Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (Latin: Eparchia Neotoniensis Graecorum Melkitarum) is a Melkite Greek Catholic Church ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church. The eparchy is named for Newton, Massachusetts, and encompasses the entire United States. There are, however, currently about fifty Melkite parishes, missions, and "outreaches," in about two dozen states.
The first large wave of Melkite immigration from the Middle East to the United States took place in the late 19th century, and the first American Melkite Catholic church was established in the 1890s. Because there was no diocesan structure for Melkite Catholic faithful in the United States at the time, Melkite parishes were individually under the jurisdiction of the local Latin Church diocesan bishop.[1]
As the Melkite Catholic presence in the United States reached 70 years, to serve the faithful the Holy See erected an apostolic exarchate on January 10, 1966, with the title Apostolic Exarchate of United States of America, Faithful of the Oriental Rite (Melkite).[2] Archmandrite Justin Najmy (1898–1968), pastor of St. Basil the Great Church then in Central Falls, Rhode Island, (the parish is now in Lincoln, Rhode Island), was appointed as the first Exarch by Pope Paul VI on January 27, 1966.[3]
After Bishop Najmy's death in 1968, Archbishop Joseph Tawil, the Patriarchal Vicar of Damascus, was appointed Najmy's successor in October 1969, in a procedure the Patriarch described as a compromise.[4]
On June 28, 1976, the Exarchate was elevated to the status of an eparchy.[3][5] with the title Eparchy of Newton, and Archbishop Tawil became the first Eparch.
While the descendants of the earlier waves of Melkite immigrants to the U.S. became increasingly assimilated into American culture, the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries saw, for a variety of reasons (e.g., economic, sectarian), new waves of Melkite immigrants hailing from traditional Middle-eastern homelands.[6][circular reference][7][circular reference][8][circular reference] Additionally, within the U.S., many older generations of Melkites began to retire and moving to Sun Belt states. These two phenomena help account for the growth of new Melkite missions and "outreaches." In some well established Melkite parishes new waves of immigrants saw a resurgence in Arabic, over English, as the primary liturgical language.
The seat of the Eparchy is Our Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral in the West Roxbury section of Boston. The main offices of the eparchial curia (e.g, protosyncellus, chancellor) are located adjacent to the cathedral.
The Eparchy is named for the Boston suburb of Newton, where its offices and the bishop's residence had been located until Bishop John Elya sold to private developers two of the three major eparchial properties in the Boston area. In 2015, Pope Francis designated Saint Anne Church in Los Angeles as a co-cathedral.[9] It is often home to Bishop Samra for several months of the year as he visits the Melkite churches in the western portion of the United States.
The eparchy has jurisdiction over all the Melkite faithful in the United States, and there are parishes, missions, "outreaches," and the like, in twenty-one states, none outside of the continental U.S.[10] Most Melkite communities are concentrated in a handful of states or geographic regions (e.g., California, New England, Michigan, Ohio, Greater New York City metropolis). While the eparchy lists the number of parishes as 43, the additional missions and "outreaches" bring the total of Melkite communities in the U.S. to almost 50, each varying in size and level of vitality.
According to a research study published in Sociology of Religion, there were approximately 120,000 Melkites residing in the country in 1986,[11] although only about 24,000 were formally enrolled in Melkite parishes.[12] In 2013 there were 24,000 Melkite Catholics in 43 parishes. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reports that, as of 2018, there were 21,691 registered Melkites in the U.S., ranking it among the smallest 25% of Eastern Catholic groups.[13] As of August 29, 2022, Bishop Nicholas Samra stated that there are about 36,000 registered Melkites with over 100,000 more of whom we do not know.[14] The number of active Melkites is considered to be significantly lower, as it the case with most other religious groups, especially highly-ethnic denominations.[15][16][17] The discrepancy between a large number of canonical Melkites in the U.S. and the relatively small number of Melkite parishes, as well as decreasing numbers of attendees in many of those parishes, suggest to some that Melkites are assimilating into other denominations or, perhaps, not affiliating at all.[18] In fact, anecdotal evidence suggests that many Melkites whose first language is English become members of their local Roman Catholic parish. Some Lebanese and Lebanese-American Melkites have migrated to the Maronites. Other Melkites whose first language is Arabic migrate to Greek Orthodox and Antiochian churches. A few others, especially in larger metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, assimilate into Arabic-speaking Mainline Protestant or Evangelical denominations. Many, especially younger, Melkites are "Nones".
In 1975, Archbishop Tawil founded a seminary program for the eparchy, after the Basilian Salvatorian Fathers—a religious order separate from the eparchy with a superior of their own and who had originally been charged with the formation of Melkite eparchial clergy—closed their program in Methuen, Massachusetts. Salvatorian students subsequently enrolled at Weston School of Theology, then in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Eparchial students matriculated at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts and received supplemental instruction from eparchial clergy. Both Weston and Holy Cross were members of the Boston Theological Institute, as it was known then.
In 1976, the eparchy purchased a house in Newton Centre, Massachusetts as a residence and house of studies for its seminarians, and named it St. Gregory Seminary.[19] Eventually, Bishop John Elya sold the complex—along with the former chancery offices and bishop's residence in West Newton—to a private developer, at which time the chancery and bishop's residence relocated to an area adjacent to the cathedral.
Following ancient Christian tradition the eparchy counts among its clergy both celibate and married priests and deacons.[20]
Most celibate eparchial clergy study at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh. Most of the married clergy study at various other Catholic schools of theology prior to their presbyteral ordinations.
The Judicial vicar/Tribunal is co-located with ST. Joseph Melkite Church in Lansing, Michigan
The Economos is located at the chancery office.
Office of Educational Services is currently vacant.
Sophia Press publishes liturgical and prayer books, as well as biographies, histories, and other texts of Melkite interest.[21]
OES Publications publishes booklets for sacramental preparation and spiritual development.[22]
Sophia is the quarterly magazine of the eparchy.[23]
The office of the eparchial Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC) is contacted via a toll free number.
The vocation office is co-located at St John Chrysostom parish in Atlanta, Georgia.
There is a periodic national convention generally hosted by a Melkite parish, the last one held in July 2024 in Quincy, Massachusetts. The next convention is expected to be held in Ohio in 2026. Other eparchial groups (e.g., NAMY, see below) often hold national gatherings shortly before the national convention. There is also an annual clergy conference.
Bishop Ignatius Ghattas founded the Order of Saint Nicholas in 1991, a regional lay order attached to the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton.[24] This program is a revitalization during Bishop Samra's tenure.
Melkite Ambassadors is an organization for those in their mid-20s to aged 40. It is for those "who want to participate in advocacy, catechesis mentorship, community life, community service, leadership development, and prayer."[25]
Melkite Association of Young Adults (MAYA) is social and spiritual group for those who are aged 18 and at least one year out of high school to their mid-20s. This group is active at the local parish level and nationally when conventions are held.[26]
National Association of Melkite Women (NAMW) is open to any female aged 17 and older. This group supports Melkite seminarians and vocations.[27]
National Association of Melkite Youth (NAMY) is a "religious, social, educational, humanitarian" group for Melkite youth aged 13 to 18.[28]
Society of Publicans is a fellowship of Melkite faithful united in daily prayer.[29]
Bishop Najmy through Archbishop Bustros all hailed from the Middle East, with Bishop Samra being the only American-born bishop. Bishop Beyrouti was born in Lebanon but raised in Canada.
There is a community of the Basilian Salvatorian Order in Methuen, Massachusetts, with their own regional superior for the U.S. and Canada. There are currently several Basilian clergy serving in parishes of the eparchy. A community of religious sisters, the Community of the Mother of God of Tenderness, is based in Danbury, Connecticut.
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