Eparchy of Mexico

OUR CHURCH IN MEXICO

 History:

The emigration of members of our community to Mexico began in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. It took place in several phases, notably at the end of the First World War and of the Second World War Nearly all our faithful in Mexico come from South Lebanon, particularly Sidon, Jezzine and their surroundings. Most have been in Mexico for over 50 years. Immigrants from Syria are only an insignificant minority.

Eastern rite religious service for our community began in 1927. As the faithful had mostly come from regions served by the Salvatorian Fathers, the priests sent to serve them between 1927 and 1965 were Salvatorians. When in the latter year the last Salvatorian left for the United States, the people without any prompting then turned to Fr. Sleiman Khoury, formerly of the Paulist missionaries, who was living in Mexico with his relatives, and asked him to take them under his wing. Appointed their pastor, he has remained so ever since.

Towards 1950, thanks to the efforts of Mr Joseph Abu Khater, then Ambassador of Lebanon in Mexico, our colony obtained from the Mexican government the use of a little church situated in the heart of the capital, quite near the central square where there are to be found the cathedral and the government buildings. The Fathers, particularly Fr. Khoury, set about decorating the church with mural mosaics representing the different episodes in the life of the Virgin Mary. Within its limited dimensions this small church today presents itself as a little jewel which captures the heart of those who enter it. It is also a shrine of popular devotion because of a well-known miracle that occurred within its walls.

Address of the Parish and its Priest: Archimandrite Sleiman Khoury, Tempio Porta de Coeli, Venustiano Carranza 107, Mexico 1, D.F. - Tel. 542.02.25.

Future Perspectives:

In view of the ripe age and precarious health of Archimandrite Sleiman Khoury, it has become a matter of urgency to find a priest who can help him and finally succeed him in the service of the parish. Naturally, our faithful would like an Arabic-speaking priest thoroughly familiar with all the liturgical ceremonies of our rite. When the church was put at the disposition of our community, one essential condition was laid down, namely that there should always be a priest to minister there. In any case we must be able to rely on this rallying centre, for it is very difficult for priests to contact their faithful in a city with more than fifteen million inhabitants!

In the event of a bishop being named for Mexico, he might well be at the same time responsible for our faithful in Venezuela, residing sometimes in one country and sometimes in the other, so as to guarantee the future of our community in these two countries, which are relatively speaking quite near to each other.

Mexican Eparchy of Nuestra Señora del Paraíso en México

His Excellency, Archimandrite Antoine Mouhanna is the Apostolic Adminstrator of Venustiano Carranza 107
06060 México, D.F.
México
Telephone: (5)542-0225
Fax: 559-4546

Ghanoum, BSO, Rt. Rev. Gabriel
St Jude Melkite Church
St. Nicholas Mission in Delray, FL

126 SE 15th Rd

Miami, FL 33129

Tel: 305-856-8666

Fax: 305-859-7982

melkite126@aol.com

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For any information updates or amendments, please send an E-mail to GMA:

gma@melkites.org