Resignation of bishop of Las Vegas, U.S.A., and appointment of successor
Elevation to Eparchy of the Annunciation, with see in Ibadan, Nigeria, of the Apostolic Exarchate for Maronite faithful resident in West and Central Africa and appointment of eparchal Bishop of the same see
Resignation of bishop of Las Vegas, U.S.A., and appointment of successor
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Las Vegas, United States of America, presented by H.E. Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. Pepe.
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Las Vegas, United States of America, H. E. Msgr. George Leo Thomas, currently bishop of Helena.
H. E. Msgr. George Leo Thomas
H. E. Msgr. George Leo Thomas was born in Anaconda in the diocese of Helena, Montana, on 19 May 1950. After attending primary and secondary schools in Butte, Montana, he entered the “Saint Thomas Seminary” in Seattle, Washington, where he carried out his ecclesiastical studies. Msgr. Thomas received a Masters degree in psychology in 1983 and a degree in history in 1986.
He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Seattle on 22 May 1976.
After ordination, he was assigned from 1976 to 1987 as deputy parish priest at the “Holy Family Parish” in Kirkland and then at the “Saint James Cathedral” in Seattle. At the same time he served as chaplain of the state prison. In 1987 he was appointed as administrator of the “Sacred Heart Parish” in Bellevue and as chancellor and vicar general of Seattle. In 1996 he was elected as diocesan administrator of Seattle.
In 1999 he was appointed as titular bishop of Vagrauta and auxiliary of Seattle. In 2003 he was transferred to the diocese of Helena.
Within the US Episcopal Conference he is a member of the following committees: “Bishops for the American College in Louvain” and “Native-American Catholics”.
In addition to English, he speaks Spanish.
Elevation to Eparchy of the Annunciation, with see in Ibadan, Nigeria, of the Apostolic Exarchate for Maronite faithful resident in West and Central Africa and appointment of eparchal Bishop of the same see
The Holy Father, following the vote of the Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Church of Antioch of the Maronites, has elevated the Apostolic Exarchate for the Maronite faithful resident in West and Central Africa to the “Eparchy of the Annunciation”, with see in Ibadan, Nigeria, and appointed Rev. Chorbishop Simon Faddoul, currently apostolic exarch, as eparchial bishop of the new see.
Rev. Chorbishop Simon Faddoul
The Rev. Chorbishop Simon Faddoul was born on 7 January 1958 in Dik El Mehdi, in the archieparchy of Antélias. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the “Saint-Esprit” University of Kaslik, obtaining a licentiate in education and teacher training (1985). He then transferred to the United States, where he obtained a licentiate in education and school administration from Providence College, Rhode Island (1986) and a doctorate in education and administration from the University of Cincinnati (1989).
He was ordained a priest on 9 August 1987 for the archieparchy of Antélias, and has held the following positions: pastoral service in the “St. Anthony” parish of Cincinnati, collaborator in Cyprus in the Cathedral of Nicosia, parish priest of the “Saint Elie” Church of Aïn Aar, parish priest of the Church of Jal El Dib-Bkennaya, and president of Caritas-Lebanon from 2010 to 2013. On 13 January 2013, he was appointed as apostolic exarch for Maronite faithful resident in Central and Western Africa and apostolic visitor for Maronite faithful resident in Southern Africa.
