New Archeparch Appointed for Greek Melkites in Canada

Friday, July 10 1998

OTTAWA — (CCCB) His Holiness Pope John Paul II today named Rev. Sleiman Hajjar, b.s., as Archeparch for the Greek-Melkites in Canada. He replaces Most Rev. Michel Hakim whose resignation was accepted by the Pontiff.

The new Archeparch was born in Lebanon on May 13, 1950. He joined the Basilian Salvatorian Order in 1977 and was ordained to the priesthood on August 4, 1979. At the time of his appointment, Archeparch-elect Hajjar was Associate Pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Ottawa where he had served since 1995. Archeparch-elect Hajjar holds a licence in management, a Masters in Philosophy and Theology, and a licence in Liturgy from the Pontifical University of Holy Spirit in Kaslik, Lebanon

He was the Director of Studies at Holy Saviour Minor Seminary in Lebanon, and became its rector in 1986. The new Archeparch was also responsible for pastoral activity at the Foyer de la Providence in Lebanon in 1983 and was named its Director in 1989. He was named Fourth Assistant of the Basilian Salvatorian Order in 1989.

The Archeparchy for Greek-Melkites in Canada has a Catholic population of 38,000 in 10 parishes and missions and is served by 11 priests.