In Europe men committing themselves to the permanent diaconate no longer is considered newsworthy, but it certainly is in the diocese of Jerusalem, because it is the first time.
So it was that on Sunday, June 15, three [1] husbands and fathers were installed as Acolytes and Readers. [2]
Bassem Ghattas, Samir El Hodali, Adel Moghrabi are all in their forties. Very involved in parish life, for the past year and a half they have been following a special course of study in biblical studies and theology at the diocesan seminary in Beit Jala, a course that will continue in the months and years to come and should culminate, "In shallah! ", God willing, in their ordination as permanent deacons in one or two years.
When Msgr. Michel Sabbah was asked the reason for this "delay" in comparison with the West, he smiled, "The Church of Rome moves forward slowly. The Church in Jerusalem moves forward very, very slowly." In any case, he denies that the beginning of the permanent deaconate is meant to alleviate a decrease in vocations. "Thanks be to God," he says, "each one of our parishes has a priest, and the seminary has no lack of vocations. But we want to open ourselves more to the diversity of pastoral activity and to demonstrate the place of lay people in the Church." Therefore, if the diocese of Jerusalem is opening toward the permanent diaconate, this is, according to Msgr. Sabbah, "so as to offer the grace of this specific ministry to those who may be called to it and to our local Church. It is one of the fruits of the Synod."
In fact, the permanent diaconate was listed as an aspiration in the acts of the Synod, but it took a bit of time to approve and put into place. In an ecclesiastical culture marked by extreme respect for priests, the question of the acceptance of this new ministry is raised. According to Samir El Hodali, "At the end of the celebration when we received the good wishes of everyone in attendance, they all seemed very happy for us. They told us so, and we could see it on their faces." Then, will their ministry be restricted by the priests themselves? "On the contrary, our parish priest, Father Ibrahim Faltas ofm, encourages us. It was he who called us to set out on this path. And I know a number of diocesan priests who wish to live these ministries together with us".
Being declared Readers and Acolytes is one of the steps on a path that was begun a year and a half ago. “We thought of giving them these ministries, Acolytes and Readers, so that they could be received by the assembly as laymen, and from this point forward they will become active in service," says Msgr. Sabbah.
Being in his place as a layman in the Church has always been Samir’s desire. "I have known Father Battistelli ofm [3] for a long time. When I was young, he asked me, ’Why don’t you become a priest?’ I told him that I had 50.5% reasons to say no. And 49.5% reasons to say yes. But while studying in Rome it was the role of the layman that attracted me the most. When I got married, the father told me, ’So, the 0.5% won.’"
The future deacons are pursuing the path to the diaconate with the full agreement of their wives, who must cosign certain documents with their husbands and write their own letters of acceptance of certain principal phases of the formation. "It is a real family decision," says Samir. Because this will change everyone’s rhythm."
Families showed their agreement during the ceremony by actively participating in the readings and the procession of offerings.
"Some people think that we will be paid by the Church. We may be reimbursed for certain expenses, particularly transportation, while carrying out our present and future ministry, but we all support ourselves through our professional work. The Church does not give us anything. This is a service to the Church," Samir insists.
The celebration was lovely and Adel, Bassem and Samir, the first three Palestinians on the route toward the permanent diaconate, were radiant. Our best wishes go with them.
Mab
Introduction of the Three Future Deacons
Bassem Ghattas was born in 1966. He works in the pharmaceutics industry. He has long been very involved in the Legion of Mary, of which he is the current president for the Province of Israel and Palestine. He also takes part in various diocesan commissions. He is a member of the Jerusalem-Beit Hanina parish. Bassem is married to Thérèse and is the father of three children.
Samir El Hodali, born in 1962, studied English at the University of Bethlehem and Social Communication in Rome. Since 1994 he has been the director of the Patriarchate’s Catechetical Center. He is a member of the Jerusalem-Beit Safafa parish and is involved in Saint Saviour’s parish choir as well as the choir of the Custody of the Holy Land. He is married to Minerva and they have two sons.
Adel Moghrabi, born in 1966, studied English at the University of Bethlehem, philosophy at Beit Jala, and Bible, liturgy and Church History at the Lateran University in Rome. He is currently a catechism teacher with the Rosary Sisters in Beit Hanina (his parish). Married to Khula, they have three children.
[1] Actually, there are five men preparing for the diaconate. One is a Greek Catholic (Melkite) living in Bethlehem, and another is Latin from Nazareth.
[2] Acolyte and Reader: These functions, once called "Minor Orders" are still ministries today. They consist of service at the altar and of the Word of God.
[3] Giovanni Battistelli, former Custos of the Holy Land.
So it was that on Sunday, June 15, three [1] husbands and fathers were installed as Acolytes and Readers. [2]
Bassem Ghattas, Samir El Hodali, Adel Moghrabi are all in their forties. Very involved in parish life, for the past year and a half they have been following a special course of study in biblical studies and theology at the diocesan seminary in Beit Jala, a course that will continue in the months and years to come and should culminate, "In shallah! ", God willing, in their ordination as permanent deacons in one or two years.
When Msgr. Michel Sabbah was asked the reason for this "delay" in comparison with the West, he smiled, "The Church of Rome moves forward slowly. The Church in Jerusalem moves forward very, very slowly." In any case, he denies that the beginning of the permanent deaconate is meant to alleviate a decrease in vocations. "Thanks be to God," he says, "each one of our parishes has a priest, and the seminary has no lack of vocations. But we want to open ourselves more to the diversity of pastoral activity and to demonstrate the place of lay people in the Church." Therefore, if the diocese of Jerusalem is opening toward the permanent diaconate, this is, according to Msgr. Sabbah, "so as to offer the grace of this specific ministry to those who may be called to it and to our local Church. It is one of the fruits of the Synod."
In fact, the permanent diaconate was listed as an aspiration in the acts of the Synod, but it took a bit of time to approve and put into place. In an ecclesiastical culture marked by extreme respect for priests, the question of the acceptance of this new ministry is raised. According to Samir El Hodali, "At the end of the celebration when we received the good wishes of everyone in attendance, they all seemed very happy for us. They told us so, and we could see it on their faces." Then, will their ministry be restricted by the priests themselves? "On the contrary, our parish priest, Father Ibrahim Faltas ofm, encourages us. It was he who called us to set out on this path. And I know a number of diocesan priests who wish to live these ministries together with us".
Being declared Readers and Acolytes is one of the steps on a path that was begun a year and a half ago. “We thought of giving them these ministries, Acolytes and Readers, so that they could be received by the assembly as laymen, and from this point forward they will become active in service," says Msgr. Sabbah.
Being in his place as a layman in the Church has always been Samir’s desire. "I have known Father Battistelli ofm [3] for a long time. When I was young, he asked me, ’Why don’t you become a priest?’ I told him that I had 50.5% reasons to say no. And 49.5% reasons to say yes. But while studying in Rome it was the role of the layman that attracted me the most. When I got married, the father told me, ’So, the 0.5% won.’"
The future deacons are pursuing the path to the diaconate with the full agreement of their wives, who must cosign certain documents with their husbands and write their own letters of acceptance of certain principal phases of the formation. "It is a real family decision," says Samir. Because this will change everyone’s rhythm."
Families showed their agreement during the ceremony by actively participating in the readings and the procession of offerings.
"Some people think that we will be paid by the Church. We may be reimbursed for certain expenses, particularly transportation, while carrying out our present and future ministry, but we all support ourselves through our professional work. The Church does not give us anything. This is a service to the Church," Samir insists.
The celebration was lovely and Adel, Bassem and Samir, the first three Palestinians on the route toward the permanent diaconate, were radiant. Our best wishes go with them.
Mab
Introduction of the Three Future Deacons
Bassem Ghattas was born in 1966. He works in the pharmaceutics industry. He has long been very involved in the Legion of Mary, of which he is the current president for the Province of Israel and Palestine. He also takes part in various diocesan commissions. He is a member of the Jerusalem-Beit Hanina parish. Bassem is married to Thérèse and is the father of three children.
Samir El Hodali, born in 1962, studied English at the University of Bethlehem and Social Communication in Rome. Since 1994 he has been the director of the Patriarchate’s Catechetical Center. He is a member of the Jerusalem-Beit Safafa parish and is involved in Saint Saviour’s parish choir as well as the choir of the Custody of the Holy Land. He is married to Minerva and they have two sons.
Adel Moghrabi, born in 1966, studied English at the University of Bethlehem, philosophy at Beit Jala, and Bible, liturgy and Church History at the Lateran University in Rome. He is currently a catechism teacher with the Rosary Sisters in Beit Hanina (his parish). Married to Khula, they have three children.
[1] Actually, there are five men preparing for the diaconate. One is a Greek Catholic (Melkite) living in Bethlehem, and another is Latin from Nazareth.
[2] Acolyte and Reader: These functions, once called "Minor Orders" are still ministries today. They consist of service at the altar and of the Word of God.
[3] Giovanni Battistelli, former Custos of the Holy Land.