I. EARLY HISTORY
During the years immediately following World War I, the Holy Fathers, Pope Benedict XV and Pope Pius XI, made it their mission to do all that they could to bring material and spiritual assistance to the countries and peoples sorely tried by years of war.((“Tutto il mondo sa con quale tenera sollecitudine il S. Padre Pio XI gloriosamente regnante, si prodigo nel soccorrere le diverse nazioni e popolazioni, cosi duramente provate dopo la guerra mondiale, cercando di arrecare aiuto e sollievo ad ogni loro necessita materiale e spirituale;…” (Luigi Cardinal Sincero, Pro-Secretary, Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, letter to Pietro Cardinal Gasparri, Secretary of State of His Holiness, 10 March 1926) )) They were supported in this great work of charity by the generosity of the faithful of the whole world and in particular by the Catholics of the United States of America. The Holy See’s appeals for aid, especially in the years 1921-1923 for the relief of famine victims in Russia, were wholeheartedly and generously responded to by the American people, and various American associations were organized to assist the needy in Russia and other regions of the Near East.((“Nell’esplicazione di questa carita l’opera zelante del S. Padre fu spontaneamente e continuamente sostenuta dalla generosita dei fedeli di tutto il mondo e in particolar modo dai Cattolici degli Stati Uniti di America, sino a meritarse la reconoscenza speciale e l’encomio solenne del Sommo Pontifice.
“Ma il popolo americano non si e accontentato de rispondere corde magno et animo volenti all’ appello a lui fatto per soccorrere la Russia negli anni 1921 = 1923, quando quella nobile e cristiana popolazione cadde sotto il tremendo flagello della fame; che anzi parecchi organismi in America continuano in una maniera permanente a provvedere rilevanti soccorsi per la Russia e per le altre regioni del vicino Oriente, dove pur troppo ne permane il bisogno.” (Ibid.) ))
Establishment
On 11 March 1926, Pope Pius XI decided to unite permanently into one organization and under one administration all the American Catholic associations working for assistance to Russia and other areas of the Near East and in general working for the same goals as the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church and the Pontifical Commission for Russia.((“La SANTITA’ di NOSTRO SIGNORE mi incarica di informare l’Eminenza Vostra Revma che il progetto per l’unificazione e l’amministrazione futura delle Associazioni, ora operose negli Stati Uniti d’America, per il vicino Oriente e la Russia e pienamente approvato, come fu presentato da Vostra Eminenza con lettera del 10 Marzo corrente.” (Pietro Cardinal Gasparri, Secretary of State of His Holiness, letter to Luigi Cardinal Sincero, Pro-Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, 11 March 1926)
“1. D’ora in poi tutte le organizzazioni che esplicano negli Stati Uniti di America la loro attivita in aiuto ai Russi ed alle regioni del vicino Oriente, ossia in generale per tutte le finalita proprie della S. C. Pro Ecclesia Orientali e della Commissione Pro Russia debbono unirsi e rimanere unite in una sola organizzazione, sotto una unica direzione.” (Sincero, op. cit.) )) This new pontifical((“These sufferings, moreover, and the petitions for help, because of their very nature and the condition of the countries where they exist, still continue and will doubtless long continue. God alone can tell the time when, happily, Our assistance will no longer be needed. For these reasons, it was judged proper, not to say necessary, to constitute the CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION on a permanent basis. It is, therefore, a supreme consolation to Us to know that the work has been so founded and We impart a special benediction for its perseverance. Having thus taken stable and permanent form it well merits to be called Pontifical both for the benefits it has bestowed in the past and the promise it holds for the future.” (Pope Pius XI, letter to Fr. Edmund A. Walsh, S.J., President of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 30 July 1927)
“It was on their [Our beloved children of the venerable Christian Churches of the East] behalf, to fulfill an important need, that the Pontifical Mission Aid Society – the Catholic Near East Welfare Association – was erected in the year 1926,…” (Pope Pius XII, autographed letter to Our Beloved Son, Francis Cardinal Spellman, President of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 24 October 1951) )) organization was to be called the “Catholic Near East Welfare Association”((“2. In particolare le due organizzazione, che fino ad ora hanno lavorato in quel campo, cioe la “Catholic Near East Welfare Association” e la “Catholica Unio” debbono unirsi e fondersi in una sola associazione. Il titolo di questa sera: “Catholic Near East Welfare Association”, quale titolo adatto e sufficiente per esprimere lo intento generale di tutte quelle sopradette organizzazioni, rimanendo pero ben inteso e dichiarato per sempre che esso comprende anche la “Catholic Unio” e le finalita che questa finora se era proposte.” (Sincero, op. cit.) )) (CNEWA). It was placed under the immediate direction of the Archbishop of New York,((“4. E’ necessario che la suddetta Associazione “Catholic Near East Welfare Association” sia messa sotto l’immediata direzione di un Vescovo. Attesi i precedenti e l’interessamento benevolo gia personalmente prestato dall’ Emmo Sig. Card. Hayes, questa S. C. con la Commissione Pro Russia trova quanto mai opportuno che l’Arcivescovo di New York sia la persona designata a tale scopo e quindi desiderabile che l’ Emmo Card. Hayes sia inteso e dalla S. Sede pregato a darvi il suo consenso.” (Ibid.) )) and he was invited to form a governing body selected from the American hierarchy.((“5. Sara opportuno che l’Emmo Card. Hayes si compiaccia poi di pregare tutti gli Emmi Sig. Cardinali degli Stati Uniti, qualche Arcivescovo e Vescovo, perche vogliano formare con lui stesso un Comitato direttivo e che tutti gli Illmi e Revmi Membri della Gerarchia Americana, le Universita e gli Istituti Educativi Cattolici, il clero e il popolo sia invitato a prestare la sua desideratissima cooperazione: tuttavia per l’organizzazione e per il funzionamento concreto della “Catholic Near East Welfare Association”, per la costituzione in essa di particolari sezioni e per lo studio dei mezzi piu opportuni per raggiungere il suo compito, come la S. Sede ha sempre avuto la piu grande fiducia nella Gerarchia Americana, cosi e giusto che sia lasciato ad essa liberta de pratiche proposte e sistemazione. (Ibid.) )) The funds raised by the new association were to be placed directly at the disposition of the Holy Father, who would disburse them in response to the requests for assistance coming to him from all over the world or recommended to him by CNEWA itself.((“3. I soccorsi raccolti saranno messi direttamente a disposizione del S. Padre, il quale, conoscendo bene le finalita generali sopradette e in particolare quelle delle due organizzazioni ora unite e fuse in una sola associazione ed essendo meglio che ogni altro in grado di conoscere e valutare tutti i bisogni materiali e spirituali, morali e intellettuali, che da tutte le parti invocano da lui soccorso, oppure possono dalla stessa Associazione o anche da altri essere a Lui indicati, e per cio stesso nella condizione migliore per destinare piu utilmente e con maggior beneficio i mezzi posti a Sua disposizione.” (Ibid.) ))
Two groups especially recognized by the pope((“Fra questi caritatevoli organismi, diretti da Cattolici, il S. Padre ha con particolare compiacenza richiamato l’attenzione di questa Sacra Congregazione Pro Ecclesia Orientali sopra la “Catholic Near East Welfare Association”, amministrata da Mons. Riccardo Barry-Doyle e la “Catholica Unio” diretta dal revmo Dom Agostino Von Galen, O.S.B., due opere che hanno per diverse vie contribuito e possono ancora contribuire alla stessa causa comune, continuando a benemeritare di essa.” (Ibid.) )) were joined together in this new association.((“2. In particolare le due organizzazione, che fino ad ora hanno lavorato in quel campo, cioe la “Catholic Near East Welfare Association” e la “Catholica Unio” debbono unirsi e fondersi in una sola associazione.” (Ibid.) )) One, the new association’s prototype, “The Catholic Near East Welfare Association,” legally incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on 30 September 1924,((“II. The purposes for which the said Corporation is to be formed are as follows: Without profit to the Corporation or its members to solicit and procure the voluntary contribution of funds for the relief of suffering people, particularly children, regardless of religious belief, in Greece, Turkey, Armenia and other countries known as the Near East; to use and apply such funds for the care of neglected and orphaned children and to otherwise alleviate distress among people of these countries by transferring funds so procured to individual societies, hospitals, orphan asylums or other institutions in said countries, organized for said purposes or in such other manner as the Corporation may deem advisable for the relief of such distress; and in connection with the foregoing objects to establish and maintain such organizations and institutions and to utilize and employ such agencies as the Corporation may deem proper.” (Charter of The Catholic Near East Welfare Association) )) had been inspired by several concerns: the expansion of Protestant missionary efforts in the Near East, incorporated by the United States Congress in 1919 as “Near East Relief”; the reunion movements nurtured by Father Paul Watson, founder of the Society of the Atonement, and Bishop George Calavassy, the second Apostolic Exarch for Byzantine-rite Greek Catholics in Thrace, Macedonia, and parts of Asia Minor; the pastoral support of the exarchate; the pressing needs of refugees flooding Constantinople after World War I, and, a few year later, the famine in Russia; and the care of more than a million Greeks refugees from Turkey in Greece itself.
The other, the “Catholic Union,” legally incorporated in the State of New York on 5 January 1925, was a branch of the “Catholica Unio,” organized to work for the reunion of the Ukrainian,Romanian, Bulgarian, and, later, all the Orthodox churches with Rome. Subtitled “A Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the Near East,” the Catholic Union’s ambition was to become a worldwide organization for the support of the Oriental Congregation in much the same way as the Society for the Propagation of the Faith supported the works of the Congregation for the Propaganda Fide. Part of its mission was “to establish and to maintain the Roman Catholicmissions in Eastern Europe” and “to create and sustain a friendly interest in the religious and moral life of the peoples of Eastern Europe.” Soon afterwards it was entitled “A Society for the Reunion with the Holy Church of the Separated Brethren of the Near East Incorporated.”
These two similar yet diverse entities each had its own ecclesiastical and lay advocates and supporters — “The Catholic Near East Welfare Association” advocating the cause of the Greeks and the “Catholic Union” increasingly concerned with the plight of the Russians. However, both variously described themselves as concerned for humanitarian assistance, missionary activity, and the promotion of church unity.
By the mandate of the Holy See, the purposes of both these organizations were to be included in the new association.((“2. In particolare le due organizzazione, che fino ad ora hanno lavorato in quel campo, cioe la “Catholic Near East Welfare Association” e la “Catholica Unio” debbono unirsi e fondersi in una sola associazione. Il titolo di questa sera: “Catholic Near East Welfare Association”, quale titolo adatto e sufficiente per esprimere lo intento generale di tutte quelle sopradette organizzazioni, rimanendo pero ben inteso e dichiarato per sempre che esso comprende anche la “Catholic Unio” e le finalita che questa finora se era proposte.” (Sincero, op. cit.) ))
Pius XI commended the new association and his dispositions for it to the hierarchy of the United States.((Il SANTO PADRE affida al Revmo P. Walsh, S.J., precedentemente Direttore dell’Opera Pontificia di soccorso per i bambini affamati in Russia, la missione di eseguire quel progetto, che SUA SANTITA’ raccomanda calorosasmente agli Illmi e Revmo Membri della Gerarchia negli Stati Uniti.” (Gasparri, op. cit.) )) On 15 September 1926, in keeping with the wishes of the Holy Father and on the initiative of the Archbishop of New York, the bishops of the United States at their annual meeting expressed their full approval and adoption of the pope’s plan and declared that CNEWA would be their sole instrumentality authorized to solicit funds for Catholic interests in Russia and the Near East.((“The Hierarchy of the United States in conference assembled express their full approval and adoption of the program of the Holy See providing for the unification of all societies now working in the United States of America for Russia and the Near East. The resultant organization, the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, Inc., shall be the sole instrumentality authorized to solicit funds for Catholic interests in those regions and shall be so recommended to the entire Catholic population of the United States simultaneously in all dioceses, on a given Sunday, the date to be arranged in consultation with the respective Ordinaries.” (Minutes of the eighth annual meeting of the American bishops, 15 September 1926) ))
Initial organization and operations
CNEWA began to grow very much in accordance with the experiences and vision of its first president, Father Edmund A. Walsh, S.J. Father Walsh, who had previously headed a special “Papal Relief Mission to Russia,” identified CNEWA as “A Society in Aid of Catholic Interests in Russia and the Near East” and saw it primarily as a papal relief agency.
Following the ratification by the U.S. bishops of the Holy See’s wishes, the Board of Directors of CNEWA agreed to continue to use the original civil charter and to organize its activities into six departments: Greece and the Balkans, General Relief in Russia and Asia Minor, Religious Welfare (to assume the work of the Catholic Union), Education and Student Exchange, Domestic Interests Affecting the Oriental Church in America, and Business Administration.((Cf. Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 15 September 1926))
In accordance with the bishops’ resolution, on 23 January 1927, a collection was taken up with great success in all the churches of the United States for the support of CNEWA and its works. When Pope Pius XI was informed of the result of the special collection, he was very pleased. He designated some of the monies collected for the support of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church; the Pontifical Commission for Russia; the Greek Catholic exarchate in Athens; schools and orphanages in Palestine; refugees, schools and orphanages in Syria; Danzig’s Russian refugee orphanage; the school for Russian refugees in Namur; the works of the Holy See in Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Berlin and Paris; the Oriental Institute in Rome; and the Russian Seminary in Rome. The rest remained in the United States at the disposition of His Holiness.((Cf. Rev. Edmund A. Walsh, S.J., “Annual Report of the President of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association to the Board of Directors, 1926-27,” 13 September 1927, Appendix No. 3))
Subsequently, by the mandate or with the approval of the pope, CNEWA made grants of assistance for a wide variety of charitable works such as the relief of flood victims in Louisiana, the evacuation of Russian refugees from Constantinople, and medical and relief assistance for earthquake victims in Puerto Rico.((Cf. Minutes of Meeting of Executive Committee of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, Inc., 11 October 1928))
Father Walsh insisted that “the wish of the Holy Father is rather to form a permanent society somewhat like the International Red Cross or the American Near East Relief. It will be a centralized Catholic distributing agency which can materially assist the Holy See to meet the daily increasing demands made on the Holy Father for assistance in humanitarian works, in the field of education, and in social welfare work all over the world, as well as in distinctly religious and missionary activities.”((Rev. Edmund A. Walsh, S.J., letter to Rev. Stephen Donahue, secretary of the Archbishop of New York, 28 September 1926))
On 30 July 1927, Pius XI wrote to Fr. Walsh to express his gratitude to American Catholics for their generosity and his satisfaction that CNEWA was now constituted on a permanent basis as a pontifical organization.((Cf. Pius XI, op. cit.)) The next year, on 23 October 1928, the pope sent an autographed letter to the bishops of the United States praising the work of both the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and of CNEWA, expressing his appreciation for the funds raised and transmitted to him by both of the organizations, and distinguishing their respective roles.((“…two works of religion which are the object of intense, daily, and We were about to say, harrowing concern of Our Apostolic ministry….The first of these works of religion, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith is, as you also, Venerable Brothers, continually set forth in word and deed, truly the work of works, first and supreme in its importance because it is the continuing through the centuries and in the whole wide world of the work of the Divine Founder of the Church Himself and of His First Apostles; the second looks toward the East, so dear to us and so worthy of our veneration, whence first shone out on the world the light of Christianity, that East which once was a most flourishing garden of the Catholic Church and which later, separated, or rather torn, from the Catholic Church, fell into so wretched a plight, spiritual and material as well, that East which now as never before fills Us with hopes so strong and so sweet of seeing her return to the One Fold, but which for this very reason is more than ever beset and tempted by propaganda (only too well equipped with worldly resources of every kind) hostile to Christ and His Church.” (Pope Pius XI, autographed letter to the Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops of the United States, 23 October 1928) ))
Reorganization and clarification of mission
Father Walsh’s vision for CNEWA, however, was not universally accepted. By 1929 there was a strong reaffirmation on the part of the Holy See that the new organization was to respond to the spiritual and material needs of the East. It also made it clear that its mission was to be clearly distinguished from that of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
Better to clarify the competencies of the two societies and to establish a closer relationship between activities in favor of the home and foreign missions and those in favor of the spiritual needs of the missions and apostolate of the Near East and Russia, on 28 June 1930, Pope Pius XI established new regulations for these activities and for these two American organizations promoting them.((“…two works of religion which are the object of intense, daily, and We were about to say, harrowing concern of Our Apostolic ministry….The first of these works of religion, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith is, as you also, Venerable Brothers, continually set forth in word and deed, truly the work of works, first and supreme in its importance because it is the continuing through the centuries and in the whole wide world of the work of the Divine Founder of the Church Himself and of His First Apostles; the second looks toward the East, so dear to us and so worthy of our veneration, whence first shone out on the world the light of Christianity, that East which once was a most flourishing garden of the Catholic Church and which later, separated, or rather torn, from the Catholic Church, fell into so wretched a plight, spiritual and material as well, that East which now as never before fills Us with hopes so strong and so sweet of seeing her return to the One Fold, but which for this very reason is more than ever beset and tempted by propaganda (only too well equipped with worldly resources of every kind) hostile to Christ and His Church.” (Pope Pius XI, autographed letter to the Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops of the United States, 23 October 1928) )) He entrusted their implementation to the Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith and the Cardinal Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, in conjunction with the American hierarchy.((Ibid.))
The Holy Father reaffirmed the original statute of CNEWA of 10 March 1926,((“6.) La C.N.E.W.A. rimane quale associazione permanente per gli scopi e le necessita spirituali delle Chiese, Missioni, Istituti e persone dipendenti dalla S.C. per la Chiesa Orientale e dalla Pontificia Commissione per la Russia; dovra pero organizzarsi ed esercitare la sua attivita strettamente a norma del suo Statuto originario, fissato nella lettera del 10 Marzo 1926 dell’E.mo Card. Sincero all’E.mo Cardinale Pietro Gasparri: quindi senza colletta alcuna a se propria, e non solo sotto il benevolo interessamento dell’E.mo Cardinale Hayes, Arcivescovo di New York, ma ancora sotto la sua immediata e personale direzione, colle norme esposte al N. 5 della precitata lettera, salvo le modifiche espresse nella presente.” (Ibid.) )) emphasizing that it was to conduct its activities under the immediate and personal direction of the Archbishop of New York.(( “6.) La C.N.E.W.A. rimane quale associazione permanente per gli scopi e le necessita spirituali delle Chiese, Missioni, Istituti e persone dipendenti dalla S.C. per la Chiesa Orientale e dalla Pontificia Commissione per la Russia; dovra pero organizzarsi ed esercitare la sua attivita strettamente a norma del suo Statuto originario, fissato nella lettera del 10 Marzo 1926 dell’E.mo Card. Sincero all’E.mo Cardinale Pietro Gasparri: quindi senza colletta alcuna a se propria, e non solo sotto il benevolo interessamento dell’E.mo Cardinale Hayes, Arcivescovo di New York, ma ancora sotto la sua immediata e personale direzione, colle norme esposte al N. 5 della precitata lettera, salvo le modifiche espresse nella presente.” (Ibid.) )) The archbishop was instructed to select a secular priest as the executive director of CNEWA with the title of Secretary,((“7.) L’E.mo Signor Cardinale Hayes, sentito Monsignor Delegato Apostolico, nominera, scegliendolo dal clero secolare, un Direttore degli offici della C.N.E.W.A., con incombenze di Segretario; e nulla osta che egli possa essere lo stesso Direttore Generale della Propagazione della Fede.” (Ibid.) )) and the pope made some detailed provisions for the Mission Sunday collection((“2.) La colletta stabilita in una domenica dell’anno = e detta percio “Mission Sunday” = allo scopo di dare campo a tutti, anche a quelli che non sono membri dell’associazione della Propagazione della Fede, di contribuire al mantenimento delle Missioni, dovra intendersi destinata, come infatti il Santo Padre destina, a provvedere non soltanto alle Home=missions e alle missioni e necessita della Propagazione della Fede fra gli infedeli, ma anche alle missioni e bisogni spirituali del Vicino Oriente e della Russia.” (Ibid.). Cf. also sections 1, 3, 4, and 5 )) and the proper fund-raising activities of CNEWA.((Ibid., section 10))
The next year the Holy Father sent Msgr. Amleto G. Cicognani, the Assessor of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, to the United States as his personal representative to convey his dispositions for CNEWA and to see to their implementation. On 6 June 1931, a special meeting of CNEWA’s Board of Directors was held in New York City for the purpose of reorganizing CNEWA in accordance with the directives of the Holy Father. At that meeting, the Archbishop of New York was elected its President and Treasurer, and CNEWA was placed entirely under hierarchical control.((Cf. Minutes of a meeting of the Directors of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 6 June 1931))
The satisfaction of Pope Pius XI with these new arrangements was communicated to the Archbishop of New York((Luigi Cardinal Sincero, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, letter to Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop of New York, 6 August 1931)) and to the Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church.((Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, Secretary of State of His Holiness, letter to Luigi Cardinal Sincero, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, 20 August 1931)) The pope also made some further dispositions for CNEWA. They included the provision that it was to remain under the presidency of the Cardinal Archbishop of New York,((“1). La C.N.E.W.A. rimane, come ente a se, sotto la presidenza dell’E.mo Cardinale Arcivescovo di New York;…” (Ibid.) )) a charge to the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church to furnish information to the Secretary of CNEWA about the Church in the Orient,((“I.) La S.C. pro Eccl. Orient. dovra constantemente fornire al Segretario Nazionale della C.N.E.W.A. informazioni di carattere religiose e morale sulle cristianita cattoliche d’Oriente, onde metterlo in grado di svolgere attraverso la C.N.E.W.A. stessa, un’efficace opera illustrativa e intellettuale, che serva a far conoscere l’Oriente, le sue missioni e i suoi bisogni;” (Sincero, letter to Hayes, op. cit.) )) a mandate to CNEWA also to concern itself with public relations and the education of the faithful about the condition of the communities of the East,((“II.) l’attivita della C.N.E.W.A., oltre che con quelle forme particolari che l’E.V. credera bene, volta a volta, di farle adottare, si svolgera, d’ordinario, con pubblicita su giornali e riviste e con mantenere, =a mezzo di foglietti di propaganda e di lettere periodiche=, contatto con i benefattori dei quali essa conosce i nomi; e neppure e esclusa una saggia divulgazione delle questioni cattoliche=orientali attraverso conferenze che occasionalmente voglia tenere lo stesso Segretario della C.N.E.W.A. o altri sacerdoti e propagandisti, sempre d’intesa con l’E.V.” (Ibid.)
“II). Tale attivita dovra essere sopratutto volta ad un lavoro di divulgazione sullo stato del Cattolicismo nel Vicino Oriente e in Russia, e cio mediante pubblicita sui periodici cattolici, e con ogni altro mezzo che si riveli atto ad illustrare ai fedeli le reali condizioni religiose e morali delle comunita dell’Oriente.
“III). Altro compito principale della C.N.E.W.A sara di mantenere nutrito contatto con i benefattori dei quali possiede gli elenchi, segnalando loro, con lettere personali e foglietti periodici di propaganda, le condizioni delle missioni, ed invitandoli a generosa contribuzione per la Mission Sunday.” (Pacelli, letter to Sincero, 20 August 1931, op. cit.) )) and some additional instructions about the apportionment and handling of the Mission Sunday collection.((Cf. Sincero, ibid., section IV, and Pacelli, ibid., sections III and IV ))
From this point forward, the role and proper activities of CNEWA were clear. The renewed satisfaction of the Holy See was communicated to the Archbishop of New York as President of CNEWA,((“His Eminence stated that the letters received from the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church showed that the Holy See is satisfied with the work of the Association. He mentioned the gratitude of His Eminence Cardinal Sincero for the generosity of the benefactors and the support that is being given to the missions in the Near East by the Association.” (Minutes of a Meeting of the Directors of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 8 October 1934) )) and the funds obtained from the Mission Sunday collection or procured directly by CNEWA itself, such as Mass stipends, educational burses, designated gifts, and other special contributions, were regularly forwarded to the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church or to other institutions as requested by the Holy Father or by the Congregation.((Ibid., “Synopsis of Financial Statement, Sept. 1, 1931 to Aug. 31, 1934” ))
CNEWA continued to operate under its Pennsylvania civil charter until 14 December 1942, when it was re-incorporated according to the laws of the State of New York.((“SECOND: The purposes for which this corporation is to be formed are: “To support the pastoral mission and institutions of the Catholic Churches of the East and to provide humanitarian assistance to the needy and afflicted without regard to nationality, race or religion, particularly in the Near or Middle East, Eastern Europe, Western Asia and also in other lands, and to further the spiritual welfare of the peoples therein; in relation thereto, to aid in erecting, equipping and maintaining churches, chapels, convents and appurtenant structures deemed necessary or useful; to aid in the organization, preparation, direction, support and maintenance of churches, chapels, missions, priests and missionaries in and for such purposes; for the accomplishing of its corporate purposes and the defraying of expenses incidental to the operations of the corporation, and subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by law, to solicit, accept, acquire, by grant, gift, purchase, devise or bequest, and to hold, possess, enjoy, hire, lease, sell and dispose of property, real, personal or mixed, or any interest therein, and whether absolute, outright or in trust; to invest and keep invested any funds of the corporation and collect and receive the income therefrom for its corporate purposes.” (Certificate of Incorporation of Catholic Near East Welfare Association as amended 8 December 1992) ))
This reorganization of CNEWA and clarification of its mission still underlies the structure of CNEWA today.
II. LATER DEVELOPMENT OF CNEWA
After the tumultuous first five years, 1926-1931, when CNEWA was led by Father Edmund Walsh, the next significant stages in its development were the period 1931-1949, a time of steady growth and service to the Eastern Catholic churches; the entrusting of the newly established “Pontifical Mission for Palestine” to CNEWA in 1949 and the subsequent development of programs of emergency aid and social development; and, since 1985, the development of new structures for local program oversight, of ecumenical and interreligious activities, and of an expansion of CNEWA’s promotional activities through national offices.
In support of the Eastern Catholic churches
Following the intervention of the Oriental Congregation in 1931 and the clarification of the nature and mission of CNEWA, the organization began to concentrate its efforts on supporting the Eastern Catholic churches and the persons and institutions under the jurisdiction of the Oriental Congregation.
Initially, the staff of the Congregation were intimately involved in the work of CNEWA. An “Ufficio CNEWA” was created within the Congregation to coordinate the transmission of requests for funding and the disbursement of funds to and from CNEWA’s administrative center in New York City. The names of each donor to the work of CNEWA and the amounts of their contributions were sent to the Oriental Congregation, and the prefect of the Congregation himself would send a letter of acknowledgment and thanks to each.
As the years passed, since CNEWA was heavily involved in supporting institutions, especially the seminaries, novitiates, and orphanages of the Eastern Catholic churches, a sponsorship program was devised, with great success, to interest individuals in their support and to raise money for them. This, of course, tremendously increased the amount of correspondence and
record keeping The Oriental Congregation decided to leave the acknowledgment of donor gifts to CNEWA’s general secretary in New York, while the disbursement of funds in support of institutions and projects continued to be made by the Congregation itself.
Emergency relief and social development
On 18 June 1949, out of his concern for the plight of Palestinian refugees in the aftermath of the Israeli-Arab struggle of the previous year, Pope Pius XII decided that the work of humanitarian and charitable assistance of the Holy See for Palestine and all those afflicted by war there was to be consolidated and formalized by the establishment of a special “Pontifical Mission for Palestine.”((“It has pleased the Holy Father, in his lively concern for Palestine and for all those affected by the recent war there, to set up a Pontifical Mission for Palestine.” (Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, Secretary, Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church, Instruction, 18 June 1949) )) Its direction was entrusted to the Secretary of CNEWA, and it was mandated to conduct its activities in Palestine and in the neighboring countries of the Middle East so as to make available to every exiled or needy Palestinian the charity of the pope and of all Catholics of the world.((“Invited to preside over this Mission is the Rev. Msgr. Thomas McMahon, National Secretary of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association in the U.S.A., and a person well known in the field of charity to the East.
“The Pontifical Mission, needless to say, will have its headquarters in Palestine, and will conduct its activities in that region and in the neighboring countries, so as to make available to every exiled or needy Palestinian the charity of the Pope and of all Catholics of the world.” (Ibid.) ))
Because it was only a few years after the conclusion of World War II and at that time the Catholic Church in the United States was in a better condition to support charitable aid than the church in Europe, the Holy See especially sought the help of U.S. Catholic agencies. CNEWA was asked to assist the Pontifical Mission for Palestine in accomplishing its work.((“We exhort relief agencies everywhere to assist your Mission in accomplishing its important work; and, in this regard, We address particularly those bodies to whom this appeal was made from the beginning: the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, Catholic Relief Services – National Catholic Welfare Conference, the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.” (Pope Paul VI, autographed letter to Our Beloved Son, Joseph T. Ryan, Our Domestic Prelate, President of the Pontifical Commission for Palestine, 7 October 1963) )) Since the Mission lacked civil status in the United States, CNEWA made appeals for its work and collected funds for it. CNEWA also provided the administrative and financial support necessary for the Pontifical Mission’s operations in addition to most of the means of assistance for the persons it served.((“Particularly praiseworthy is the vital contribution of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, which, through the unflagging generosity of the Catholics of the United States of America, provides most of the means of alleviating the pains of the homeless. (A.G. Cardinal Cicognani, Secretary of State of His Holiness, letter to the Right Reverend Monsignor John G. Nolan, President, Pontifical Mission for Palestine, 8 April 1968) ))
Better to direct this
work, a field headquarters office for the Pontifical Mission was set up in Beirut. Because of political circumstances and to more effectively administer the program, other offices were later established in Jerusalem and Amman. Some years later a special office was set up in Rome to promote the projects of the Pontifical Mission among European donor organizations and agencies.
Although originally envisaged as a short-term, emergency program, the work of the Pontifical Mission necessarily continued in the uncertain and troubled arena of the Middle East. By 1967, it had evolved from providing emergency assistance for refugees to assisting an entire population living under martial law with few or weak social institutions. With the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war, the beneficiaries of the work of the Pontifical Mission began to be not only Palestinians but also Lebanese. With the Gulf War, its work extended to Iraqi refugees. By the time of its 50th anniversary in 1999 it had become and was generally recognized as the Holy See’s overall development agency for the Middle East.((“…it is in no small way through you and your support of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine that the Church is able to be actively and effectively present in the Holy Land and in the Middle East. I pray that you and all those associated with the work of the Mission will be renewed in faith and love as you seek ever better ways of helping those in need not only of material support but especially of opportunities for personal and social development. This is the surest path for establishing a true and lasting peace in the lives of the peoples of the Middle East.” (Pope John Paul II, address to the representatives of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine received in audience on 9 December 1999 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its foundation.) ))
The Pontifical Mission for Palestine is canonically distinct from CNEWA; however in practice they have a unified administration. The Pontifical Mission, in addition to its proper activities of emergency aid and social development, also administers programs of CNEWA. In effect, it functions as the Middle East
operating agency of CNEWA.
On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, Pope Pius XII, in an autographed letter to its President, Francis Cardinal Spellman, congratulated CNEWA for its work of safeguarding and fostering the faith among the Catholics of the Oriental rites and for its magnanimous cooperation with the Pontifical Mission. The Holy Father expressed his continuous need for assistance for all the peoples of the Near East and Eastern Catholics and his hopes and prayers for the expansion of the membership and work of CNEWA.((Cf. Pius XII, op. cit.))
New structures for local program oversight
To assist the transmissions of funds for CNEWA’s needy child sponsorship program in Ethiopia, the “Ufficio CNEWA” within the Congregation for the Eastern Churches engaged the services of local staff in Addis Ababa. Meanwhile, the New York office of CNEWA was utilizing the part-time services of local Ethiopian staff for project oversight. As responsibility for the disbursement of needy child sponsorship funds moved from the “Ufficio CNEWA” and the Congregation in Rome to CNEWA’s administrative headquarters in New York, it was decided to organize in 1986 a regional office in Addis Ababa to assume responsibility for
all programmatic disbursements, whether subsidies to institutions or grants for programs and projects.
While D. Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy was Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, responsibility for needy child sponsorship program disbursements and then seminarian and novice sponsorship program disbursements was transferred to the New York
office of CNEWA.
When Achille Cardinal Silvestrini became the Prefect of the Congregation, he encouraged CNEWA to manage the transmissions of all funds, including grants for projects and programs, directly from New York, rather than through the “Ufficio CNEWA” within the Congregation. Later, on 11 June 1994, these procedures were formalized and, in response to Cardinal Silvestrini’s request, the “Ufficio CNEWA” was removed from the Congregation and joined to the existing Pontifical Mission office in Rome. The changes were considered ad experimentum for a period of five years.((“The Congregation for the Oriental Churches has no objection regarding these ten points, and I, therefore, hereby express the agreement of this Congregation to their implementation for an experimental period of five years. From the Vatican, 11 June 1944, Achille Cardinal Silvestrini, Prefect. Miroslav Maruysn, Secretary” (Ten point document entitled “Relocation of the CNEWA Vatican Office”) )) In 1999, they were deemed satisfactory and made permanent.
With the war and the increased post-war tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, an auxiliary CNEWA office, affiliated with the regional CNEWA office in Addis Ababa, was established in Asmara to serve Eritrea. By 2003, it was judged opportune to make this a separate regional office in its own right.
The same year, another regional office was established in Ernakulam to ensure better oversight of the extensive program of CNEWA in India, and responsibility for much of the operational detail concerned with institutional subsidies and the agency’s three person-to-person sponsorship programs was transferred to the new office.
A characteristic of all of these CNEWA and Pontifical Mission offices is that they are available to assist the dicasteries of the Holy See, especially the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, as well as any and all Catholic donor agencies in assessmentof local applications for subsidies or grants, in the administration of programmatic disbursements, and in supplying appropriate and supporting reports.
The innovative programs of personal sponsorship of the education and formation of individual seminarians and novices and of the care of individual orphaned or needy children developed by CNEWA had great success. Also the membership of CNEWA gradually expanded to include Catholics in Canada and, to a lesser extent, Mexico and other countries, to the point that CNEWA became the principal animator and collector in North America of assistance for the Near East.((“The present canonical mission of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association is to be an animator and collector of assistance in North America for the needy in other parts of the world…” (Wladyslaw Cardinal Rubin, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Churches, letter to the Most Rev. John J. O’Connor, D.D., Archbishop of New York and President of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 9 May 1985) ))
Ecumenical and interreligious activities
The restructuring of CNEWA initiated in 1985 under the presidency of John Cardinal O’Connor not only led to a major expansion of programmatic activities and the development of additional regional offices, but to a renewed and greater emphasis on the ecumenical aspect of CNEWA’s foundational mission. Although the primary beneficiaries of CNEWA’s funding activities continued to be the Eastern Catholic churches and their institutions and programs, increasingly support began to be given to the Orthodox and other churches in the countries within CNEWA’s area of service.
This was a conscious and deliberate return to CNEWA’s original mandate, inherited from the Catholic Union, to work for the union of the Orthodox churches with the Holy See and to make CNEWA active in the “dialogue of charity.” By extension, some deployment of CNEWA’s resources also began to be made to assist Muslims and other non-Christians through their participation in CNEWA’s works of charity.
Expansion of CNEWA
With the strong encouragement of not only its own episcopal Board of Trustees but also the Prefects of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, first Achille Cardinal Silvestrini and then Ignace Moussa I Cardinal Daoud, plans were developed for the creation of branch, national offices of CNEWA to raise public awareness of the Eastern churches and the countries in which they are located and to solicit funds for their subvention.((“For several years this Congregation has been studying the possibility of expanding this pontifical work in favor of the Eastern Catholic Churches to other countries, especially those with a significant presence of Eastern Catholic faithful. At the Encounter of Eastern Catholic hierarchs from the Americas and Oceania convoked by this Congregation in November, 1999, it was recommended that the expansion of C.N.E.W.A. to Canada, Latin America, and Australia be studied.” (Ignace Moussa I Cardinal Daoud, Syrian Catholic Patriarch Emeritus of Antioch, Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, letter to the Most Reverend Jacques Berthelet, C.S.V., President, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, 5 June 2002) ))
Under the leadership of Archbishop Marcel Gervais of Ottawa, “CNEWA Canada” was organized and incorporated. This prompted the separation of a distinct “CNEWA United States” and a restructuring of the governance of the central, mother organization of CNEWA.
Presently, in
response to expressions of interest and requests from Eastern Catholic bishops in Australia and Latin America and to initiatives of the “Catholica Unio” in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland seeking closer collaboration with CNEWA, the development of other national or regional offices is under study.
III. MISSION AND GOALS
CNEWA is a special agency of the Holy See, an international association of the Christian faithful,((“Ad erigendas consociationes publicas auctoritas comptens est: 1. pro consociationibus universalibus atque internationalibus, Sancta Sedes…” (Codex Iuris Canonici, Can. 312) )) established by Pope Pius XI in 1926 out of his concern for Russia and the Near East.((Cf. Sincero, letter to Gasparri, op. cit., and Gasparri op. cit., passim
“These sufferings, moreover, and the petitions for help, because of their very nature and the condition of the countries where they exist, still continue and will doubtless long continue. God alone can tell the time when, happily, Our assistance will no longer be needed. For these reasons, it was judged proper, not to say necessary, to constitute the CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION on a permanent basis. It is, therefore, a supreme consolation to Us to know that the work has been so founded and We impart a special benediction for its perseverance. Having thus taken stable and permanent form it well merits to be called Pontifical both for the benefits it has bestowed in the past and the promise it holds for the future.” (Pius XI, letter to Walsh, op. cit.) )) It supports the pastoral mission of the Catholic churches of the East—the needs of the churches, institutions and persons under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches and the Permanent Interdicasterial Commission for the Church in Eastern Europe((“…I am terminating the Pontifical Council [sic] for Russia, giving thanks to God for all the good work which it has brought to the Church and to the many faithful of Russian descent for nearly 70 years, and also thanking everyone who worked during those many harsh years to fulfil its important function. At the same time, in accord with the norm of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor bonus (Art.21, §2), I am establishing the Permanent Interdicasterial Commission for the Church in Eastern Europe…” (Pope John Paul II, Motu Proprio Europae orientalis, 15 January 1993) ))—and provides humanitarian assistance to the needy and afflicted without regard to nationality or creed. It also has been entrusted by the Holy Father with responsibility for promoting the union of the Catholic and Orthodox churches. It raises and distributes funds to help meet the material and spiritual needs of the people it serves.((“1. D’ora in poi tutte le organizzazioni che esplicano negli Stati Uniti di America la loro attivita in aiuto ai Russi ed alle regioni del vicino Oriente, ossia in generale per tutte le finalita proprie della S. C. Pro Ecclesia Orientali e della Commissione Pro Russia debbono unirsi e rimanere unite in una sola organizzazione, sotto una unica direzione.” (Sincero, ibid.)
“La C.N.E.W.A. rimane quale associazione permanente per gli scopi e le necessita spirituali delle Chiese, Missioni, Istituti e persone dipendenti dalla S.C. per la Chiesa Orientale e dalla Pontificia Commissione per la Russia;…” (Pacelli, letter to Sincero, 28 June 1930, op. cit.)
“In this year of grace the solemn celebration of the fifteenth centenary of the Council of Chalcedon turns Our thoughts and Our affections in an especial manner to Our beloved children of the venerable Christian Churches of the East. It was on their behalf, to fulfil an important need, that the Pontifical Mission Aid Society – the Catholic Near East Welfare Association – was erected in the year 1926,…
“With the effectiveness which springs from unity of effort, it has worked with a will, throughout the twenty-five years of its existence, to safeguard and foster the precious heritage of the Faith among untold numbers of Catholics of Oriental Rite. These faithful are chiefly concentrated in the various countries of the vast expanse of territory which extends from Central and Eastern Europe to North-East Africa and the Near East, and also along the Malabar coast of India, and the beneficent work of the Association has been a constant support to their clergy and religious.” (Pius XII, op. cit.) ))
CNEWA works on behalf of the Christian East—that is, those lands in which, from ancient times, the majority of Christians are members of the various Eastern churches. Its mandate extends to the churches and peoples of the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India, and Eastern Europe and to Eastern Catholics everywhere.((Pius XII, ibid.
“Congregazione per le Chiese Orientali…ha potere esclusivo nelle seguenti regioni: Egitto e penisola del Sinai, Eritrea ed Etiopia del Nord, Albania meridionale, Bulgaria, Cipro, Grecia, Iran, Iraq, Libano, Palestina, Siria, Giordania, Turchia (Cost. Ap. Pastor Bonus, nn. 56-61) e nell’Afghanistan (ud. 7 ag. 1950).” (Annuario Pontificio, 1990, Note Storiche, pp. 1644-1645)
“…Pio XI stabiliva che il clero e i fedeli russi di rito latino “qui in patrio solo degunt” rimanessero soggetti alla Commissione per la Russia…” (Ibid., p. 1641) )) It goals include the encouragement of and provision of assistance to projects and programs of pastoral support, humanitarian assistance, interfaith communication, and public awareness.
Pastoral support
Preparing church leadership. CNEWA assists local episcopal conferences, bishops, priests, religious, and lay leaders to build and maintain a living church. It helps in the recruitment, education and spiritual formation of priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, lay leaders and missionaries.((“SECOND: The purposes for which this corporation is to be formed are: “To propagate and spread the doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Religion particularly in the Near or Middle East, Eastern Europe, Western Asia and also in other lands, and to further the spiritual welfare of the peoples therein; in relation thereto, to aid in erecting, equipping and maintaining churches, chapels, convents and appurtenant structures deemed necessary or useful; to aid in the organization, preparation, direction, support and maintenance of churches, chapels, missions, priests and missionaries in and for such purposes;…” (Certificate of Incorporation of Catholic Near East Welfare Association) ))
Facilitating priestly ministry. CNEWA, through Mass offerings received from its benefactors, not only ensures prayers for their intentions but also provides material support to priests to help facilitate their ministry.((Ibid.))
Building church institutions. CNEWA helps build, equip and maintain seminaries and convents, churches and chapels, rectories, parish schools and other structures necessary for pastoral purposes.((Ibid.))
Assisting the Holy See. CNEWA assists the Holy Father by collaborating with and supporting the work of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, the Permanent Interdicasterial Commission for the Church in Eastern Europe, the Pontifical Mission for Palestine,((“In the hour of need, in the tragic events which, in recent times, have saddened the lives and darkened the future of so many of Our dearly-loved children in the Holy Land, the Association gave admirable proof of that spirit of Christian fellowship by providing essential supplies to the thousands who were forced to flee their homesteads. By the magnanimous co-operation which it is daily giving to the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, it is nobly seconding Our efforts to alleviate the desperate misery which was undermining the spirit of those rendered homeless and workless.” (Pius XII, op. cit.) )) the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and other agencies of the Holy See.
Humanitarian assistance
Responding to urgent human needs. CNEWA provides emergency assistance including food, clothing, medical care, temporary shelter and other basic necessities for the relief of suffering people, regardless of religious belief or nationality.((“II. The purposes for which the said Corporation is to be formed are as follows: Without profit to the Corporation or its members to solicit and procure the voluntary contribution of funds for the relief of suffering people, particularly children, regardless of religious belief, in Greece, Turkey, Armenia and other countries known as the Near East; to use and apply such funds for the care of neglected and orphaned children and to otherwise alleviate distress among people of these countries by transferring funds so procured to individual societies, hospitals, orphan asylums or other institutions in said countries, organized for said purposes or in such other manner as the Corporation may deem advisable for the relief of such distress; and in connection with the foregoing objects to establish and maintain such organizations and institutions and to utilize and employ such agencies as the Corporation may deem proper.” (Charter of The Catholic Near East Welfare Association)
“Formed from the union of the three charitable organizations promoted in the United States of America, during the years immediately following the first World War, for the relief of the sorely- tried and suffering members of the Church in the countries of the Near East, the Association emulated the example and fine zeal and the spirit of all-embracing charity which fired the priest founders of these organizations….
Scattered throughout these regions are numerous seminaries, schools, orphanages, hospitals and leprosaria which are tangible testimonies to the zealous work of the Directors of the Association and to the charity of the thousands of generous benefactors whose personal sacrifices have rendered such works possible.” (Pius XII, op. cit.) ))
Rehabilitating dwellings and institutions. CNEWA builds, repairs and renovates homes and educational, medical, charitable, religious and cultural institutions and assists these institutions to maintain and augment their programs.((Ibid. ))
Sustaining a network of human services. CNEWA, in collaboration with local church leaders and other agencies, establishes and maintains programs and institutions that care for needy children, the physically and mentally handicapped, the sick, the indigent, the homeless and the elderly.((Ibid.))
Collaborating with similar agencies. CNEWA collaborates with international, national and local pastoral, humanitarian and educational agencies and organizations committed to objectives similar to its own. It participates in the joint funding of programs and projects.((Ibid.))
Contributing to education. CNEWA supports primary, secondary, vocational and higher educational institutions and offers modest scholarship assistance to enable the disadvantaged to help themselves through specialized training and university-level education.
Advancing human development. CNEWA addresses and responds to developmental needs, complementing the work of specialized agencies, and makes grants for small scale development projects and programs.
Interfaith communication
Promoting Christian unity. CNEWA promotes Christian unity, especially among the churches of the East and the Holy See. It encourages and supports programs and projects of ecumenical awareness, education, formation and dialogue((“2. In particolare le due organizzazione, che fino ad ora hanno lavorato in quel campo, cioe la “Catholic Near East Welfare Association” e la “Catholica Unio” debbono unirsi e fondersi in una sola associazione. Il titolo di questa sera: “Catholic Near East Welfare Association”, quale titolo adatto e sufficiente per esprimere lo intento generale di tutte quelle sopradette organizzazioni, rimanendo pero ben inteso e dichiarato per sempre che esso comprende anche la “Catholic Unio” e le finalita che questa finora se era proposte.” (Sincero, letter to Gasparri, op. cit.)
“II). Tale attivita dovra essere sopratutto volta ad un lavoro di divulgazione sullo stato del Cattolicismo nel Vicino Oriente e in Russia, e cio mediante pubblicita sui periodici cattolici, e con ogni altro mezzo che si riveli atto ad illustrare ai fedeli le reali condizioni religiose e morali delle comunita dell’Oriente.” (Pacelli, letter to Sincero, 20 August 1931, op. cit.) )) and collaborates with other churches in pastoral and humanitarian activities.
Fostering interreligious dialogue. CNEWA promotes fraternal relations with non-Christians, especially Jews and Muslims, by activities fostering mutual understanding and respect and by collaboration in works of human development.
Public awareness
Raising consciousness about the East. CNEWA publicizes the religious, cultural, social and economic conditions of the churches and peoples of the East. It disseminates, through printed and electronic mass media, information about their history, traditions and faiths.((“II.) l’attivita della C.N.E.W.A., oltre che con quelle forme particolari che l’E.V. credera bene, volta a volta, di farle adottare, si svolgera, d’ordinario, con pubblicita su giornali e riviste e con mantenere, =a mezzo di foglietti di propaganda e di lettere periodiche=, contatto con i benefattori dei quali essa conosce i nomi; e neppure e esclusa una saggia divulgazione delle questioni cattoliche=orientali attraverso conferenze che occasionalmente voglia tenere lo stesso Segretario della C.N.E.W.A. o altri sacerdoti e propagandisti, sempre d’intesa con l’E.V.” (Sincero, letter to Hayes, op. cit.)
“II). Tale attivita dovra essere sopratutto volta ad un lavoro di divulgazione sullo stato del Cattolicismo nel Vicino Oriente e in Russia, e cio mediante pubblicita sui periodici cattolici, e con ogni altro mezzo che si riveli atto ad illustrare ai fedeli le reali condizioni religiose e morali delle comunita dell’Oriente.” (Pacelli, letter to Sincero, 20 August 1931, op. cit.) ))
Supporting educational programs. CNEWA, through its regular support for Middle East studies and other programs of public awareness and academic formation, helps raise consciousness about the conditions of the peoples and churches of the East and prepares religious and lay professionals to work for them.
Informing and animate members. CNEWA maintains close contact with its donors and members by means of personal communications encouraging their interest in CNEWA’s activities and their support for the missionary work of the church.((“III. Altro compito principale della C.N.E.W.A. sara di mantenere nutrito contatto con i benefattori dei quali possiede gli elenchi, segnalando loro, con lettere personali e foglietti periodici de propaganda, le condizioni delle missioni, ed invitandoli a generosa contribuzione per la Mission Sunday.” (Pacelli, Ibid.) ))
Encouraging intercultural communication. CNEWA promotes communication and mutual understanding and appreciation among people of different traditions, cultures, and faiths. It encourages person-to-person contacts between its supporters and people in the lands it serves, especially through its seminarian, novice, and needy child sponsorship programs. It also encourages person-to-person contacts through programs of study, travel and pilgrimage.
Advocating justice and peace. CNEWA advocates and promotes respect for human dignity and human rights, understanding among peoples, and justice and peace.
Administration
Procuring funds to support operations. CNEWA recruits new members and benefactors through direct mail, advertising and other marketing programs and enlists their support of its domestic and overseas operations. It also solicits financial support through corporate, foundation, and planned giving programs.
Assuring effective management. CNEWA is committed to the recruitment of well-motivated and dedicated staff and to the efficient and cost effective management of its developmental, financial, administrative, informational, programmatic and external services.
IV. STRUCTURE
CNEWA, although remaining one unified institution in accordance with canon law and the directives of the Holy See, utilizes as many civil corporate structures as may be necessary to the fulfillment of its mission.
Governance
Board of Trustees. The governing body of CNEWA is a Board of Trustees.((Cf. The Religious Corporation Law of the State of New York, Article 2
“The Trustees shall constitute the governing body of the Corporation and shall have such powers and authority as shall be conferred upon them by the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, and the general law.” (By-Laws of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (As amended 17 November 1988), IV. TRUSTEES, 4. Powers) )) The Archbishop of New York is a Trustee ex officio;((“The number of Trustees shall be nine, one of whom shall be the Archbishop of New York, ex officio; the remaining eight Trustees shall be elective Trustees. The Archbishop of New York shall hold the office of Trustee for a term which coincides with the term of his office as Archbishop of New York.” (Ibid., IV. TRUSTEES, 1. Number and Term of Office) )) the remaining Trustees are elected for terms of four years by the Board itself,((“The elective Trustees shall be elected for the terms and in the manner specified in Section 2 of this Article IV.” (Ibid.)
“At each Annual Meeting of Trustees…a number of elective Trustees equal to that of those whose terms have expired shall be elected for the term of four years.” (Ibid., IV. TRUSTEES, 2. Election and Terms of Elective Trustees) )) originally from among the cardinals, archbishops, and bishops of the United States((“5. Sara opportuno che l’Emmo Card. Hayes si compiaccia poi di pregare tutti gli Emmi Sig. Cardinali degli Stati Uniti, qualche Arcivescovo e Vescovo, perche vogliano formare con lui stesso un Comitato direttivo…” (Sincero, letter to Gasparri, op. cit.) )) and now also from the hierarchies of other countries where national branches of CNEWA have been established. The Trustees meet at least once every year on a date fixed by the Archbishop of New York.((“The Trustees of the Corporation shall meet at least once every year on a date fixed by the President.” (By-Laws, op. cit., V. MEETINGS, 1. Annual Meeting) ))
President. The Archbishop of New York is ex officio the President of CNEWA((“1) La C.N.E.W.A. rimane, come ente a se, sotto la presidenza dell’E.mo Cardinale Arcivescovo di New York;…” (Pacelli, letter to Sincero, 20 August 1931, op. cit.) )) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is responsible for the overall supervision and direction of CNEWA.((“The Archbishop of New York shall hold the office of President for a term which coincides with his office as Archbishop of New York. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees and generally supervise and direct the activities of the Corporation. He shall have full power to make, execute, and deliver all documents on behalf of the Corporation. He shall appoint all Special Committees and shall fill vacancies in all appointed committees for the unexpired term thereof. He shall perform such other duties and shall exercise such other powers as may be assigned him by the Board of Trustees….” (By-Laws, op. cit., VI. OFFICERS, 5. President) ))
Vice-President. The Vice-President of CNEWA is elected by the Board of Trustees from among its members at its Annual Meeting for a term of one year. In the event of the absence, disability or death of the President, the Vice-President presides at all meetings of the Board of Trustees and in all other respects performs the duties of the President.((“The Vice-President shall be elected by the Board of Trustees from among its members at its Annual Meeting. The Vice-President shall serve for a term of one year or until the expiration of his term as Trustee, whichever is shorter in duration, and may be re- elected. In the event of the absence, disability, or death of the President, the Vice-President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Trustees and in all other respects perform the duties of the President. He shall perform such other duties and shall exercise such other powers as may be assigned him by the Board of Trustees….” (Ibid., VI. OFFICERS, 6. Vice-President) ))
Treasurer. The Archbishop of New York is ex officio the Treasurer of CNEWA.((Cf. Minutes of a meeting of the Directors of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 6 June 1931)) He is responsible for the overall management of the business affairs and assets of CNEWA.((“The Archbishop of New York shall hold the office of Treasurer for a term which coincides with his office as Archbishop of New York. The Treasurer shall be charged with the general management of the business affairs and property of the Corporation. He shall have full power to sign all checks, drafts, and notes on behalf of the Corporation and shall have the custody of the bank accounts and other assets of the Corporation. He shall have full power to make, execute, and deliver all contracts. He shall prepare a statement on the financial status of the Corporation to be presented to Board of Trustees at its Annual Meeting. He shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be assigned to him by the Board of Trustees….” (By-Laws, op. cit., VI. OFFICERS, 7. Treasurer) ))
Secretary General. The Secretary General of CNEWA is nominated by the President and elected by the Board of Trustees at its Annual Meeting to serve for such term as the Board may determine. The Secretary General is the chief executive officer of CNEWA. He is responsible for directing it, under the supervision of the President, in support of the mission, plans, and policies approved by the Board of Trustees.((“7.) L’E.mo Signor Cardinale Hayes, sentito Monsignor Delegato Apostolico, nominera, scegliendolo dal clero secolare, un Direttore degli offici della C.N.E.W.A., con incombenze di Segretario;…” (Pacelli, letter to Sincero, 28 June 1930, op. cit.)
“The Secretary General shall be nominated by the President and elected by the Board of Trustees at its Annual Meeting to serve for such term as the Board may designate. The Secretary General shall, under the direction of the President, transact all the routine business of the Corporation and put into effect the policies and regulations adopted by the Trustees. The Secretary General shall attend all meetings of the Trustees and shall keep the minutes and records of the Board of Trustees and maintain a minute book of the affairs and meetings of the Board of Trustees. He shall see that due and proper notice is given of all meetings of the Trustees. He shall have and retain custody of the seal of the Corporation and shall have the power to affix the seal to all documents and to certify to the correctness of any transcript of any part of the records of the Corporation. He shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be assigned to him by the Board of Trustees…or the President.” (By-Laws, op. cit., VI. OFFICERS, 8. Secretary General) ))
Associate Secretary General. An Associate Secretary General of CNEWA is nominated by the Secretary General and elected by the Board of Trustees at its Annual Meeting to serve for such term as the Board may determine. This Associate Secretary General assists the Secretary General in directing the operations of CNEWA in accordance with the strategic plans and evolving mission approved by the Secretary General. In the absence of the Secretary General, this Associate Secretary General performs the duties of the Secretary General.((“The Associate Secretary General shall be nominated by the Secretary General and elected by the Board of Trustees at its Annual Meeting to serve for such term as the Board may designate. The Associate Secretary General shall assist the Secretary General in transacting all the routine business of the Corporation and in putting into effect the policies and regulations adopted by the Trustees. In the event of the absence, disability, or death of the Secretary General he shall perform the duties of the Secretary General. He shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as may be assigned to him by the Board of Trustees…or the Secretary General.” (Ibid., VI. OFFICERS, 9. Associate Secretary General) ))
National Secretaries. In those countries where national branches of CNEWA have been created, a National Secretary is nominated by the Secretary General and elected by the Board of Directors of the national branch at its Annual Meeting to serve for such term as the Secretary General may propose and the Board may determine. Each National Secretary is the chief executive officer of the national branch of CNEWA. He is responsible for supervising the affairs and operations of the national branch in cooperation with the Secretary General.
Other officials. Other Associate, Under, and Assistant Secretaries General, and other officers are appointed by the Secretary General to serve for such term as he may designate.
Headquarters
CNEWA, as a corporation incorporated under the religious corporations law of the State of New York State, maintains its principal office in that state.((“FOURTH: Its principal office is to be situated in the Borough of Manhattan, City, County and State of New York.” (Certificate of Incorporation of Catholic Near East Welfare Association) )) As a public association of the Christian faithful placed under the direction and presidency of the Archbishop of New York by the Holy See,((“4. E’ necessario che la suddetta Associazione “Catholic Near East Welfare Association” sia messa sotto l’immediata direzione di un Vescovo. Attesi i precedenti e l’interessamento benevolo gia personalmente prestato dall’ Emmo Sig. Card. Hayes, questa S. C. con la Commissione Pro Russia trova quanto mai opportuno che l’Arcivescovo di New York sia la persona designata a tale scopo e quindi desiderabile che l’ Emmo Card. Hayes sia inteso e dalla S. Sede pregato a darvi il suo consenso.” (Sincero, letter to Gasparri, op. cit.)
“6.) La C.N.E.W.A….dovra pero organizzarsi ed esercitare la sua attivita strettamente a norma del suo Statuto originario, fissato nella lettera del 10 Marzo 1926 dell’E.mo Card. Sincero all’E.mo Cardinale Pietro Gasparri: quindi…non solo sotto il benevolo interessamento dell’E.mo Cardinale Hayes, Arcivescovo di New York, ma ancora sotto la sua immediata e personale direzione, colle norme esposte al N. 5 della precitata lettera, salvo le modifiche espresse nella presente.” (Pacelli, letter to Sincero, 28 June 1930, op. cit.)
“1). La C.N.E.W.A. rimane, come ente a se, sotto la presidenza dell’E.mo Cardinale Arcivescovo di New York;…” (Pacelli, letter to Sincero, 20 August 1931, op. cit.) )) CNEWA maintains its central office Rome and considers its New York office as its administrative headquarters.
Membership
Any person who approves of the purposes of CNEWA and who agrees to submit to its rules and regulations is eligible for membership in CNEWA. Membership consists of active members and passive members as regulated by the Board of Trustees.(( “Any person who approves of the purposes of the Corporation and who agrees to submit to its rules and regulations is eligible for membership in the Corporation. Membership consists of active members and passive members as shall be regulated by the Board of Trustees.” (By-Laws, op. cit., III. MEMBERS, 1. Membership) ))
The active members of CNEWA are the Trustees themselves.((“Active members of the Corporation shall be those persons who from time to time constitute its Board of Trustees.” (Ibid., III. MEMBERS, 2. Active Members) )) The passive members are the voluntary donors and benefactors of CNEWA.((“Passive members are voluntary donors for spiritual purposes and acquire neither voice nor voting rights nor any interest in the assets of the Corporation or their distribution.” (Ibid., III. MEMBERS, 3. Passive Members) ))
Policies
The policies of CNEWA are determined by its Board of Trustees. CNEWA conducts its activities in accordance with the dispositions of the Holy Father and the policies of the Holy See.