Page Updated 10/27/2007

• Friday, June 2, 9:45 PM– Hearing confessions at the Women’s Cursillo, at the St. Basil Salvatorian Center.
• Saturday of the Dead– At the end of the Divine Liturgy in the Seminary Chapel, weather permitting, the short memorial Service for the dead at the St. Basil Cemetery. 5:00 PM – Pentecost Vesper Service at the Chapel.
• Pentecost Sunday, June 4, 9:30 AM – Orthros at St. Basil Seminary Chapel, followed by the Divine Liturgy,
• Monday of the Holy Spirit, 7:30 PM -Celebrating the weekly Cursillo Divine Liturgy at the Salvatorian Center.
• Thursday, June 8, 6:15 PM– Final Session (weekly) of the Life in the Spirit Seminar, at the St. Basil Salvatorian Center.
• Sunday of All Saints, June 11, 9:30 AM– Orthros at St. Basil Seminary Chapel, followed by the Divine Liturgy. Special commemoration of Bishop Justin Najmy of blessed memory, First Exarch of the Melkite Greek Catholics in the United States on his 38th Anniversary (June 11, 1968)  --- PM - Travel to Montreal for the 5th Congress of the Melkite Bishops of America & Oceania, at Villa St. Martin, Quarter Ville, Montreal, QC, Canada, sponsored by Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim, Eparch of Montreal and all Canada, presided by His Beatitude Gregorios III, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem.  8:00 PM – A Recital offered by “La Chorale d’Antioch,” directed by Father Dany Touma, BSO. at St. Viateur Church in Montreal.
• Monday, June 12 through Sunday, June18– Congress of the Melkite Bishops of America & Oceania.
• Monday, June 12, 3:00 PM– First session of the Congress. Discussion and approval of the Schedule.  5:00 PM – Vesper Service with the priests of the Eparchy.
• 7:00 PM – Solemn Opening of the Congress by His Beatitude, at the “Melkite Center of MontreaL, followed by Reception and Dinner.
• Tuesday, June 13, 9:30 AM– 2nd Session of the Congress. “The Experience of the Married priesthood in the countries of Emigration.” Presented by Bishop John Issam Darwish, Melkite Eparch of Australia and New Zealand.  11:00 AM – 3rd Session. “The Revival of Our Pastoral Work.” By myself, Bishop John A. Elya, Eparch Emeritus of Newton.  4:00 PM – 4th Session – “Difficulties in Our Pastoral Work.” By Bishop Fares Maakaroun of Brazil.  6:30 PM – Visit to the Urgel Bourgie Gardens (Cemetery). A short funeral service for our departed brothers: Bishop Sleiman Hajjar, Past Eparch of Montreal; Archimandrite Georges Coriaty of Montreal; Archbishop Ignatius Raad of Saida, Lebanon; Joseph Raya of Haifa & Nazareth; Archimandrite Antoine Mouhanna of Mexico, and Archimandrite André Karamé of Buenas Aires, Argentina.   8:00 PM – Reception and Dinner offered by Mr/Mrs Khalil ElHabre, Consul General of Lebanon in Montreal.
• Wednesday, June 14, 9:30 PM– 5th Session. “Our Relations with the Latin (Roman Catholic) Churches in the Diaspoa.” By Bishop George Kahhale Zouhaitaty of Venezuela, and Archimandrite Gabriel Ghanoum about Mexico.  11:00 PM – 6th Session. “Our Relations with the Eastern Churches in the Diaspora.” By Archbishop Cyril Bustros of Newton, USA.
• Report on the coming “Encounter of the Eastern Catholic Curches of Canada and the United States of America.” By Bishop Nicholas Samra, Auxiliary Emeritus of Newton, USA.  2:30 PM – Travel to Ottawa.  7:00 PM – Vespers at the Church of Sts. Peter & Paul in Ottawa, followed by a Reception in the Church Hall.
• Thursday, June 15, Feast of Corpus Christi, 7:00 PM– Orthros (partial) and Divine Liturgy at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul.  9:00 AM – Visit to the Senate of Canada.  10:30 AM - “A View of our Melkite Church in the world.” By Senator Pierre DeBané. “The Melkite International Foundation, - A Project to Deepen Solidarity among the Melkites of the World.”  12:00 PM – Lunch at the Pontifical Nunciature of Canada. Papal Nuncio: Archbishop Luigi Ventura. Return to Montreal.  
• Friday, June 16, 9:30 AM – 7th Session. “The Translation of Liturgical Texts in English and Spanish.” Presented by His Beatitude the Patriarch.  11:00 AM – 8th Session. “The Melkite International Association.” (Internet). By Bishop Issam John Darwish of Australia & New Zealand.  3:00 PM – “Future Vision of our Melkite Church in the Countries of Emigration.” By Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim of Canada.  6:30 PM– Ground Breaking of the new Cathedral of the St. Sauveur in Montreal. Followed by Reception in the Melkite Center of Montreal.
• Saturday, June 17, 9:30 AM – Final Session. Recommendations and decisions. The Final Report. 6:30 PM – Reception and Dinner in the house of Joseph Chalhoub, Chairman of the Diocesan Pastoral Council of the St. Sauveur Eparchy, and his wife Sandie.
• Sunday, June 18, 12:00 noon – Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with the Parish of St. Sauveur in Montreal at Our Lady of the Angels Church. CONCLUSION OF THE 5TH CONGRESS OF THE BISHOPS OF AMERICA AND OCEANIA.

• Sunday, July 16– Celebrating with Archimandrite Gabriel Ghanoum the Divine Liturgy and the 40th Day Memorial for Archimandrite Antoine Muhanna in Mexico City.
• Wednesday-Sunday, July 19-23– the 42nd National Melkite Convention Sponsored by St. George Church in Birmingham, AL. I will be attending the first part of the Convention, including the daily Divine Liturgy and other liturgical services, the two General Assemblies, workshops and entertainment.
• Sunday, July 23, 9:00 AM– Divine Liturgy at St. Ann in Danbury, CT. Conclusion of the Family Reunion of the Abourjeili Family.  Ordination of Subdeacon Nicholas Bourjaili to the Diaconate.
• Sunday, August 20, 10:00 AM– Divine Liturgy at St. Ann Church in Waterford, CT. Second Anniversary of the Right Rev. Archimandrite Simon Hage, BSO
• Sunday to Thursday, August 20-24– Annual Retreat of the Bishops of New England at Enders Island, Mystic, CT
• Monday, August 28– Travel to Lebanon for the Melkite Annual Synod and for vacation in Maghdoucheh, my hometown, and Deir-El-Moukhalles, my Alma Mater. Return to St. Basil Seminary planned for October 13.

During these seven weeks, I will spend one week at the Melkite Synod in Rabweh (Antelias) and another week or two at the Holy Savior Monastery (Deir-el-Moukhalless, my Alma Mater). The highlight of my stay will be the annual celebration of the Nativity of our Lady on September 8 and the many surrounding festive events. I will make some short visits out of town. Most of my daily schedule will include a morning walk in the hill and valleys surrounding Maghdoucheh and an evening Divine Liturgy at the Miraculous Shrine of Our Lady of Mantara (The Waiting Lady), with individual visits to relatives and friends including all the sick and homebound of the town.

• Sunday, September 3, 10:00 AM– Divine Liturgy in the Church of Our Lady in Maghdoucheh, my hometown in South Lebanon. Memorial Liturgy for my parents Maroun (RIP 12-31-98) & Abla Costa Elia (+8-8-92) and my two bothers Said (+ 6-24-85) & Elia (+ 10-11-04.)
• Friday, September 8– Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos Our Lady of Mantara, Patroness of Maghdoucheh.
• Monday through Friday, October 2-7– Melkite Patriarchal Congress presided by His Beatiitude Gregory III at the Patriarchal Residence in Rabweh (Antelias)
• Friday, October 7– Wedding of my nephew Malek Elia & Cosette Younan at the Church of Our Lady in Maghdoucheh.
• Monday, October 9 to Saturday, October 14– The Annual Synod of the Patriarchal Melkite Greek Catholic Church, at the Patriarchal Summer Residence in Ain-Traz, Aley, Lebanon.

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