NEW YORK — The board of trustees of Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), chaired by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, elected two new members at its biannual meeting on June 6. The Most Rev. Richard W. Smith, archbishop of Edmonton, Canada, and Ms. Amanda Bowman, an international philanthropist, will begin their terms of service on November 7. Each term of service is for four years with the option of renewal.

A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Archbishop Smith was appointed archbishop of Edmonton in March 2007 after serving as bishop of Pembroke, Ontario, for nearly five years. The archbishop has a licentiate and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He has served the church in Canada in many capacities, pastoral and administrative, including as spiritual advisor to the Catholic Women’s League of Canada from 2003 to 2008, and as president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2011 to 2013. In 2022, Archbishop Smith was the general coordinator for the pastoral visit of Pope Francis to Canada.

After studying at Cambridge University in her native England, Amanda Bowman helped launch operations in New York for The Economist. She later served as vice president for marketing at Christie’s and as senior vice president of the United Way of New York City. Long concerned for the rule of law, the rights of the vulnerable and issues of religious freedom globally, she has partnered with many church-affiliated and non-governmental organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, the Hudson Institute and CNEWA, in developing public programs to raise the profile of these issues. For the past two years, she has chaired CNEWA’s annual Healing and Hope Gala.

“I am grateful Archbishop Smith and Ms. Bowman have accepted our invitation to serve on the board of trustees of CNEWA,” said its president, Monsignor Peter I. Vaccari. “Our mission is crucial in support of the Gospel throughout the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe — all hotspots in our world today,” he added. “I look forward to working with them to advance the good work of CNEWA.”  

An initiative of the Holy See, CNEWA works for, through and with the Eastern churches. Founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926, CNEWA rushes aid to displaced families; provides health care to the most vulnerable; assists efforts to care for the marginalized, especially children, elderly and those with special needs; funds church-run initiatives preventing trafficking and programs that rehabilitate, counsel and heal survivors; and supports the education and formation of priests, religious sisters and lay leaders.

CNEWA is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States by the State of New York. All contributions are tax deductible and tax receipts are issued. Donations can be made at cnewa.org; by phone at 800-442-6392; or by mail, CNEWA, 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022.