Our Franciscan fraternities in Damascus, the custodians of the Memorial to St. Paul, the place of his conversion; the House of St. Ananias, the place and symbol of the early Christian community in Damascus which took him in and instructed him in the faith of Jesus; and the Latin parish church which from the very beginning was built under the protection of St. Paul, are fully involved in the proclamation of the Pauline holy year on the second millennium of the birth of the Apostle.
In this past year, the sanctuary of the Conversion of the Apostle of the People has been renovated, standing WEST of the church of the Memorial, incorporating in a chapel the small rocky prominence, considered a vestige of the Roman Road, with below it, the Holy Grotto, which has been given an altar so that Holy Mass can be celebrated there and opposite it 6 spacious tiers of seats for the faithful. The inauguration of this chapel was to coincide with the start of the jubilee year of the Apostle.
His Excellency Mons. Giuseppe Nazzaro, Apostolic Vicar of the Latins, had decided to hold a solemn concelebration in the Church of the Memorial on 28th June, coinciding with the start of the holy year, so that this concelebration coincided with the solemn papal celebration in the Basilica of St. Paul extra mura in Rome. But due to ecumenical convenience of the churches of Damascus, it was decided to celebrate this holy function on 29th June 2008 at 7.30 p.m.
As already mentioned, the proclamation of the Pauline jubilee year coincided with the inauguration of the new building of the Sanctuary, with the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, invited to personally preside at the ceremony of inauguration of the new chapel. But as the Custos had previous engagements for that day, 29th June, in Jerusalem which he could absolutely not cancel, for the occasion he delegated Fr. Rachid Mistrih, Discreet of the Holy Land.
The Holy Mass began at 7.30 p.m.. The church of the Memorial was packed with worshippers, including a large number of nuns from the women’s communities of Damascus. H.E. Mons. Giovanni Battista Moranti, Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus, twelve priests including Fr. Rachid representing the Custos and Father Khalil Arad, a Lazarist and Chairman of the Commission of the Latin Vicariate for the Pauline holy year, concelebrated the Mass with H.E. Mons. G. Nazzaro. H.E. Mons. Joseph Arnauti, Armenian Catholic Bishop of Damascus was also present.
The Holy Mass took place in a climate of celebration and solemnity. After the concelebration of the Eucharist, the torch-lit procession set off to the new Chapel of the Sanctuary, with incense, the cross, the candelabra, the altar boys, the concelebrants, the schola cantorum and the people. The group of Scouts from the Latin parish church of Bab Touma livened up the procession and with their orchestra and presence they enhanced the whole function.
When they reached the new chapel, Fr. Rachid, in the name of the Custos, cut the ribbon and everybody went into the renovated building. Fr. Rachid blessed the buildings and the people with holy water and incense and then made a speech-message with enthusiasm and fervour. After he had read the beautiful speech, the clergy and the faithful gave a long applause.
H.E. the Apostolic Nuncio then read in Italian the message that His Holiness the Pope had sent to the Apostolic Vicar for the opening of the Chapel of the Conversion.
The message was read again, this time in Arabic and immediately afterwards H.E. Mons. G. Nazzaro, solemnly announced the start of the jubilee year, proclaimed by His Holiness the Pope, promulgating the privileges of the indulgences that can be gained in this Pauline place throughout the year. After the final solemn blessing given by Their Excellencies, everybody went into the courtyard of the church, where there was the exchange of greetings between the faithful and the clergy.
The orchestra of the scouts very skilfully enlivened the atmosphere.
This function marks the start of a new stage for the Memorial for worship and for the pilgrims who will visit the Sanctuary.
Fr. Romualdo Fernandez ofm
In this past year, the sanctuary of the Conversion of the Apostle of the People has been renovated, standing WEST of the church of the Memorial, incorporating in a chapel the small rocky prominence, considered a vestige of the Roman Road, with below it, the Holy Grotto, which has been given an altar so that Holy Mass can be celebrated there and opposite it 6 spacious tiers of seats for the faithful. The inauguration of this chapel was to coincide with the start of the jubilee year of the Apostle.
His Excellency Mons. Giuseppe Nazzaro, Apostolic Vicar of the Latins, had decided to hold a solemn concelebration in the Church of the Memorial on 28th June, coinciding with the start of the holy year, so that this concelebration coincided with the solemn papal celebration in the Basilica of St. Paul extra mura in Rome. But due to ecumenical convenience of the churches of Damascus, it was decided to celebrate this holy function on 29th June 2008 at 7.30 p.m.
As already mentioned, the proclamation of the Pauline jubilee year coincided with the inauguration of the new building of the Sanctuary, with the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, invited to personally preside at the ceremony of inauguration of the new chapel. But as the Custos had previous engagements for that day, 29th June, in Jerusalem which he could absolutely not cancel, for the occasion he delegated Fr. Rachid Mistrih, Discreet of the Holy Land.
The Holy Mass began at 7.30 p.m.. The church of the Memorial was packed with worshippers, including a large number of nuns from the women’s communities of Damascus. H.E. Mons. Giovanni Battista Moranti, Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus, twelve priests including Fr. Rachid representing the Custos and Father Khalil Arad, a Lazarist and Chairman of the Commission of the Latin Vicariate for the Pauline holy year, concelebrated the Mass with H.E. Mons. G. Nazzaro. H.E. Mons. Joseph Arnauti, Armenian Catholic Bishop of Damascus was also present.
The Holy Mass took place in a climate of celebration and solemnity. After the concelebration of the Eucharist, the torch-lit procession set off to the new Chapel of the Sanctuary, with incense, the cross, the candelabra, the altar boys, the concelebrants, the schola cantorum and the people. The group of Scouts from the Latin parish church of Bab Touma livened up the procession and with their orchestra and presence they enhanced the whole function.
When they reached the new chapel, Fr. Rachid, in the name of the Custos, cut the ribbon and everybody went into the renovated building. Fr. Rachid blessed the buildings and the people with holy water and incense and then made a speech-message with enthusiasm and fervour. After he had read the beautiful speech, the clergy and the faithful gave a long applause.
H.E. the Apostolic Nuncio then read in Italian the message that His Holiness the Pope had sent to the Apostolic Vicar for the opening of the Chapel of the Conversion.
The message was read again, this time in Arabic and immediately afterwards H.E. Mons. G. Nazzaro, solemnly announced the start of the jubilee year, proclaimed by His Holiness the Pope, promulgating the privileges of the indulgences that can be gained in this Pauline place throughout the year. After the final solemn blessing given by Their Excellencies, everybody went into the courtyard of the church, where there was the exchange of greetings between the faithful and the clergy.
The orchestra of the scouts very skilfully enlivened the atmosphere.
This function marks the start of a new stage for the Memorial for worship and for the pilgrims who will visit the Sanctuary.
Fr. Romualdo Fernandez ofm