New Eparchial Bishop appointed for Maronites in Canada

Thursday, January 10 2013

(CCCB – Ottawa)… His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Joseph Khoury as Eparchial Bishop of the Catholic Maronite Eparchy of Canada, and named as his successor Father Marwan Tabet, M.L. At the time of his appointment, the Bishop-elect was General Counselor for his religious community, the Congregation of the Missionaries of Lebanon. Bishop Khoury has been responsible for the Maronite Eparchy of Canada since 1997, and had offered his resignation in 2011 when reaching the age of 75, as required by the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Khoury as Apostolic Administrator until the new Bishop takes canonical possession of the Eparchy.

Bishop-elect Marwan Tabet was born July 13, 1961, in Bhamdoun, Lebanon, and speaks English, French and Arabic. He entered the Congregation of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries in 1980, and was ordained a priest in 1986. He holds bachelor degrees in Theology (1986) and Philosophy (1988) from Holy Spirit University, Kaslik, Lebanon. Subsequently, while serving a parish in Boston, he learned English and acquired a master’s degree in Non-Profit Organizations and School Administration. After going to Dallas where he established the Maronite parish of Our Lady of Lebanon, he also earned a master’s degree in political philosophy. His religious community then sent him to South Africa where he did parish work and received a doctorate in school administration from UNISA, the University of South Africa. Bishop-elect Tabet has served as Assistant High School Director of the Collège des Apôtres in Jounieh, a school operated by his religious community, as well as its President for superior studies. He also been Secretary-General of Catholic schools in Lebanon, and was the Coordinator for Pope Benedict’s apostolic journey to Lebanon in September 2012.

Bishop Joseph Khoury was ordained a priest in 1964 in Rome. After being appointed Apostolic Visitor for the Maronites in Western and Northern Europe, he was ordained Bishop in Lebanon on September 4, 1993. Blessed John Paul II named him Eparchial Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Canada on November 11, 1996, and he was installed in February 1997. As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop Khoury served on its former Commission for Canon Law / Inter-Rite as a member and also as Chairman. In addition, he served on the former CCCB Programs and Priorities Committee. Bishop Khoury has assisted the Holy See as a Consultor for the Congregation for Oriental Churches and a member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious dialogue.  

The Maronite Eparchy of Canada has 16 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 4,100, which is served by 10 diocesan priests, four priests and five Sisters who are members of religious communities, and two permanent deacons.