New Bishop Named for Greek-Melkite Catholics in Canada

Wednesday, June 18 2003

(CCCB – Ottawa) – His Holiness Pope John Paul II today named Rev. Ibrahim Ibrahim, B.S.O., as Bishop of the Holy Saviour Eparchy of Montreal for Greek-Melkite Catholics in Canada. The Eparchy has been without a Bishop since the death of Most Reverend Sleiman Hajjar in March 2002.

Born on March 22, 1962, in Jinsnaya, Lebanon, Bishop-elect Ibrahim was ordained to the priesthood for the Salvatorian Basilian Order on July 18, 1987, in Saida, Lebanon. He received a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and a master’s degree in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University also in Rome. The new bishop speaks English, French, Arabic, Italian and Greek.

Bishop-elect Ibrahim has ministered primarily in the United States of America. At the time of his nomination was pastor of St. Elias Parish in Cleveland, Ohio. He has served as dean of the western region of the Eparchy of Newton, and Superior General of the Salvatorian Basilians in the USA. He also is head of the Eparchial Commission on Ecumenism and Inter-religious Questions for the Greek-Melkite Church.

The Catholic population of the Greek-Melkite Church in Canada is 43,000, served by 15 priests, one permanent deacon, and 10 religious in 10 parishes and missions.

The Greek-Melkite Catholic Church is one of seven Eastern rite Churches in Canada.