Jean-Baptiste Gourion
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Gourion, O.S.B.
(1934–2005) was a French Jewish-born Benedictine
monk and auxiliary bishop from 2003 until his death.
Gourion was born on October 24, 1934 in Oran
, Algeria, when it was a French colony. When studying medicine in France, he decided to enter in French Army during the Algerian War.
Gourion converted from Judaism to Roman Catholicism in 1958. In 1961, he entered a Benedictine Monastery and in 1967, he was ordained a priest.
Father Gourion came to Israel
in 1976 with two more monks to rebuild the old monastery that was in Abu Gosh and in 1999 was named abbot of the monastery
.
In 2003, Gourion was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem by Pope John Paul II. In the same year he was also appointed the titular see of Lydda. His mission consisted to care of Hebrew Catholics
' spiritual necessities.
He died on June 23, 2005.
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
(1934–2005) was a French Jewish-born Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk and auxiliary bishop from 2003 until his death.
Gourion was born on October 24, 1934 in Oran
Oran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, Algeria, when it was a French colony. When studying medicine in France, he decided to enter in French Army during the Algerian War.
Gourion converted from Judaism to Roman Catholicism in 1958. In 1961, he entered a Benedictine Monastery and in 1967, he was ordained a priest.
Father Gourion came to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 1976 with two more monks to rebuild the old monastery that was in Abu Gosh and in 1999 was named abbot of the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
.
In 2003, Gourion was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem by Pope John Paul II. In the same year he was also appointed the titular see of Lydda. His mission consisted to care of Hebrew Catholics
Hebrew Catholics
Hebrew Catholics are a movement of Jews converted to the faith of the Roman Catholic Church. The phrase was coined by Father Elias Friedman, OCD who was himself a converted Jew...
' spiritual necessities.
He died on June 23, 2005.