Ignace Joseph III Younan
Encyclopedia
Mar Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Yonan (or Younan, born November 15, 1944) is the Patriarch
of Antioch and all the East of the Syrians of the Syriac Catholic Church
since January 20, 2009.
, Syria
on November 15, 1944 and was ordained a priest on September 12, 1971. He served as director of the Seminary of Charfet for two years, as Director of Catechesis of the diocese of Hassaké for seven years and as pastor of the Church of the Annunciation in Beirut
up to 1986.
In 1986 he was sent to the United States
to establish missions for the Syrian Catholic faithful. He founded a mission in Newark, New Jersey
(Our Lady of Deliverance) and others in North Hollywood (Sacred Heart) in 1991 and in San Diego (Our Mother of Perpetual Help) in 1994.
On November 6, 1995, Pope John Paul II
erected the Syrian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance
in Newark for all the Syrian Catholics of the United States and Canada, and appointed Ephrem Joseph Yonan as first eparch (bishop). He was thus consecrated bishop on January 7, 1996 by Ignatius Antony II Hayyek and served in the United States until his election as Primate and Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church on January 20, 2009. His election was confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI
on January 22, 2009.
Along with His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri
, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
, Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan will serve as a co-president of the October 2010 Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East in the Vatican.
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of Antioch and all the East of the Syrians of the Syriac Catholic Church
Syriac Catholic Church
The Syriac Catholic Church is a Christian church in the Levant having practices and rites in common with the Syriac Orthodox Church. They are one of the Eastern Catholic Churches following the Antiochene rite, the Syriac tradition of Antioch, along with the Maronites and Syro-Malankara Christians...
since January 20, 2009.
Life
Ephrem Joseph Yonan was born at HassakéAl-Hasakah
Al-Hasakah...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
on November 15, 1944 and was ordained a priest on September 12, 1971. He served as director of the Seminary of Charfet for two years, as Director of Catechesis of the diocese of Hassaké for seven years and as pastor of the Church of the Annunciation in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
up to 1986.
In 1986 he was sent to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to establish missions for the Syrian Catholic faithful. He founded a mission in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
(Our Lady of Deliverance) and others in North Hollywood (Sacred Heart) in 1991 and in San Diego (Our Mother of Perpetual Help) in 1994.
On November 6, 1995, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
erected the Syrian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance
Syrian Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark
The Eparchy of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark is an eparchy of the Syrian Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The territory of the eparchy encompasses the entire United States and Canada. It is based at Newark, New Jersey, and it is...
in Newark for all the Syrian Catholics of the United States and Canada, and appointed Ephrem Joseph Yonan as first eparch (bishop). He was thus consecrated bishop on January 7, 1996 by Ignatius Antony II Hayyek and served in the United States until his election as Primate and Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church on January 20, 2009. His election was confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on January 22, 2009.
Along with His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri
Leonardo Sandri
Leonardo Sandri is a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Roman Curia, having previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Venezuela , Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico and Substitute for General Affairs...
, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
, Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan will serve as a co-president of the October 2010 Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East in the Vatican.