WASHINGTON (June 22, 2004) — Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend John A. Elya, BSO, of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy (diocese) of Newton and appointed Archbishop Cyrille Salim Bustros of Baalbeck, Lebanon to the same see.

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the announcement.

Archbishop Bustros, of the Missionaries of St. Paul, was born in Ain-Bourday, Archdiocese of Baalbeck of the Greek-Melkite Rite, on January 26, 1939. He was ordained a priest June 29, 1962, elevated to the episcopacy October 25, 1988, and consecrated November 27, 1988.

John A. Elya was born September 16, 1928, in Maghdoucheh, S. Lebanon. He studied at the Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned S.T.B and S.T.L. degrees, and at Boston College.

He was appointed Titular Bishop of Abila Lisaniae and Auxiliary Bishop of Newton on March 21, 1986. Appointed Bishop of Newton November 25, 1993, he was installed January 25, 1994.

The Eparchy of Newton was established as an Apostolic Exarchate in 1966 and elevated to eparchy in 1976. With headquarters in Roslindale, Massachusetts, it embraces all members of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the United States, with a population of about 30,000. It has parishes in Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

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