The Feast of the Annunciation at Beit Jala Seminary

The invitation was at first an occasion for the seminarians (about 30 in number, Jordanians and Palestinians from both the West Bank and citizens of Israel) to get to know Roman Kaminski who will receive ordination as a priest of the Latin Patriarchate in a month's time. When the nomination of Father David as Patriarchal Vicar was made public, he was invited to celebrate the mass of the feast , before a festive meal and the meeting with Roman. 

At the mass of the Feast of the Annunciation not only were the major seminarians present but also the minor seminarians who are pupils at the high school of the seminary. Msgr. William Shomali, rector of the seminary, congratulated Father David, underlining that he has been teacher of Sacred Scripture in the seminary for the past nine years. Although the mass was mostly in Arabic, as was Father David's homily, he was able to pray the prayer of the consecration of the bread and wine in Hebrew.

After the festive meal, the seminarians met with Roman who told them the story of his vocation briefly, explaining how it came to be that he would be serving in the Hebrew speaking communities in Israel.

All were in agreement that this was an important stepin strengthening relationships in the one Church.