Joy and hope! These words could describe the common feeling of the Greek-Catholic Melkite Church of Galilee that welcomed the new bishop. Monsignor Yousef Matta was ordained in his city, Nazareth, Saturday, June 1, in the Church of St. Joseph, for the laying on of hands of several Melkite bishops. The solemn ceremony was attended by bishops, clergy, consecrated and lay people from different Churches. RUDEYNA SABA Association of Melkite Benefactors - Nazareth "He has proved to be a person worthy of being a bishop through his youth ministry and service to the parish, and to all ecclesial organizations, the scouts... We bless him and desire for him the very best." YUHANNA GEORGE ABO-HANI Group “Beit-almahabeh” - Nazareth "I have known F. Yousef for years: from the group "Beit al-mahabeh", of which he was the guide, our father, the father of all, together with F. Simaan and all the other representatives. I wish him the wisdom and strength to lead us and the whole region." Monsignor Yousef, as a young man, studied computer science and administration. After becoming a priest he did other studies in Theology and Canon Law. Over the years he has served the Melkite Church in the administrative, formative and pastoral fields. MGR YOUSEF MATTA Melkite Archbishop of Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and Galilee "To be a bishop means to be a servant who follows the example of Jesus, who although was the Master washed the feet of His disciples. He said: I have given you an example to do the same. I ask God to give me the grace of the Spirit, wisdom and discernment to serve His Church." The archdiocese of Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and Galilee has about 30 parishes and 70000 faithful, a small flock in a land which is blessed, but still full of challenges. MGR BOUTRUS MUALLEM Melkite Bishop Emeritus – Aylaboun "We have a specific mission in the Holy Land - among ourselves, among the Churches, among Christians and members of other religions present here. But Jesus Christ did not come only for Nazareth or the Holy Land, He came for the whole world. The new bishop comes to continue this universal mission. I hope that he will find people: priests, lay people, religious and consecrated persons who will work with him in all this." The ceremony of official possession of the diocese took place the following day in Haifa, in the Cathedral of Saint Elijah. In addition to the ecclesiastical authorities, and representatives of the various Christian associations, leaders of other religions and civil authorities took part. EINAT KALISH ROTEM Mayor of Haifa "I think one of the beauties of Haifa is to be a multi-cultural city. I hope that the leaders of the various communities will help everyone to live well together." MGR GEORGES BACAOUNI Melkite Bishop of Beirut and Jbeil "May the Lord bless him and fulfil his desire to be a good shepherd for this diocese. It is above all what people expect of him in this task. We pray for him and that he fulfils the desire of God's heart." Read More