-Albanian Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi. He was consecrated a bishop on June 28 by the bishop of Lungro Donato Oliverio as principal consecrator, and the bishops Dimitrios Salachas and Nicholas James Samra as co-consecrators.
Axios!
Pope and Patriarchs
The Pope of Rome received on February 7th, the six Patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic churches: the Maronite, the Chaldean, the Copt, the Syriac, the Melkite and the Armenian. The conversation situated around circumstances of these particular churches in the Middle East.
A CNA article on the event.
Vespers and dinner with Melkite Patriarch Joseph Absi
Tonight I was at Great Vespers then dinner at St Ann Melkite Church (Danbury, CT) presided over by His Beatitude, Patriarch Joseph (Absi) with Bishop Nicholas Samra, Archbishop Nicolas Antiba and Fr Michael Skrocki.
About 125 people were in attendance. Several from the Latin Church but others from Eastern Churches including the Ruthenian and Maronite.
The Patriarch spoke of the universality of the Melkite Church. After all, it was in Syria that the followers of Jesus were called Christian.
It was a beautiful evening!
Joseph Absi new Melkite Patriarch
Archbishop Joseph Absi, Patriarchal Vicar for Damascus, has been elected as the new Melkite Patriarch. Axios!
His Beatitude succeeds Patriarch Gregory.
The new Patriarch celebrated his 71st birthday yesterday. He is 44 years a priest and 15 years a bishop and a member of the Melkite Paulist Order.
His Beatitude is an American citizen, since 1990. His mother and older brother live in California.
Eis pollá eti Déspota!
Patriarchs Gregory and John meet
The annual Synod of Bishops of the Melkite Church just finished meeting. The Melkite bishops from around the world meet together each year for some time in prayer, discussions on theology, liturgy, canonical process and the election of bishops. This year the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, John X, met with Melkite Patriarch Gregory III –a historic meeting.
The Melkites in the USA are governed by Bishop Nicholas J. Samra (of the Eparchy of Newton) and the Antiochian Orthodox Church is awaiting a new head of church since their Metropolitan Philip Saliba died not long ago. The new metropolitan is expected to be announced late next week.
Saint Peter and Paul, pray for us.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us.
Apostles’ Fast 2013
Recently on the Sunday of All Saints (26 May 2013) –the Byzantine Church observes a different feast of All Saints than do the Latin Christians– the Eparch (the Greek word for bishop) of the Melkites in the in the USA, Bishop Nicholas James Samra wrote to his people about preparing for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29. Yes, some Catholics do make preparations for other feasts!
One of the reasons I am drawing our attention to this matter is two-fold: 1.) being Catholic is more than merely following the Latin Church’s disciple — we can learn from others; and 2.) the discipline of those who belong to Christ is more than merely praying, fasting, and almsgiving for selfish reasons, that is, these spiritual activities are to break open our spiritual capacities. Remember what John Paul taught: Christians breathe with two lungs.
The liturgical feast of Ss. Peter and Paul is traditionally preceded by a period of concerted prayer and fasting. These saints –indeed, all of the apostles– are the pillars of our Church. In times past the period of fasting was significant while today it is much modified. The controlling idea is that before an important feast of the Lord, the Mother of God and some saints, the faithful are encouraged to prepare themselves to receive God’s graces in a worthy manner. We prepare by getting rid of sin and living virtuously: corporal and spiritual works of mercy are good things to do.
Bishop Nicholas recalls for us that the Monday after Sunday of All Saints the Byzantine Church begins a time of prayer and fasting leading us to the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul on 29 June. But now the preparation is modified to 10 days by the Melkite Synod of Bishops. Fittingly, the bishop notes: “We are given this “Apostles Fast” in order to fan into flame the grace of the Holy Spirit within us and to reflect upon the hardships endured by the Apostles as they preached Divine grace and truth to the world.”
Faith needs to be connected with reality. This is the context in which God acts. Several things in our own lives can and ought to be connected with life. Bishop Nicholas indicates that one good way to extrovert our faith by having some sense human ecology on the spiritual level is remember those suffering the effects of the war in Syria. Certainly, we pray for all but special attention to be paid to the Catholics and Orthodox peoples.
Hence, the proposal is to begin our spiritual discipline on June 19. I recommend that you make a confession of sin and receive Holy Communion, pray for the Pope’s intention for June, and name the intentions. Select a charitable organization to to make a donation of funds.
Perhaps we can also use the Apostles’ Fast to pray for those living with cancer. I am thinking of my friend Jesuit Father Edward Oakes who is in need of a miracle due to his recent diagnosis of Type 4 pancreatic and liver cancer.
Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us.
Melkite Patriarch wants to work for peace, denounces recent terrorist explosions
The violence in Syria doesn’t seem to end, the dignity persons disrespected. Recent terrorist explosions in Damascus’ Mazraa district left 53 dead and 235 injuredand caused extensive damage, particularly to a school and a hospital.
Melkite Patriarch Gregory III issued a statement on February 21st. I recommend to your prayers His Beatitude’s intentions and leadership, and to work for peace in your own particular context.
He calls for an end of providing weapons to the warring factions.
Read the full Statement of Patriarch Gregory 21 February 2013.pdf
In short he said,
- We extend our appeal to Russia and the United States of America to continue their sincere efforts to support progress towards dialogue and a comprehensive political solution. The patience of Syrians is exhausted: their suffering is exacerbated in every detail of their daily life.
- We ask His Holiness the Pope and leaders of the Holy Apostolic See of Rome to launch a diplomatic initiative of the Catholic Church based on its global spiritual influence.
- We turn once more especially to our faithful of the Patriarchal Eparchy of Damascus, inviting them to fast and pray during this period of Great Lent for security and peace in Syria and for the success of efforts for dialogue and reconciliation.