Catholic News Service has published the following briefs on these topics: Rosary relay; New patriarch for Melkite Catholic Church.

Global rosary relay prompted by words from Mary, says organizer
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The eighth annual global rosary relay June 23 involves 125 shrines in 63 countries throughout the world. With 25 new sites, there's an expectation that 10 million people will be saying the rosary in support of priestly vocations and the sanctification of priests. The relay is hosted and planned by the Worldpriest apostolate. The founder of the apostolate, Marion Mulhall, is the organizer of the group's biggest event of the year. The rosary began eight years ago because a voice spoke to Mulhall. "I was awoken very early one morning eight years ago," she told Catholic News Service. "I very gently heard four very simple words: 20 countries, 20 mysteries." She decided to ask a group of colleagues where they thought this was coming from and what it meant. "We discerned it very quickly," Mulhall said. It was Mary calling her to start something where the rosary would be prayed in 20 countries on the same day.

Melkite Catholic Church elects new patriarch, a native of Syria
BEIRUT (CNS) -- Bishop Joseph Absi was elected the new Melkite patriarch of Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem and All the East during the Melkite Catholic Synod at Ain-Traz, Lebanon. Melkite leaders elected Bishop Absi June 21, one day after his 71st birthday. A native of Damascus, Syria, he has served as patriarchal vicar in the Archdiocese of Damascus since 2007. On May 6, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Patriarch Gregoire III Laham, 83, who had served in the position since 2000. In 1973, Bishop Absi was ordained a priest and became chaplain of the Missionary Society of St. Paul. He was appointed curial bishop and auxiliary bishop in the Melkite Patriarchate. No other details about the election were available from Melkite leaders.