CNEWA Press Release: CNEWA Chair Cardinal Dolan to make a pastoral visit to Iraqi Kurdistan
by CNEWA
CNEWA Chair Cardinal Dolan to make a pastoral visit to Iraqi Kurdistan
NEW YORK — Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and Chair of Catholic Near East Welfare Association, will be traveling to Iraqi Kurdistan this week on a pastoral visit to that region's displaced Christian families. The purpose of the pastoral visit is fourfold:
Demonstrate solidarity with the families — many of whom are Christian — displaced when ISIS swept through northern Iraq in summer 2014. The delegation will visit displaced families taking refuge in camps and villages; stop at schools, nurseries and clinics serving their needs; and pray together in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
Show gratitude and solidarity with the caregivers — the priests, sisters and laity who, although displaced as well, have responded in meeting the needs of those expelled by ISIS. The pastoral visit will highlight the efforts of the religious sisters and parish priests who have partnered with CNEWA in setting up schools, nurseries and clinics.
Demonstrate solidarity with and support for the leadership of the local church. The delegation will spend time with the patriarchs and bishops of the Chaldean and Syriac Catholic churches, the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Assyrian Church of the East.
Assert the Christian commitment to support all those wounded by ISIS: Christian, Muslim and Yazidi.
Catholic Near East Welfare Association is an agency of the Holy See (Vatican) placed under the episcopal supervision of the archbishop of New York after its founding by Pope Pius XI in 1926. CNEWA works on behalf of the Catholic Eastern churches, providing support to the many humanitarian and pastoral initiatives of these communities of faith throughout the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe.
Cardinal Dolan's pastoral visit to Iraqi Kurdistan initiates year-long observances in commemoration of CNEWA's 90th anniversary. Traveling with the cardinal will be CNEWA board member Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre; CNEWA President Msgr. John Kozar; and the Executive Director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of New York, Msgr. Kevin Sullivan.