Joseph Tawil

Joseph Elias Tawil (born 25 December 1913 in Damascus, Syria, † February 17, 1999 in Newton, Massachusetts, USA) was Archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church of Newton.

Life

Joseph Elias Tawil was born as one of nine children of Mr and Mrs Elias and malakie Tawil. The mother 's maiden name was Salman, her brothers were Paolo Salman ( Archbishop of Petra and Philadelphia ) and Clement Salman ( Archimandrite in Jordan). The young Joseph was a devout family shaped by the Melkite Church community.

He began his theological studies at St. Anne's Seminary in Jerusalem, the seminar and the adjoining St. Anne's Church is led by the White Fathers. On July 20, 1936 he was ordained a priest and worked the next seven years as a teacher and later as rector at Patriarchalkollege in Cairo. In 1943 he was appointed Archimandrite President of the Episcopal College in Alexandria and 1952.

Bishop dignity

On 29 August 1959, Joseph Elias Tawil appointed auxiliary bishop in Alexandria and Titular Bishop of Myra dei Greco - Melkiti. After the official confirmation on October 23, 1959 he was ordained IV on 1 January 1960 by the Patriarch of Antioch Maximos Cardinal Bishop Sayegh. As co-consecrators the Bishop assisted in Antioch Archbishop Pierre Kamel Medawar ( titular bishop of Pelusium dei Greco - Melkiti ) and Archbishop Elias Zoghbi. He headed up to his activities in the U.S., the Archdiocese of Alexandria, his successor in that office was Paul Antaki.

On October 30, 1969, the appointment as Vicar Apostolic of the Apostolic Exarchate of the United States for the Melkite faithful and thus became the successor of the first Vicar Apostolic Justin Abraham Najmy BA ( 1966-1968 ), who died after only two years in office took place. On June 28, 1976, he was appointed Archbishop "pro hac vice " and bishop of the newly created Eparchy of Newton. He was in accordance with the age regulations added on December 2, 1989 in retirement and until his death on February 17, 1999 Former Bishop of Newton. He participated in all sessions of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and of the Patriarchate of Antioch as a personal adviser.

Episcopal ordinations

He dedicated Nicolas James Samra Titular Bishop of Gerasa, who took over the office of auxiliary bishop in Newton.

As Mitkonsekrator he took part in the following bishops with:

  • Paul Achkar Archbishop of Latakia in Syria,
  • At Grégoire Haddad Titular Bishop of Palmyra dei Greco - Melkiti ( Auxiliary Bishop of Beirut and Jbeil )
  • With Nicolas Naaman SMSP Archbishop of Bosra and Hauran in Syria,
  • Paul Antaki Titular Archbishop of Nubia ( Auxiliary Bishop of Antioch ),
  • At Maximos Salloum Archbishop of Akka in Israel
  • John Adel Elya BS titular bishop of Abila Lysaniae ( auxiliary bishop in Newton )
  • At George Riashi BC to the Bishop of Saint Michael's of Sydney in Australia and
  • Ignatius Ghattas BS, his successor as Bishop of Newton.

Pastoral letter

After taking office, he sent a pastoral letter to the members of the Melkite Church in the United States, which should be respected worldwide. The published at Christmas 1970 letter was entitled " The Courage To Be Ourselves " and reminded the faithful of the Byzantine rite to their traditions, as they lived, the Roman Catholic Christians and their church benefited from this diversity. It in need of a vibrant Eastern Church, he wrote, because of fidelity to the preservation of the heritage, the faith of the Eastern Churches can also be a very valuable service to the Roman Church. Finally, he wished and to all the faithful a reunion of the Churches of the East and the West.

Construction work in Newton

Although Joseph Elias Tawil 1969 could not speak English when he took office in Newton, he learned the language very quickly and took important decisions on the way. Already in 1971 he established the dioceses for a school for deacons and appointed a pastoral council. There followed in quick succession the creation of a communication agency, a national Melkite Youth Association and a training facility. For communication office, a device for public relations included the own publishing house " Sophia Press", who published books and magazines for the Eparchy of Newton. In 1977 the construction of the administration are completed, the diocese now had eight new parishes and five missions. Bishop Tawil ordained 26 priests and 23 deacons and was the supporters and promoters of the monastery for nuns in Danbury (Connecticut).

Works

Bishop Tawil has published several books in Arabic and English, his most important works are:

  • The Patriarchate of Antioch Throughout History: An Introduction. ( Sophia Press)
  • Saint Basil the Great. ( Sophia Press)
  • The Sacraments of Christian Initiation. ( Theo Books)
December 25 Newton (Massachusetts) St Anne's Church, Jerusalem Elias Zoghby Apostolic vicariate Justin Najmy Archeparchy of Jerusalem of the Melkites Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut and Byblos Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Akka Melkite Catholic Eparchy of St Michael, Archangel Mission (station)
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