Syro-Catholics get a new Exarchate(like a diocese) in Canada

Pope Establishes Apostolic Exarchate for Syro-Catholics in Canada

Reverend Antoine Nassif, from Lebanon, named its first Apostolic Exarch

Staff Reporter | Jan 07 | ZENIT.org | Eastern Churches | Canada |           

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Pope Francis today erected, following a consultation with the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Apostolic Exarchate for Syro-Catholics in Canada, with its See in Laval (Québec), and has appointed Reverend Antoine Nassif, from Lebanon, as its first Apostolic Exarch. At the time of his appointment, he was Rector of the Patriarchal Seminary of Charfet in Lebanon. The Syriac Catholic community is present in Canada since 1976.
Previously, Syriac Catholics of Canada were part of the Eparchy Our Lady of Deliverance for Syriac Catholics in the United States and Canada which was erected in 1995. The new Exarchate for Canada has seven parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 16,000 served by five priests and two deacons.
Antoine Nassif was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1969 and ordained for the Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Eparchy in 1992. After his ordination he served in various roles including: principal of the school of Charfet, Lebanon; and vice-pastor in two parishes. He speaks French, English, and Italian.