Milwaukee Melkite Timeline

1902 - Exarch John Haddad gives monthly missions in Milwaukee.

1905 - Haddad given title "Pastor of the Syrians in Chicago, Milwaukee, etc."

1910 - Father Jock becomes Milwaukee's first appointed Melkite priest.

1911 - Leasing of a Pabst saloon for the "Greek Mission Church."

1914 - Founding of the Syrian-American Men's Club.

1914 - Father Timothy Jock leaves Milwaukee.

1915 - Father Anthony J. Aneed named pastor of St. George Melkite.

1917 - The building of the Church at 17^th and State Streets in Milwaukee.

1919 - Father Aneed writes a history of St. George in Milwaukee & of Eastern Catholics.

1921 - Father Aneed leaves for New London, Connecticut.

1921 - Father Peter Nahas becomes the third pastor of St. George's.

1925 - Building is remodeled with a lengthening of the sanctuary.

1926 - Father Nahas leaves St. George.

1934 - Father Raphael Gedah starts his tenure as pastor of the Milwaukee Community.

1938 - The Milwaukee Syrian-American Club joins the national American Federation of Syrian American Clubs.

1940's - The Syrian community begins to disperse into the suburbs and the melting pot of America.

1955 - Archbishop Peter Chami of Bosra, Syria celebrates the sacraments with St. George.

1960 - Father John Nasser joins St. George as assistant pastor.

1960 - The Syrian Catholic Women's Club is organized in Milwaukee.

1961 - First church Board of Advisors established.

1963 - Father Gedah retires after 29 years as pastor of St. George.

1966 - The church building is closed - declared "unsafe for further use."

1966 - Father Nasser does extensive repairs to building before being re-assigned to another church.

1969 - St. George neighborhood is steep decline - so much so that active parish families number only six.

1970 - Father Ronald Golini named pastor of St. George.

1970 - In Vatican II spirit, St. George re-asserts its Eastern traditions and heritage.

1971 - Interior of the church is completely transformed - removing all "Latin" influences.

1976 - The building is declared a city of Milwaukee landmark.

1976 - Hosts the 17^th annual Melkite convention

1976 - Visited by His Excellency, Patriarch Maximos the Fifth.

1979 - Father Damon Gieger named pastor of St. George.

1980 - Church affliliated with the monastic community of the Most Holy Trinity.

1981 - Deepened sense of prayer life and commitment to the neighborhood

1982 - Father Frank Milienewicz becomes pastor of St. Georges.

1982 - Father Bill Farrell receives his bi-ritual faculties and assists in the parish life.

1983 - Church building undergoes extensive repairs and modernizations.

1986 - Parish marks its seventy-fifth anniversary year.

1987 - Father Paul Frechette named pastor of St. George's.

1991 - Father Cyril Crume named pastor of St. George's.

1992 - The parish celebrates the seventy-fifth anniversary of the church building.

1993 - Father Deacon Dimitri Kamolov named administrator of the church.

1993 - Although without a permanent pastor, the parish is blessed by a number of visiting priests and bi-ritual priests who foster the ongoing community spirit.

1994 - Parish community forms a series of strategic planning committees to ensure survival and growth.

1995 - In August parish launches the first Melkite Internet presence with the St. George Web Pages.

1995 - Father Philaret Littlefield, former Hegumen of Christ Our Savior Monastery in Ohio, named pastor.

1996 - The CyberIcon of St. George of Milwaukee launched onto the Internet.

1997 - Establishment of the "St. George Award" for outstanding service to the community.

1997 - Celebration of the 80^th Anniversary of the Building - Vespers with Melkite Bishop John Elya and Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland.

1998 - Establishment of the "Family to Families" program - service from the family of St. George to the families of Milwaukee

2000 - Extensive redecorating and repainting of the church interior.