I was born in Jerusalem in 1945 to Hanna Khoury and Zahieh Nassar. My grandfather (Al-Khoury Shihadeh) was an Orthodox priest in Rafidia. My father remained Greek-Orthodox and my mother was Catholic; that was never a problem in the family. At a young age, I went with my father to the Orthodox Church and with my mother to the Catholic Church.
I have two brothers and one sister of whom I am the youngest: Khalil, Raymond (deceased), and a sister Linda living in New Jersey. After Al-Nakba, my father moved the family from Jerusalem to his native town Rafidia, Nablus.
In 1952 we moved again, this time to Ramallah, where I went to parochial grammar and secondary school at Al Ahliyya College of the Latin Patriarchate. in 1962, Father Youssef Nimaat suggested that I should pursue the priesthood and sent me to the Latin Patriarchate Seminary in Beit Jala. There, I lived and studied for 7 years and half years. During my time in the seminary I studied languages, philosophy and theology. I left with a diploma in philosophy.
I came to the States in 1969 in pursuit of my studies. I went to Seton Hall University and then Montclair State university in the State of New Jersey, earning a Bachelor's Degree and later a Master's degree in French & Spanish language & literature. I then came to the Bay Area to follow a joint 7 year doctoral program at UC Berkeley and the Graduate Theological Union earning a PhD in Systematic Theology.
Since then I have taught Arabic, French, Spanish, German, and Latin at UC Berkeley, San Mateo College and Skyline College and in public schools as well.
I am happily married to Nariman Naber and have three daughters; Linda, Noura, and Dina.
I have always taken an active interest in the community. I was a founding member of our Arab-Catholic Community since 1983-84, first with Father Anwar Salameh, and then with Father Labib. I also served on the parish council and the committee for marriage counseling at St. Cecilia Church.
My passion is to teach the Bible. I have been involved in Bible Study since 1990, first at home with Catholics and later Orthodox and Evangelicals came. I also conducted the choir since the beginning at St. Anne’s and then more recently at St. Thomas More.
I have always felt a passion for Christ and his Church. I had a desire to serve them more thoroughly. I was encouraged by Father Labib to follow the 5 year Diaconate Program at the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
I look forward to seeing you all at my ordination on May 20th!