The first Melkite Greek Catholic community in the United States was formed in New York in 1889 and the second in Chicago in 1890, as far as we know. The centennial of the presence of the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church in the United States was celebrated on the occasion of the 32nd Convention in July 1990 in West Paterson, New Jersey.
The first Melkite Greek Catholic church was acquired in 1902 in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
The eparchy includes believers from all over the Middle East, who settled in five successive waves in the course of the twentieth century: after the first and second world wars, following the formation of the State of Israel in 1948, after the nationalization of private property in Egypt, and finally since the Lebanese crisis.
The present eparchy was initially an apostolic exarchate, whose first exarch was Bishop Justin Najmy, appointed on January 27, 1966, after 18 years of service as pastor of the parish of Central Falls, Rhode Island.
After the death of Bishop Najmy on June 11, 1968, Archbishop Joseph Tawil replaced him as the apostolic exarch of all the Greek Catholic Melkites of the United States, appointed on October 31, 1969 and inducted on May 14, 1970 .
Finally, on June 28, 1976, Archbishop Tawil became the first eparch of our Church in the United States. Since then, progress has not ceased, both in terms of the number of faithful, priests, deacons, friends of other churches, and spiritual, socio-cultural and spiritual impact. the concern of the younger generations.
Repeated visits by the eparchy and the Patriarch Maximos V, very concerned from the outset of his Patriarchate with the future of our Church and our faithful in the Diaspora, and the regularity of the “Convention” cement the unity of our Church.
On November 2, 2008, under the presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III, was celebrated the centenary Jubilee of the Eparchial Cathedral of the Annunciation in Newton.
List of Apostolic Exarchs and Eparchies since 1966:
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.
1966-1968: Justin Najmy, Apostolic Exarch, Titular Bishop of Augustopolis of Phrygia
1969-1976: Joseph Tawil, Apostolic Exarch, Titular Archbishop of Myre
1976-1989: Joseph Tawil, first eparque (archbishop-bishop) of Newton
1986-1993 : Most Rev. Fr. John Adel Elya, Auxiliary Bishop, Titular Bishop of Abila of Lysanie
1989-2005: H.E. Bishop Nicolas James Samra, auxiliary bishop, titular bishop of Gerasa
1989-1992: Ignace Ghattas, eparch
1994-2004: Most Rev. Fr. John Adel Elya, eparch
2004-2010: H.E. Bishop Cyrille Salim Bustros, ecclesiastical (archbishop-bishop)
2010-2022: H.E. Bishop Nicholas James Samra (appointed Auxiliary Bishop April 21, 1989; retired 2005; appointed Eparch June 15, 2011 – October 19, 2022)
2022-till now: Bishop Francois Beyrouti (October 19, 2022 – present; elected June 23, 2022, by the Melkite Synod and announced August 20, 2022 Patriarch Joseph Absi).[33]; episcopal consecration 12 October 2022, St Anne Melkite Greek-Catholic Co-Cathedral North Hollywood, LA)
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.
General Statistics:
Approximate number of faithful: 30.000
Number of priests: 67 (54 eparchies including 6 retired, 13 religious including 3 retired)
Deacons: 54 (25 of Oriental origin, 29 Americans)
Finally, 35 Latin priests and two Maronites, having obtained bi-ritualism, help pastoral needs.
Grand Seminary Saint Gregorios, Newton, MA – Rector: Archimandrite Philip Raczka.
Administration of the eparchy:
protosyncellus: Exarch Joseph S. Haggar
Sophia Press Fax : 617-323-0692
Dr. Frances Colie (Winter) : 954-571-9217,
(Summer) : 732-280-0262 ; Cell : 201-417-380
Saidé Dagher Fax : 617-323-0944
Emeritus Eparch:
Most Rev. Fr. John Adel Elya,
30 East Street
Methuen, MA 01844
Tel. : 978-683-2471 / 617-290-7315
Fax : 978-794-3452
E-mail: bpjohn3@aol.com
Eparchial Bishop:
Most Rev. Nicholas J. Samra, Bishop of Newton
32406 Barclay Square
Warren, MI 48093
Tel: 586-756-1971 – 586-268-3241
Fax: 586-756-1976
E-mail: nsamra@prodigy.net
Most Rev. Exarch Joseph Haggar
protosyncellus
Tel: 401-722-1345
Fax: 401-722-2436
Address:
111 Cross Street
80 Hamilton Street
Central Falls, RI 02863
Most Rev. Gerasimos Murphy
Judicial Vicar
Tel: 352-683-7637
E-mail : gtmnashua@att.net
Address :
6458 Tapestry Circle
Spring Hill, FL 34606
Most Rev. Deacon Paul J. Leonarczyk
Chancellor
Tel: 603-361-9202
Fax: 603-644-2371
E-mail: paulleonarczyk@aol.com
Address:
677 Howe Street
Manchester, NH 03103
Most Rev. Deacon Robert Shalhoub
General Treasurer
Tel: 973-477-7874 (church)
973-785-2433 (office)
Fax: 908-276-8207
E-mail: robertshalhoub@optonline.net
Address:
802 Rifle Camp Road
West Paterson, NJ 07424