JERUSALEM newsletter

l o v e t h e H o ly l a n d a n d b e l o v e d

N u m b e r 21 March 2013

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

www.lpj.org P.O.B. 14152 Jerusalem 91141

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Editorial On Pluralism Benedict XVI was a great traveler. Twentyeight trips outside Italy during his Pontificate and the Middle East was certainly not left out. One remembers, particularly in the Holy Land, his emotion at the foot of the separation barrier in the Palestinian Territories and his prayer before the Wailing Wall. One also recalls the visit to Lebanon in September last year, where young veiled Muslims welcomed him alongside Catholic scouts. It has been two months since his call to pray for Christian communities in the Middle East, who are often victims of discrimination, that the Holy Spirit might strengthen them in faith and hope. Moreover, the first sentence in the post-synodal apostolic exortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente (Lebanon 2012) reveals the Pope’s focus on the Middle East: “the Church in the Middle East, which from the dawn of Christian faith has made her pilgrim way in those holy lands, today courageously continues her witness, the fruit of a life of communion with God and neighbour.” It then immediately turns to the subject of the meeting with the participants of the mixed Commission for the theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Eastern Orthodox Churches on the 25th of January.

Dialogue

LATIN PATRIARCHATE PRINTING PRESS BEIT JALA – 2013

There, where Christianity was born, the “Arab Spring” is erupting. Evidence of his attachment to the region, Benedict XVI, before his retirement and as one of his final nominations as the Sovereign Pontiff, appointed a new archbishop of Tunis, the cradle of the revolution itself. On February 21, Rev. Father Ilario Antoniazzi was named the new archbishop for Tunis. Until that point, he was the pastor for the parish in Rameh and the general director of Latin Patriarchate schools in Israel. Recognizing “the very unstable situation,” the new archbishop confided that “Tunisia is known for its open spirit and capacity for renewal.” It is a safe bet that the forces in the country, as

in the region (and one thinks of Syria), raises opportunities for dialogue with Muslims. With his visit to Lebanon in September, the Pope called upon the international community and Arab countries to seek out solutions to the regional conflicts. He emphasized the peaceful coexistence of Christians and Muslims and exhorted the Lebanese to reject anything which might divide and instead opt for fraternity. The Pope made the preservation of religious and cultural pluralism in the region one of his priorities. Certain relations with Muslims were off to a rocky start with the debate surrounding the Regensburg lecture, but did that itself not mark a turning point in the Muslim-Christian dialogue? It was followed by the creation of a Muslim-Catholic forum and a letter in October of 2007 which was written by 138 Muslim leaders and underwent two ratifications in Rome and then in Jordan by Catholic and Muslim officials. There was also the 2006 visit to Turkey, where the Pope, with his shoes off in the Blue Mosque, meditated alongside the Grand Mufti of Istanbul. As for Judaism, one recalls the homage of the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, who estimated “that under his authority (Benedict XVI), the relations between the Chief Rabbinate and the Church, Judaism and Christianity, have become much closer, and has lead to a reduction in the number of anti-Semitism acts around the world.” Let us pray that the work of the Church may continue. At the end of April in Jerusalem, a conference will take place on Pope John XXIII, who originated the document Nostra Aetate (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions). Christophe Lafontaine

PAGE 2 The Catholic Ordinaries congratulate the new Chaldean Patriarch The Members of the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, and the President Patriarch Fouad Twal, in communion with the Pontifical Representatives in Jordan and Palestine, rejoiced at the election of Archbishop Louis Sako as Patriarch for the Chaldean Catholic Church.

Silver Jubilee of Patriarch Emeritus Sabbah celebrated at the Patriarchate Priests came to the Patriarchate from the different countries of the diocese, individually and in groups. They did not want to miss this fraternal gathering on January 31st to celebrate twenty-five years of the Episcopal ordination of His Beatitude Michel Sabbah.

A Christian Appointed to the Bioethics Council in Israel Dr Etienne Lepicard, a member of the Hebrew Speaking Catholic community in Jerusalem and the director of Beit HaGat in Ein Karem, was appointed a member of the National Bioethics Council in Israel. It is a governmental body that was established in order to recommend policy to decision makers with regard to ethical issues arising from the developments in research in biology, biotechnology, medicine, genetics and their social and legal implications.

Lent 2013: Solemn Entry by the Patriarch into the Holy Sepulcher On Saturday February 16th, His Beatitude Fouad Twal marked the beginning of the solemn celebration of Lent in the Holy Sepulcher. Priests, brothers, seminarians, and numerous faithful were present for procession and prayers.

Sun Shines on the Chair of St. Peter in Tiberias The celebration of the feast of the Chair of St. Peter in Tiberias along the banks of the Sea of Galilee is always significant. This year, the Mass on Sunday, February 24th was celebrated by His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem who was welcomed by the pastor of St. Peter of Tiberias parish, Fr. Giuseppe De Nardi. Especially significant this year is the historic moment that our Church is living, which made it an unprecedented event.

NEWSLETTER — J E R U S A L E M

Diocese: Holy Land News The Holy Land Honors Beloved Pope Benedict XVI Press Release – The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, together with his Auxiliary Bishops and all the priests and faithful of the Diocese of the Holy Land upon learning of the Pope’s resignation, welcome with much gratitude the courage, moral wisdom and humility of Pope Benedict XVI, who has served the church with dedication for nearly eight years. Everyone remembers the journey of the Holy Father to the Holy Land in 2009 and to Cyprus in 2010. These were events of strong symbolism for Christians, but also for Jews and Muslims. It was with great joy and hope that the Christians of the Holy Land and the Middle East received the apostolic exhortation “Ecclesia in Medio Oriente”, the apotheosis of the Middle East Synod held in Rome in 2010, through which Eastern Christians have appreciated the counsel and instruction to be a communion and testimony in this region and the entire world. The Latin Patriarch with emotion, prayer and meditation thanks Benedict XVI from his heart for his paternal affection and commitment to peace in the Holy Land. He wishes the Holy Father that the Virgin Mary accompanies this decision and the rest that awaits him.

Five major challenges facing the Holy Land today Bishop William Shomali spoke at a conference in the Catholic Institute of Toulouse (CIT) on Saturday, February 2nd on the five major challenges confronting today’s Christians in the Holy Land. Bishop Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem has visited the city of Toulouse on several occasions in the course of his pastoral ministry. On February 2nd, on the invitation of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, he gave a conference at the Catholic Institute of the “pink city” on the situation of Christians in the Holy Land, and the challenges that they face. It was an opportunity for Bishop Shomali to speak on the theme: “Interreligious Dialogue and Peace in the Holy Land: Challenges and Prospects for the Future.” Other highlights of this day of reflection were the speech of Pierre Debergé, CIT Rector; the presentation and discussion of Urbain,Jalenques, President of the Equestrian Order in the province of Toulouse; presentation of Falk Van Gaver, author of “Deux ans à Taybeh. Ephraim, avec les derniers chrétiens de Palestine?”; intervention of Kassam Maaddin, a Christian from Taybeh and a student in France; and finally Pierre Seillan, a former diplomat, spoke on a particularly relevant topic: “Arab Spring or Spring of political Islam? Consequences for Christians. “ Laurent Charnin

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Diocese: Holy Land News The Inter-Rite gathering for Religious in Ibillin The first inter-rite gathering for religious on February 2nd was a success. More than 200 religious from different rites came together in Galilee to renew their vows together around Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified. The initiative came from the Episcopal Committee of Religious Men in the Holy Land, led by Fr Joseph Nguyen Cong Doan SJ, assisted by Fr Tardivy, OP and Fr Felet ,SJC. The day began with a visit to Ibillin and the remains of the house of Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified, who is a symbol par excellence “of the contemplative life,” in the words of Bishop Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar in Israel. During the votive procession which followed, Bishop Marcuzzo emphasized the meaning of the feastday, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, explaining how it is at the same time “presentation” and “meeting” (in Greek, one speaks of the Feast of the Meeting). The Auxiliary Bishop stressed the rays of light which the religious might bring to their consecrated life, especially in their everyday encounters. Archbishop Elias Chacour, the Melkite Archbishop of Acre, presided over the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine rite, in the Church of the Sermon of the Mount in Ibillin. He was joined by Bishop Marcuzzo, Maronite Archbishop Mous-

sa El Hage, and numerous priests. During Mass, many religious of different rites renewed their vows. A presentation for fraternal enjoyment, organized by the Shalom group, followed the liturgy and was enthusiastically received by the audience who enjoyed the representation of a scene from the musical “Chant D’Erea.” At 3:00 pm all of the communities met in Nazareth for prayer before the Grotto in the Basilica of the Annunciation, followed by vespers and a biblical tour at the Mary Center of Nazareth. On the same day in Jerusalem, the Union of Religious Women in the Holy Land invited all the congregations for Mass in the Franciscan Parish of St. Saviour presided by the Custos of the Holy Land, the Very Rev. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to celebrate together the joy of their consecration. Amélie de La Hougue

University of Bethlehem plans expansion Anxious to ensure the best possible education for young people of the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarchate has just sold a parcel of land to Bethlehem University, without the slightest financial benefit from it. If there is a force on which the future of Palestinians must rely upon, it is the youth. Conscious of the importance of moral and intellectual formation of the youth, the Custody of the Holy Land (the Franciscans) has agreed with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to expand the existing campus of Bethlehem University. For this, the Franciscans purchased “Mount David,” a 1.2 hectare property, belonging to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem situated in the city where Jesus was born. The transaction was officially made on January 31, 2013, between Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land, and Brother Peter Bray, Vice-Chancellor of the university. The cost corresponds to the actual value of the land; the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, aware of the value of what is at stake, and in the interest of the project, deliberately refused to take any financial Laurent Charnin benefit from this sale.

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NEWSLETTER — J E R U S A L E M

Pastoral and Liturgical Life Beit Safafa: apartments and keys handed to families A new residential complex in Beit Safafa (a small neighborhood in South Jerusalem) is in its final stages of completion. The first apartments are available. On Thursday, February 21, nine of the future occupying families were on hand to receive the keys from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. This building project aims to strengthen the Christian presence in Jerusalem. The presentation of the keys of the first units of the new building complex was held in a festive atmosphere that reflected the joy of the future residents. All were proud and happy. At the end of March, more families will receive their keys pending the final finishing touches. The official opening is planned sometime this Spring in the presence of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Fouad Twal. In the end, 80 apartments will be delivered to occupants who are mostly Christian or Muslim (two families),“to create more friendliness,” according to Bishop Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem, who initiated this project. His vision was to assist Christians of Jerusalem, especially young families, to acquire stable housing in order to motivate them to stay in the Holy Land, to stop emigration caused by the difficult socio-political situation and to ensure that they would have a better quality of life. That is why the Patriarchate decided to invest in the project; thereby meeting the urgent need of housing “for the Pal-

estinian community in general and the Christian community in particular,” emphasized Bishop Shomali. To say that this project is the result of Providence is no euphemism. This important work has gone through a veritable maze to reach completion. Bishop Shomali says: “When we had this dream to build homes for young people, we had no land. When we bought the land, we did not have a building permit. Once we got it, there was no money. It was therefore necessary to borrow from a local bank and we benefited from the help of the Italian government and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. A plaque will honor our benefactors and also express our gratitude to them.” It took a little less than ten years to complete this kind of housing project. The apartments have an area of 100 sq m., each with a porch, a garage and a storage room. The complex is located one kilometer from Tantur and enjoys a beautiful panorama nestled midway between Patt and Gilo, on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Christophe Lafontaine

“A new camp will open in Zarqa” announces Jordan Caritas Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum visited about 200 refugee families in the Latin parish of Zarqa in Jordan on Sunday, February 19. He opened the annual assembly of Caritas MONA (Middle East and North Africa) in Amman on February 20. On the agenda for the two-day conference (20-22 February) are the needs and “home” for the Syrian refugees in Jordan, who now number 380,000. Caritas has played an essential role in this situation. Mr. Wael Suleiman, Director of Caritas Jordan, answered our questions on the present and future challenges facing Caritas and other charitable agencies. What are the greatest needs of the 75,000 refugees that Caritas Jordan welcomed? And for how long? Of course they need everything, exactly everything. These are people coming to Jordan without anything and they need our help and support until the day that they can go back home. How will Caritas organize the influx of refugees, in time, space and human resources? We are a big family, a big confederation, and our partners are always with us. We are expecting more people in the coming months and we are hiring more staff but the real human resources in this crisis are our volunteers. We have a program for almost 12 years old at Caritas, “the volunteers program.” They are really people with so much capacity. They believe that what we do is not a job, but a mission. They are there working with us in each center, supporting and being the sign of love for each suffering brother and sister. And about the space, I need to thank in a very special way our beloved Church and our Priests in different areas in Jordan. They opened everything to us; they facilitate the mission of Caritas, so that we are well prepared for the next stage. In view of the difficulties that you are experiencing, what do you expect from this Caritas Annual Meeting? Actually the meeting will not focus on this issue because it is the MONA Conference. There are other issues to finalize within the Region, but of course it could be a time to talk about this situation, to share, to listen, and to pray for a real peace in our beloved region. How do you foresee the future months for Caritas, for other organizations and the Kingdom of Jordan? More Syrian people will come to Jordan. We expect another 300,000 within the next 6 months. We are trying to be ready at Caritas and of course the other organization as well, and Jordan. This country with limited resources but with a big heart, clear vision and mission, and will continue to receive Syrian people. Next week a new camp will open in Zarqa and there is a possibility for the a one to open also. Interview by Amélie de La Hougue The Patriarch’s pastoral visit to Beit Sahour On February 2nd and 3rd, the Patriarch made a pastoral visit to Beit Sahour. Over two days, he visited the village from top to bottom, celebrating with different communities and answering questions from the youth and families of the parishes. Day of the Sick in Beit Sahour and Beit Jala On the occasion of the day for the sick, and the memorial of the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes, Bishop William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem went beyond the wall to Beit Sahour and Beit Jala on February 10 and 11, to show the closeness of the Church of Jerusalem to the suffering people. Nazareth Christian Hospitals celebrate Day of the Sick On Sunday, February 17, 2013, World Day of the Sick was celebrated as has been every year in all the Catholic parishes of Nazareth. There was something new for this year’s celebration. As agreed with Fr. Amjad Sabbara, OFM, Latin parish priest, all of the Christian hospitals of Galilee came together to celebrate this day.

Hebrew speaking children on the Via Dolorosa On Saturday, February 23, 2013, about 25 children from the migrant Filipino and African communities that meet in the Saint Anthony Jaffa parish prayed the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem in Hebrew. In Nazareth, a Valentine’s Day like no other The Chemin Neuf Community celebrated Valentine’s Day on Saturday evening, February 16, by inviting Christian couples of Nazareth to a festive dinner at the Mary of Nazareth International Centre.

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Our Church in the Middle East 24th World Day of the Sick in Nazareth in 2016 “Dear sick and all of you who make up the great and wonderful family united by love in the world of suffering and health care, God willing, we will solemnly celebrate in 2016 the 24th World Day of the Sick in the Holy Land, in Nazareth, as we listen to the invitation of the Virgin Mary to be docile to the will of her Son, in the very place where this Word resonated.” A great applause greeted the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI read by the Papal Legate on February 11, 2013, at the conclusion of the celebration of the 2013 World Day of the Sick . This was a desire warmly supported by His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who enthusiastically greeted the Pope’s initiative, and all the pastors and Christian

population of the Holy Land, as also Bishop GiacintoBoulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel who was present at this year’s celebration. The solemn Day of the Sick was celebrated at the Marian Shrine of Altötting, south-eastern Bavaria, from February 8 -12, on theme of the Good Samaritan: “Go and do likewise” (Lk 10:37). The Day of the Sick is celebrated every year at the local level (dioceses and parishes). It is solemnly celebrated every three years (just as with World Youth and World Family Days). It always takes place at a Marian shrine, under the direction of a Papal Legate, in this case, Bishop Zygmunt Zymowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care. Our correspondent in Altöting

In Vienna, Bishop Shomali speaks of the emigration of Christians from the Holy Land The General Commissariat of the Holy Land and the Austrian section of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre jointly organized a “Pax et Bonum” symposium on the theme “A Message for Christians of the Holy Land” on February 23 at the Franciscan convent in Vienna. Bishop William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem gave a conference on the social, economic and political situation of Christians in Israel and Palestine. Currently, Christians in the Holy Land, according to Bishop Shomali, face six “great challenges”: the coexistence of different Catholic Churches, ecumenical dialogue with other Christians, interfaith dialogue with Jews and Muslims, the peace process, economic conditions, and the emigration of Christians. The Bishop said that “these challenges are linked together. Taking up a challenge helps to understand the issues.” With particular emphasis on the economic aspects, Bishop Shomali said that “the Palestinian Territories are rather poor.” He recalled that the annual per capita income in the Palestinian Territories is $2,000, while reaching $28,000 in Israel. Among Palestinians, 30% are unemployed, compared with 5% of Israel. Economic development in the Palestinian Territories also suffers due to the absence of ports and airports, difficulties in

building construction, and the water crisis that takes place every summer. To this precarious economic situation, add the lack of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for Christians, the fact of being a minority. These reasons can push Christians to emigrate. Bishop Shomali said that more than one million Palestinian and Israeli Christians live in the Diaspora. The percentage of the Christian population in the Holy Land, he stressed, has continued to decline. This community is now reduced to 2% of the total population of the Holy Land. However, the Bishop points out a paradox: “While the percentage has declined, the number increases. We are now 5,000 Christians in Palestine, 130,000 in Israel and several thousand Christian foreign workers working in Israel. I note at once that the majority of indigenous Christians is Arabic-speaking.” In the face of the temptations to emigrate because of the difficulties of everyday life, the Bishop explains the attitude of the Church: “To encourage Christians to remain, it is not enough to promise them housing or economic benefits. This does not prevent them from leaving. We must convince them that remaining in the Holy Land is more than a coincidence and the opposite of a disgrace. It is a privilege and a vocation to which the Lord calls them.” Christophe Lafontaine

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NEWSLETTER — J E R U S A L E M

Projects of the Latin Patriarchate The Amman Vicariate Gets a Makeover After 11 months of work between December 2011 and October 2012, the renovation of the Patriarchal Vicariate in Amman was completed, thanks to the generous support of the Grand Magisterium of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher. The building, which is home to the Patriarchal Vicar, two Rosary Sisters, six employees, and occasionally the Patriarch himself, was in great need of restoration. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Vicariate has been home to six Patriarchal Vicars: Bishops Zeitoun, Leandre, Nemeh Sim’and, Sayegh, and as of January 12, 2012 Bishop Maroun Lahham. According to the architect for the Patriarchate, “the building had never been restored and was no longer functional for to the needs of its beneficiaries.” The convent for the Latin Vicariate is comprised of an office and a bedroom for the Auxiliary Bishop, a place of residence for Sisters, guest rooms, administrative offices, restrooms, and a kitchen.

11 Months of Work for a Complete Restoration With donations from the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, the renovation work began in December 2011. The eleven months of construction came to an end in October of 2012 with the complete renovation of the buildings: weather proofing the exterior, installation of a new air conditioning system, modification of the office of the bishop, a new meeting room with a 20 person capacity, new tiling on the ground floor, door and window maintenance, a new sacristy, maintenance work in the Sisters’ residence, and fresh paint on the walls and ceilings. Outside, the garden was replanted, a new path was laid, and the terrace and the main entry were modified. The new Vicar will now be able to welcome his daily guests of Christians and visitors from Jordan, the Holy Land, and beyond.

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A church at the crossroads of two major challenges There are approximately 200,000 Christians in Jordan, of which about half are Catholic. There are about 30,000 Latin Rite among the Vicariate’s 35 parishes, a number which “is rising” according to Bishop Laham, Patriarchal Vicar. In recent years, the Latin community has also included a number of migrants, mainly from the Philippines and Sri Lanka. According to Bishop Lahham, the Church in Jordan today faces two major challenges: “the Syrian crisis, and progress toward democracy.” Jordan, with its own resources, is faced with the task of welcoming the massive influx of Syrian refugees. In total, refugees are now about 380,000, a population of both Muslims and Christians. Faced with this enormous task, as well as a particularly harsh winter, in January the Patriarchate opened different churches and parish halls in cooperation with Our Lady of Peace Center in Amman. Beyond this tragic situation, which has weakened the resources of the country, there is also the question that the outcome of the Syrian crisis has the potential to destabilize the geopolitical situation in Jordan. It is for the Church in Jordan, according to Bishop Laham, to accompany the country toward democracy. Amélie de La Hougue

To read more, please visit www.lpj.org : Diocesan Bullettin of October-November-December 2012 • Good Friday Collection – «Solidarity with and peace for Christians of the Holy Land » (Feb. 27, 2013) • “As Christians, we are a Church whose Via Crucis is not yet complete…” (Feb. 25, 2013 • Final hearing in the case of Cremisan against the Separation Wall (Feb. 25, 2013) • Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions thank Pope Benedict XVI (Feb. 14, 2013) • News from the parish of Smakieh (Jordan) ( Feb 19, 2013) • Letter to Pope Benedict XVI from the Catholic Ordinaries (Feb 14, 2013) • For the Patriarch, the Pope offers a “shock of vitality” to the Church (Feb. 14, 2013) • How school books can feed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Feb. 8, 2013)

Appointment Reactions of the new Archbishop for Tunis Pope Benedict XVI appointed the Rev. Father Ilario Antoniazzi, 64, as the new Archbishop in Tunis (Tunisia) on Thursday, February 21. The appointment comes in the last days of the pontificate of Benedict XVI. The Episcopal Ordination will take place on March 16 at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. His official entrance in Tunis is scheduled for April 7, 2013. Archbishop-elect Antoniazzi shares with us his impressions. 1) How did you react to the news of your appointment? It was a surprise. I said, God really has some imagination for thinking of me. His imagination will not fail to give me the strength and grace that I will need for my ministry. 2) What message do you want to leave, as a keepsake, for your Rameh parishioners before your departure? Foremost, a thank you for all that I received from them. I always felt at home among my brothers and sisters in Rameh. Later, in this Year of Faith, I wish with all my heart that they submit increasingly to the law of the Gospel and forget the mentality of the world because only in God will their heart find peace. 3) What are your pastoral priorities as Archbishop in Tunis? I must admit that I do not know much about the spiritual situation in the diocese. I have already scheduled a meeting with my priests so I can better measure the spiritual and pastoral reality. Together with my priests, we can consider the future of the Church. 4) Tunisia is still politically unstable. What do you know about the situation of Christians there? What do they expect of you in this time of trouble? It is true, the political situation is unstable. But Tunisia is known for its openness and the people’s ability to renew themselves. Do not forget that the Arab Spring was born there. Furthermore, any crisis can be an opportunity to mature, hopefully there will be a real spring where all will live in freedom and love. The Church with its Christians has much to offer. I hope that God will use me to strengthen my brothers in faith and thus be a peacemaker. Interview by Christophe Lafontaine

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Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem P.O.B. 14152 Jerusalem 91141 Tel: + 972 2 628 23 23 Fax: + 972 2 627 16 52 Media office : [email protected]