5th International Congress of Commissaries of the Holy Land: the full program

V International Congress of Commissaries of the Holy Land
Jerusalem, November 19 - 25, 2025

Full program of the days, with indications of the events that will be streamed
on the Custody’s YouTube channel.

For more details about the live streaming, visit the website:

Christian Media Center

LISTEN
Section dedicated to listening to the reality and life of the Church of the Holy Land.

Wednesday, November 19

07:30 - Holy Mass at the Cenacle
Presided over by Most. Rev. Fr. Fra Francesco Ielpo, OFM, Custos of the Holy Land

09:30 - Liturgy of Introduction (live streaming)

• Most Rev. Father Fra Francesco Ielpo, OFM, Custos of the Holy Land
• Fra Matteo Brena, OFM, President of the Organizing Committee of the Congress
• Fra Silvio De La Fuente, OFM, CLIO's Director

10:15 - 10:45 a.m. - Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, IVE (live streaming)
Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Gaza (by video link)

11:15 - 12:15 p.m. (live streaming)

• H.E. Mons. Bruno Varriano, OFM, Auxiliary Bishop of the Patriarchal Diocese of Jerusalem of the Latins
• H.E. Mons. Cesar Essayan, OFM Conv., Apostolic Vicar of Beirut (via video link)

15:00 - 16:45 - Listening to the Living Stones (live streaming)
Moderator Alessandra Buzzetti, TV2000 journalist

Speakers:

• H.E. Mons. Rafik Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar for Galilee
• Fra Amjad Sabbara, OFM, pastor of Nazareth
• Mr. Elias Habash, Jerusalem scout group leader

17:15 - 18:30 - Commissaries' Workshop

19:00 - Vespers presided over by H.E. Mons. Bruno Varriano, OFM, Auxiliary Bishop of the Patriarchal Diocese of Jerusalem of the Latins

21:00 - Evening of Intercultural Fraternity:
"The Holy Land in the World"

Thursday, Nov. 20

08:00 - Lauds and Holy Mass
Fra Ulise Zarza, OFM, Vicar of the Holy Land, presides.

09:30 - 11:00 - Keeping Places and Memory (live streaming)
Moderator Fra Marcelo Cicchinelli, OFM, Guardian of the Nativity

Speakers:

• Fra Juan David, OFM, SBF student
• Fra Sinisha Srebrenović, OFM, Guardian of the Convent of the Agony (Gethsemane)
• Fra Stephane Milovitch, OFM, Terra Sancta Museum

11:30 - 12:15 - Fra Rosario Pierri, OFM (live streaming)
CABT - SBF proposals and formative courses

15:15 - 16:00 - Fra Matteo Munari, OFM (live streaming)
Listening to God's voice in the time of crisis

16:30 - 18:00 - Commissaries' Workshop

Personal Vespers

20:30 - Gethsemane: Holy Hour for Peace (live streaming)
Presided over by H.E. Mons. Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio

SUPPORT
Section dedicated to the forms of support for the Custody's mission and the criteria that guide the action of the Commissaries

Friday, November 21

08:00 - Holy Mass and Lauds
Fra Noel Muscat, OFM, Deputy Commissary TS Malta presides

09:15 - 11:00 - The works in times of crisis (live streaming)
Moderator Sr. Valentina Sala, SJA, St. Louis Hospital

Speakers:

• Fra Paulo Paulista, OFM, Helen Keller and TSC Beit Hanina
• Fra Jad Sara, OFM, Houses Commission
• Kathrin Kamar and Adel Maghrabi, Bethlehem family group

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Fra Bahjat Karak, OFM (live streaming)
The action of the Franciscans in Syria (via video link)

15:00 - Way of the Cross

16:15 - 17:30 - The Good Friday Collect: how is it promoted worldwide? (live streaming)
Moderator Vincenzo Bellomo, CVS Italy Coordinator

Speakers:

• Fra Robert Mokry, OFM, Commissary Canada
• Fra Luis Quintana, OFM, Deputy Commissary TS Spain

18:00 - 18:45 - Communications from the Custody about the Good Friday Collect

Speakers:

• Fra Francesco Ielpo, OFM, Custos of the Holy Land
• Fra Agustin Pelayo, OFM, Custodial bursar
• Fra Ivan Utjesinovic, OFM, deputy Custodial bursar

7:00 p.m. - Vespers presided over by Fra Nikodem Marian Gdyk, OFM, Commissary TS Poland

Saturday, November 22
Visit and meetings in Bethlehem

07:30 – Departure from the entrance of Notre Dame

08:30 – Shepherds’ Field – Holy Mass presided over by Fr. Rafael Tayem, OFM, Parish Priest of Bethlehem

11:00 – Visit to the Terra Sancta College with Fr. George Haddad, OFM, school’s principal

Procession to the Grotto of the Nativity

16:30 – Walk along Star Street and visit to the Catholic Action Center together with Fr. Sandro Tomasevic, OFM, and meeting with the youth of Bethlehem

19:00 – Vespers presided over by Fr. Roger Marchal, OFM, COTAF Commissary – France

19:30 – Traditional buffet prepared by the Bethlehem community

Sunday, November 23

09:00 - 10:30 - Commisaries' Workshop

11:00 a.m. - Sunday Mass in Arabic with the Jerusalem community

16:00 - Visit to the Museum of the Holy Land with Fra Eugenio Alliata, OFM (in shifts upon registration)

ANNOUNCE
Section dedicated to proclaiming and telling the value of the Holy Places and the Franciscan mission in times of crisis

Monday, November 24

08:00 - Lauds presided over by Fra John Oh Hack Jun, OFM, TS Korea Commissary

09:15 - 10:30 - How to communicate the Holy Land? (live streaming)
Speakers:

• Fra Alberto Pari, OFM, Custodial Secretary and Communications Manager
• Silvano Mezzanzana, New Itineraries in the Holy Land

11:00 - 12:15 - Departing as Pilgrims of Peace (live streaming)
Moderator Fra Matteo Brena, OFM

Speakers:

• Fr. Francesco Cavallini, SJ, Holy Land Guide
• Fra Carlos Molina, OFM, Pilgrimage Commission

16:00 - 18:00 - Commissaries' Workshop

18:30 - Closing Holy Mass of the day (live streaming)
Presided over by H.B. Most Eminent Pierbattista Card. Pizzaballa, OFM

Tuesday, Nov. 25
Conclusion of the Congress

06:30 - Holy Mass at the Holy Sepulcher (live streaming)
Presided over Most. Rev. Fr. Francesco Ielpo, OFM, Custos of the Holy Land

09:15 - 10:30 - Dr. Francesca Romana Stasolla (live streaming)
The excavations at the Holy Sepulcher: between discovery, dialogue and faith (via video link)

11:00 - 12:15 - Meeting feedback on the workshops
Moderator Fra Matteo Brena, OFM

15:30 - 17:00 - Final restitution and conclusions
Moderator Fra Matteo Brena, OFM
With Workshop Facilitators

17:30 - Closing and final mandate (live streaming)
Presided over Most. Rev. Fr. Francesco Ielpo, OFM, Custos of the Holy Land

Vespers presided over by Fr. Rodrigo Machado, OFM, Guardian of St. Savior's