HR 985: Makhlouf, Very Reverend Father George Shukri; condolences

House Resolution 985

By: Representatives Romman of the 97th, Holly of the 116th, Frye of the 122nd, Park of the 107th, Lim of the 98th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and memory of the Very Reverend Father George Shukri Makhlouf; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Very Reverend Father George Shukri Makhlouf passed on December 21, 2024, at the age of 81; and

WHEREAS, he was a beloved father, devoted servant of God, a loving husband, and a tireless advocate for peace and justice; and

WHEREAS, Very Reverend Father George's life was defined by unwavering faith, boundless love, and selfless service; and

WHEREAS, he was born in Palestine and was one of 750,000 Palestinian Nakba survivors, enduring the hardships of being orphaned and expelled from his home in West Jerusalem to Jifna in 1948; and

WHEREAS, Very Reverend Father George found refuge in the church and prayer, completing his theological studies at a Catholic seminary in Paris; and

WHEREAS, he began his professional journey as an educator at the Greek Catholic School of Our Lady of Annunciation in Ramallah, Palestine, and later at the Ramallah Friends School; and

WHEREAS, in 1985, he answered the call to priesthood and was ordained in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; and

WHEREAS, Very Reverend Father George served faithfully at the Orthodox Church in Ramallah before immigrating to the United States, where he became pastor of the Virgin Mary Church in Yonkers, New York, and later served at St. John Orthodox Church on Long Island; and

WHEREAS, in his later years, he continued his ministry as an adjunct retired priest at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church in Atlanta, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, his wisdom, humility, and kindness touched countless lives throughout his ministry; and

WHEREAS, he dedicated his life to pastoral duties and to advocacy for justice and peace in his homeland, Palestine; and

WHEREAS, he represented Palestine on both local and international platforms, participating in numerous political and interfaith conferences; collaborating with political leaders, rabbis, imams, and religious figures of all faiths; and tirelessly raised his voice for the oppressed; and

WHEREAS, his commitment to justice, equality, and the dignity of all people formed the cornerstone of his legacy; and

WHEREAS, Very Reverend Father George is survived by his two sons, Shukri and Majeed; his brother, Joseph; his cherished nephews and nieces; and his seven beloved granddaughters, Raina, Isabella, Zaina, Arianna, Laila, Natalia, and Noelie, who brought light to his later years.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of the Very Reverend Father George Shukri Makhlouf and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.