This news is a bit old - happened back at the end of May - but I just read it in the latest issue of Sophia, the Melkite Eparchial Journal, and hadn't seen it mentioned elsewhere.

Bishop Thomas Olmstead of the Diocese of Phoenix and Bishop Gerald of Van Nuys presided over a ceremony in which 6 sections of Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery in Phoenix were donated by the RC Diocese for the use of the Eastern & Oriental Catholic communities there. The Melkite, Ukrainian, Chaldean, Maronite, and 2 Ruthenian parishes have each been provided with a section comprising 200 plots.

The Latin Diocese has also offered to move the remains of ECs buried in other Catholic cemeteries in the area to the new sections at a reduced cost, provided that transfer is physically possible.

Many years,

Neil

Neil:

Christ is in our midst!!

Saw this in a trade paper awhile ago complete with pictures of the blessing of the section by two bishops. I believe that the BCC bishop hjoined the local Latin ordinary.

Bob

Bob,

You're right. Bishop Gerald (Dino) of the Eparchy of Van Nuys and Bishop Olmstead jointly blessed the sections. It was a generous gesture by the Latin diocese and much appreciated in an area that has a growing Eastern & Oriental Catholic population.

My understanding is that Father Peter (Boutros), pastor of the Melkite parish of St John in the Desert, first pursued the matter on behalf of his parishioners, and, when it received a favorable response, took things a step further, suggesting that each of the six parishes be afforded a section - an idea that Bishop Olmstead supported.

Many years,

Neil

Our own Fr. Deacon John Montalvo can be seen in one of the pictures printed in Sophia magazine. He is the deacon on the right in the bottom picture.

Sophia is available online, too.
http://www.melkite.org/Sophia.html
Page 30.

aramis,

Thanks for posting that link; I intended to do so and then forgot.

Many years,

Neil