The Bishops’ Conference of the Holy Land celebrates Saint Paul

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mgr. Fouad Twal, celebrated the mass and alongside him were the Nuncio (the Vatican Ambassador), Mgr. Antonio Franco, and the Greek Catholic Archbishop of the Galilee, Elias Chacour. Present at the mass were all the Catholic bishops and heads of churches of the Holy Land (the Latin Patriarch and his three auxiliary bishops, the three Greek Catholic bishops as well as the emeritus Archbishop of the Galilee, the Maronite bishop, the Syrian Catholic bishop, the Armenian bishop and the vicar of the Chaldean Church, who is our own Father Paul Colin, also parish priest of the Hebrew-speaking community in Beer Sheba, as well as the Custodian of the Holy Land, Father Pierbattista). In addition, a large number of priests from the different religious congregations in Jerusalem concelebrated.

Also present at the mass were the students from the various theological seminaries in the area of Jerusalem: the seminarians from the Latin Patriarchate Seminary in Beit Jala, the Franciscans studying theology in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Salesian and White Father students studying at the Ratisbonne Theological Center in Jerusalem and the students of Betharram, who live in Bethlehem.

The Patriarch celebrated the mass in French and Latin and the Salesian student choir animated the mass with a variety of beautiful hymns in English. The newly ordained deacon, Ala Msharbash, from the Patriarchate seminary, intoned the Gospel. Father Guy Tardivy, the Dominican superior of the community, gave the homily which focused on the figure of Saint Paul and his faith in Christ.

Representatives of our Hebrew-speaking communities also participated, particularly members from the Jerusalem community. One of our members even read one of the intercessory prayers for peace in our country and in the world.

(We thank Marie-Armelle Beaulieu of the Custody for the photographs)