After the conclusion of the Bishops’ Synod on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL) held its General Assembly and invited seminarians and students of biblical institutes and seminaries, religious brothers and sisters with their novices, and the diocesan clergy to a Eucharistic celebration in honor of Saint Paul, in this year dedicated to him. The Mass took place in St. Etienne’s Basilica, the only place [1] in the Holy Land that has traces of a chapel consecrated to the Apostle to the Nations, as Father Guy Tardivy, prior of the Dominican convent, mentioned in his homily.
The ordinaries’ invitation was very well received, as more than 70 priests concelebrated with His Beatitude Msgr. Fouad Twal, president of the ACOHL, and twelve bishops, including Msgr. Antonio Franco, the Apostolic Nuncio, at the beautiful liturgy animated by the Salesian seminarians. The priests of each rite were invited to wear the liturgical vestments of their own rites. The Latin language united the concelebrants in the Eucharistic Prayer, while the readings and songs were in other languages. Following the celebration, it took some time for the basilica’s atrium to empty, as everyone relished the opportunity to meet altogether.
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land includes the Catholic Church of the Latin, Greek, Maronite, Syrian, Armenian and Chaldean rites. The Custos of the Holy Land is a full member.
In addition to discussion of the celebration of the Year of Saint Paul, the Ordinaries’ program for the two days of the General Assembly included a discussion of social communication media, dear to the heart of the Assembly of Ordinaries, who launched an Internet site in 2008: the Holy Land Catholic Communications Centre. This was also the occasion for the Custos of the Holy Land to present the of the Franciscan Multimedia Center.
MAB
The ordinaries’ invitation was very well received, as more than 70 priests concelebrated with His Beatitude Msgr. Fouad Twal, president of the ACOHL, and twelve bishops, including Msgr. Antonio Franco, the Apostolic Nuncio, at the beautiful liturgy animated by the Salesian seminarians. The priests of each rite were invited to wear the liturgical vestments of their own rites. The Latin language united the concelebrants in the Eucharistic Prayer, while the readings and songs were in other languages. Following the celebration, it took some time for the basilica’s atrium to empty, as everyone relished the opportunity to meet altogether.
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land includes the Catholic Church of the Latin, Greek, Maronite, Syrian, Armenian and Chaldean rites. The Custos of the Holy Land is a full member.
In addition to discussion of the celebration of the Year of Saint Paul, the Ordinaries’ program for the two days of the General Assembly included a discussion of social communication media, dear to the heart of the Assembly of Ordinaries, who launched an Internet site in 2008: the Holy Land Catholic Communications Centre. This was also the occasion for the Custos of the Holy Land to present the of the Franciscan Multimedia Center.
MAB