On May 28, 2017, the two Terra Santa schools--the girls’ and boys’ schools--celebrated the graduation day of the schools’ sixty-third class. This celebration, which took place in the Auditorium of the Our Lady of Jerusalem Center, marked the end of their classical and scientific studies. The Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Patton, presided over the ceremony, in the presence of many other friars and sisters, school directors and other various guests.
The ceremony began with the official entrance of the graduates in a long procession to the rhythm of music played by Jerusalem’s Catholic Arab scouts, who then sang Palestine’s national anthem. The hosts of the ceremony were two teachers, Inshirah Ibrahim and Vivian Ibrahim, who delivered the welcome speech. A student, Paulina Abedrabbo, read from the Gospel and then the school principal of the Terra Santa Secondary School for Girls spoke. The principal thanked the administrative staff and faculty for their efforts and then she congratulated the graduates for their achievements, wishing them success in their [education] ministry examinations.
The feast was characterized by different moments, giving way to music, to the Dabke (a traditional Palestinian folk dance), to the exchange of the flame and the flag, to the songs sung by the choir of the two schools and to speeches in Arabic, English and French. The Custos, Fr. Patton, then took the floor and encouraged graduates to carry on with their achievements in knowledge so as to help build a better nation.
Finally, Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, principal of the Terra Santa Secondary School for Boys, thanked the administrative staff and faculty for their work in support of the schools and the students. In this way, they contributed to the very positive results achieved by the Terra Santa College to ensure that it remains an important institution of knowledge that future generations will talk about.
At the end of the celebration, Fr. Ibrahim Faltas also thanked the parents for supporting their children by offering them a solid upbringing and a good education and by making sure that they have solid academic and moral foundations. That was when, at the end of the celebration, diplomas were distributed to the students, with special mentions for those who obtained the highest grades.
