Surrounded by the Nazareth parish council, His Excellence Mgr. Josef Cordes, president of the Cor Unum Pontifical Council gave the Custos of the Holy Land, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, a check for one million euros on behalf of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Cordes noted that “this money was collected in Germany, more specifically in Bavaria, at the initiative of the dioceses of Munich, Passau and Ratisbonne in the enthusiasm of the Pope’s visit to his native country last September. Having received this gift from his compatriots, the Holy Father gave the sum to the Cor Unum Pontifical Council, “the pope’s charity”, as Mgr. Cordes put it. The pope had confirmed that the sum was to be given to the Christians of the Holy Land in accordance with the desires of the faithful themselves. The Pontifical Council, therefore, sought a project on which to bestow the million euros. “Cor Unum does nothing itself, but always enters into relationship with existing Christian institutions that carry out a plan of action marked by Christian values,” continued Mgr. Cordes.
The Pontifical Council’s search for a beneficiary, then, met with the Holy Land Custody’s search for funds to open a large parish center in the city of Nazareth, the largest parish in the Holy Land. “The Holy Father would like to show the Christians of the Holy Land his support. The country of Christ should not become a museum without any remaining Christian presence. It is important to support Christians here, and to help them live their Christian life.” The prelate further stated how much the arrival of pilgrims can also help local Christians.
Addressing Mgr. Cordes, the Custos of the Holy Land thanked the Pope and the German faithful for this concrete support, and added that “the city has not yet had a parish center capable of offering Christians a place of life, encounter and formation.” “It has long been a desire of the Custody to build this community space,” added Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
The Custos announced that the first stone will be laid and blessed as soon as February 2007. The parish priest, Father Maroun Younan ofm, expressed his gratitude in turn and stressed the Custody’s desire that the center should be for all the city’s Christians. He also mentioned that Nazareth’s relations with Germany were already well established but that this will make them even stronger, and he assured the German faithful of the grateful prayer of the faithful of the local Christian Community.
The parish center will be built on land belonging to the Custody, not far from the Basilica of the Annunciation. It will be three stories high and will include a hall with a 250-person capacity, rooms for catechism and formation, a library, lecture rooms, a gymnasium and all the equipment necessary for it to function. Like the present parish house, too small to meet the community’s needs, it will be called Saint Anthony’s Center. Mgr. Cordes promised to come for its inauguration.
The Christians of the city are already waiting. The Custody needs only to top off the budget for this ambitious project.
MAB
The Pontifical Council’s search for a beneficiary, then, met with the Holy Land Custody’s search for funds to open a large parish center in the city of Nazareth, the largest parish in the Holy Land. “The Holy Father would like to show the Christians of the Holy Land his support. The country of Christ should not become a museum without any remaining Christian presence. It is important to support Christians here, and to help them live their Christian life.” The prelate further stated how much the arrival of pilgrims can also help local Christians.
Addressing Mgr. Cordes, the Custos of the Holy Land thanked the Pope and the German faithful for this concrete support, and added that “the city has not yet had a parish center capable of offering Christians a place of life, encounter and formation.” “It has long been a desire of the Custody to build this community space,” added Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
The Custos announced that the first stone will be laid and blessed as soon as February 2007. The parish priest, Father Maroun Younan ofm, expressed his gratitude in turn and stressed the Custody’s desire that the center should be for all the city’s Christians. He also mentioned that Nazareth’s relations with Germany were already well established but that this will make them even stronger, and he assured the German faithful of the grateful prayer of the faithful of the local Christian Community.
The parish center will be built on land belonging to the Custody, not far from the Basilica of the Annunciation. It will be three stories high and will include a hall with a 250-person capacity, rooms for catechism and formation, a library, lecture rooms, a gymnasium and all the equipment necessary for it to function. Like the present parish house, too small to meet the community’s needs, it will be called Saint Anthony’s Center. Mgr. Cordes promised to come for its inauguration.
The Christians of the city are already waiting. The Custody needs only to top off the budget for this ambitious project.
MAB