Curriculum Vitae
of His Grace, The Most Reverend Issam John Darwish, BSO,DD,
Melkite Greek-Catholic Eparch of Australia and New Zealand
Early Life and Spiritual Education
1945 Born in Damascus, Syria, the son of Hanna (John) Khoury Darwish and Naayem, née Mayaleh. He is the grandson of the late Rev Fr Peter (Boutros) Khoury Darwish.
1965 - 1972 Primary and secondary education completed at Holy Saviour College, near Sidon, South Lebanon. Obtained Bachelors Degree in Philosophy and Theology from the University of St Joseph, Beirut, and the Holy Spirit University, Kaslik, Jounieh, Lebanon.
1971 Ordained a Deacon at Holy Saviour Monastery, Lebanon.
1972 Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on 17 September at Holy Saviour Monastery, near Saida, Lebanon, by the late Archbishop Saba Youakim.
Service in Lebanon
1972 – 1976
Director of Holy Saviour School and Director of its Minor Seminary.
1972 – 1993
Chaplain (Aumonier) to the International Apostolic Movement of Children (MIDADE / IAMC) in Lebanon.
1976 – 1978
Director of the orphanage, "Providence Home", Salhieh, Sidon - South Lebanon.
1977 Founded a training centre for adults in South Lebanon, and many centres of "Colonie de Vacance" in Lebanon.
1978 – 1983
Superior of Holy Saviour College in Joun - near Sidon (Saida), South Lebanon, in its two divisions Seminary and Laity.
1983 – 1996
Director of "Friendship Home" in Zahle, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.
1983 Founded and built St Joseph High School at Houch El Omara, Zahle, Lebanon.
1985 Founded, built and managed the Friendship Technical School at Fourzol in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.
1987 Established in France, the "Children of Lebanon Association".
1987 Founded, built and managed the "Friendship Village" for orphans at Ksara near Zahle, Lebanon.
1988 Established in Zahle a centre for "Caring for Children at Home".
1988 Founded the "Centre for Peace Education" in Bekaa West, Lebanon.
1988 Founded a welfare association for the elderly, Zahle, Lebanon.
1990 Founded and built the Cooperative Productive factory for the students of the Friendship Technical School at Fourzol, Bekaa, Lebanon.
1989 – 1995
Elected Second Consulter of the Basilian Salvatorian Order.
1990 – 1996
Elected a Representative of the International Catholic Bureau for Children, in Lebanon.
1990 – 1996
Elected a Member of the International Committee for Adult Training, in France.
1995
Finalised the building plans for the Hospitality College at Fourzol in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.
1995 Elected Vicar General of the Basilian Salvatorian Order.
Throughout his life, Bishop Issam John Darwish has been noted for his willingness to face challenges and to overcome difficulties. During the civil war in Lebanon, he confronted the tragic predicament of orphans and homeless children and he responded by building orphanages, safe havens and technical schools in the hope of preparing these children for a better future. It is to be remembered that Fr Issam placed no religious test in his apostolic ministry and community work with the children and youth who belonged to all the Lebanese Religious denominations.
September 1989, the President of the Republic of Lebanon, His Excellency, The Honorable Elias Harawi, awarded him with the Gold Medal for Services to Education in Lebanon, which was presented by the Minister for Education, Sheikh Boutros Harb.
Eparch of Australia
On Saturday 11 May 1996, and following his election by the Holy Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, as a Bishop of the Melkite Catholic Church in Australia, the Episcopal Ordination was celebrated in the Cathedral of our Lady of Deliverance, in Zahle. The principal consecrator was the late Patriarch, Maximos V Hakim, assisted by Archbishops François Abou Moch and André Haddad.
Service in Australia
2 June 1996
The newly consecrated Bishop Issam John was enthroned as Melkite Greek-Catholic Eparch of Australia by the Patriarchal Legates, His Grace, Archbishop François Abou Moch, and, His Grace Archbishop John Mansour. The official title of the Eparchy is "The Eparchy of St Michael the Archangel of Sydney for the -Melkite Greek Catholics of Australia and New Zealand”. His Grace, Bishop Issam John Darwish observes his patronal feast "name day" on the feast of St John the Evangelist which is celebrated on 8 May.
1997 Established the first Melkite Catholic Centre in Australia, including the Bishop's Chancery, Welfare Community Centre and clergy residence.
1997 Elected as the Secretary of the Melkite Catholic Bishops in the Diaspora.
1998 Established the Melkite Welfare Association in Australia which deals with community welfare and migration settlements.
1999 His Holiness, Pope John Paul II granted His Grace Bishop Issam John Darwish the responsibility of the Melkite Catholics in New Zealand.
2000 - Established the Church of St Elias the Prophet in Auckland, New Zealand.
- Established the first school for the Melkite Catholics in Australia, named "Holy Saviour”, in Greenacre (NSW).
- Established St George’s Mission in Canberra, (ACT).
- Founded the Seminary of St Gregory the Theologian at the Melkite Catholic Centre, Greenacre (NSW).
- Presented courses in Byzantine theological studies and/or the education of prospective clergy and lay theologians.
- Hosted the second International Conference of Melkite Catholic Bishops in the Diaspora in both Sydney and Melbourne.
2003 - Founded the Australian Christian Muslim Friendship Society.
- Elected member of the Bishops Commission for Ecumenism and
Inter-religious Relations of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, and was re-elected in 2009.
2004 Established new parishes: St Rita at Liverpool (NSW) and Our Lady of Dormition at Schofields (NSW).
2008 Built the Parish Hall in St Elias the Prophet, Guilford (NSW).
Established a Child Care Centre at Guildford (NSW).
Received the 2008 Australian Affinity Award for Interfaith Dialogue.
2010 Built and consecrated a multi-purpose hall for Holy Saviour School, Greenacre (NSW).
Spiritual and Cultural Publications
2000 Established the Melkite Press to publish activities of the Eparchy.
2005 Established The Melkite Journal.
2007 Published a book in Arabic titled: "The Face of Christ – A Vision from the East” "وجه المسيح – رؤية من الشرق ”
2007 Published a book in English "A Bridge for Unity”, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Australia.
2009 Published the Statutes of the Eparchy of St Michael of Sydney for Melkite Greek Catholics in Australia and New Zealand, in both English and Arabic.
2009 Published a book in Lebanon titled "A journey with Saint Paul”.
2010 Published a book in Lebanon titled "The Priest! Identity and Mission”.
2000 – 2010 Wrote weekly spiritual articles in the Melkite Pastoral Link.
2000 – 2010 Published various liturgical books for the feasts in both Arabic and English.