The Melkite Catholic Bishops in the Countries of Emigration are preparing for their Second Congress. Hosted and presided by the Most Reverend Georges Kahhale Zuhairati,BAO, Melkite Catholic Exarch of Venezuela, this Second Congress will be held at St. George Melkite Cathedral in Caracas from April 27 through May 3, 1998. The honorary chairman will be His Excellency Leonardo Sandri, Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela. The Organizing chairman will be the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jose H. Sanchez Porras, the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela. Participants of this Second Congress will include the Melkite hierarchs of the countries of emigration where an official Melkite Catholic jurisdiction is established: Brazil, the United States, Canada, Australia, Venezuela and Mexico. Participants from the Middle East will include the Most Reverend Archbishop John Mansour, Patriarchal Vicar in Lebanon and the Right. Rev. Archimandrite Salim Ghazal, BSO, Superior General of the Basilian Salvatorian Order.

Sunday, April 26 through Sunday, May 3 - Second Congress of the Melkite Bishops of the Emigration in Caracas, Venezuela, hosted by H. E. Bishop George Kahhale Zouhairaty, Melkite Apostolic Exarchate of Venezuela.

Monday, April 27, 10:00 AM - Opening of the Congress of the Melkite Bishops of the Emigration at the Melkite Cathedral of St. George in Caracas. 3:30 PM - First lecture: "Diversity and Richness of the Eastern Rites," by Bishop John A. Elya All the lectures will take place at the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela, Caracas. 5:00 PM - "The Future of the Melkite Church in the Countries of Emigration," by Bishop Boutros Mouallem, Melkite Metropolitan of Brazil.

Tuesday, April 28, 9:30 AM - "The Youth and the Future of our Community," by Bishop Issam Darwich, Melkite Metropolitan of Australia. 11:00 AM - "The Socio-Cultural Future of our Community," by Archbishop Michel Hakim, Melkite Metropolitan of Canada. 3:30 PM - "Liturgy and Pastoral," by Bishop Nicholas Samra, Auxiliary of Newton. 5:00 PM - "The Youth and the Arabic Culture," by Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, Patriarchal Vicar Emeritus of Jerusalem and Apostolic Visitor for the Melkite Catholics in Europe.

Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 AM - "Priestly Vocations of the Eastern Catholics in the Countries of Emigration," by Archimandrite Antoine Mouhanna, Administrator of the Melkite Eparchy in Mexico. 11:00 AM - "The Youth and the Organization of the Eastern Catholic Parish," by Archimandrite Theophile Kabbabe, BAO, Vicar General of the Eastern Region of Venezuela. 3:30 PM - "Preparation of Young People for Marriage," by Dr. Gofril Azrak, in charge of the prematrimonial course in the Archdiocese of Caracas. 5:00 PM - Professionalism and the Young People of our Community," Dr. Rafael Bayed, Juridical Consultor of the Melkite Exarchate of Venezuela.