Francis Mansour Zayek
Encyclopedia
Francis Mansour Zayek was an American
Maronite Catholic prelate
. Zayek was the founding bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, a diocese
based in Brooklyn, New York covering the Maronite Church in the United States
.
Zayek was one of the last surviving bishops who had attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
between 1962 and 1965 as a bishop.
, on October 18, 1920. He emigrated with his family from Cuba
to Lebanon, then part of the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, in 1931. He studied at seminaries in both Lebanon and Rome
, before being ordained a Maronite Catholic priest
in Rome, Italy
, on March 17, 1946.
Zayek received a doctorate
in canon law
from a school in Rome. Soon after completing his doctorate, Zayek was appointed to serve in the apostolic nunciature
in Cairo, Egypt. He returned to Rome, where he worked at the Roman Rota.
Zayek was appointed the Bishop of the Maronite Church
in Brazil
on May 31, 1962, by Pope John XXIII
. He was formally consecrated bishop at a ordination ceremony held in Dimane
, Lebanon, on August 5, 1962. He served as the Maronite bishop in Brazil until the mid-1960s.
Pope Paul VI
established the Maronite Apostolic Exarchate of the United States
on January 10, 1966. Pope Paul VI appointed Zayek as the Exarchate's first exarch
and he was installed in Detroit on June 11, 1966. Paul VI further elevated the Maronite Apostolic Exarchate to a full Eparchy
, or diocese, on November 20, 1971. He appointed Zayek as the first, founding Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, which covers all Maronite Catholics in the United States. Zayek was installed as its first bishop on June 4, 1972. The seat of the Eparchy of St. Maron of was moved from Detroit to Brooklyn, New York, in 1977.
Pope John Paul II
elevated Bishop Zayek to archbishop on December 10, 1982. He retired in 1996, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. Zayek moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
, following his retirement. He worked at the Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church
in Miami, Florida
.
Zayek's health began to falter later in life and he returned to Lebanon permanently late in 2009. He died in Lebanon on September 14, 2010, at the age of 89. he was survived by his sister, Lydia, of Lebanon; his brother, Elias, of Brazil; and several nieces and nephews.
Bishop Gregory John Mansour
, the current bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, wrote in reaction to Zayek's death, "The Maronite Church
in the United States is deeply indebted to the archbishop for his zealous efforts in establishing the strong, vibrant Maronite community we have today...May Archbishop Zayek share in the glory of the Cross which we celebrate this day!"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Maronite Catholic prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
. Zayek was the founding bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, a diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
based in Brooklyn, New York covering the Maronite Church in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Zayek was one of the last surviving bishops who had attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
between 1962 and 1965 as a bishop.
Biography
Zayek was born in Manzanillo, CubaManzanillo, Cuba
Manzanillo is a municipality and city in the Granma Province of Cuba.It is a port city in the Granma Province in eastern Cuba on the Gulf of Guacanayabo, near the delta of the Cauto River...
, on October 18, 1920. He emigrated with his family from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
to Lebanon, then part of the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, in 1931. He studied at seminaries in both Lebanon and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, before being ordained a Maronite Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in Rome, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, on March 17, 1946.
Zayek received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
from a school in Rome. Soon after completing his doctorate, Zayek was appointed to serve in the apostolic nunciature
Apostolic Nunciature
An Apostolic Nunciature is a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy.The head of the Apostolic Nunciature is called nuncio. A nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin nuntius, meaning messenger...
in Cairo, Egypt. He returned to Rome, where he worked at the Roman Rota.
Zayek was appointed the Bishop of the Maronite Church
Maronite Church
The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
on May 31, 1962, by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
. He was formally consecrated bishop at a ordination ceremony held in Dimane
Dimane
Dimane is a mountainous village in the Bsharri District, in the North Governorate of Lebanon. It sits at approximately 1400m above sea level, overlooking the Kadisha Valley....
, Lebanon, on August 5, 1962. He served as the Maronite bishop in Brazil until the mid-1960s.
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
established the Maronite Apostolic Exarchate of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on January 10, 1966. Pope Paul VI appointed Zayek as the Exarchate's first exarch
Exarch
In the Byzantine Empire, an exarch was governor with extended authority of a province at some remove from the capital Constantinople. The prevailing situation frequently involved him in military operations....
and he was installed in Detroit on June 11, 1966. Paul VI further elevated the Maronite Apostolic Exarchate to a full Eparchy
Eparchy
Eparchy is an anglicized Greek word , authentically Latinized as eparchia and loosely translating as 'rule over something,' like province, prefecture, or territory, to have the jurisdiction over, it has specific meanings both in politics, history and in the hierarchy of the Eastern Christian...
, or diocese, on November 20, 1971. He appointed Zayek as the first, founding Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, which covers all Maronite Catholics in the United States. Zayek was installed as its first bishop on June 4, 1972. The seat of the Eparchy of St. Maron of was moved from Detroit to Brooklyn, New York, in 1977.
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
elevated Bishop Zayek to archbishop on December 10, 1982. He retired in 1996, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. Zayek moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, following his retirement. He worked at the Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church
Our Lady of Lebanon
Our Lady of Lebanon , also known as Notre Dame du Liban, is a marian shrine and a pilgrimage site, honoring the patron saint of the Mediterranean country of Lebanon. The Lebanese Christians as well as the Druze and Muslims have a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Zayek's health began to falter later in life and he returned to Lebanon permanently late in 2009. He died in Lebanon on September 14, 2010, at the age of 89. he was survived by his sister, Lydia, of Lebanon; his brother, Elias, of Brazil; and several nieces and nephews.
Bishop Gregory John Mansour
Gregory John Mansour
Gregory John Mansour is American Maronite Catholic prelate, who has served as the current Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, a diocese based in Brooklyn, New York covering the Maronite Church in the United States, since 2004.Mansour was appointed the Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint...
, the current bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, wrote in reaction to Zayek's death, "The Maronite Church
Maronite Church
The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
in the United States is deeply indebted to the archbishop for his zealous efforts in establishing the strong, vibrant Maronite community we have today...May Archbishop Zayek share in the glory of the Cross which we celebrate this day!"