On Saturday morning, the Greek Catholic community in the Galilee gathered in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul for the ordination of one of its sons, Zaher Abboud, a Franciscan of the Custody of the Holy Land.
Presiding over the celebration was the Metropolitan of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and all the Galilee, Mgr. Elias Chacour, concelebrating with the Custos of the Holy Land, Brother Pierpattista Pizzaballa and other Friars Minor who gathered for the occasion.
It is not unusual in the Custody that a Friar Minor is ordained in a rite other than the Roman rite that Saint Francis chose for his Order. Here in the Middle East, many vocations are born in the Christian communities of the oriental rites, as in Brother Zaher’s case. The Church does not want the spiritual and liturgical riches of these rites to be lost. Quite the contrary: she offers these friars the possiblity of celebrating the liturgy in both rites – that of their birth and the Latin rite that they embrace upon entry to the Order of Friars Minor.
The celebration began with the procession of friars, religious brothers and priests, preceded by the Scouts, to the sound of their fanfare.
In his homily, Mgr. Chacour compared the Christian community of the Galilee and that of the Apostles, born in this land, to an olive tree: to the eye, it looks dry and gnarled, but the tree can give abundant fruit in season. He then invited Latin and Melkite Christians to work together for the Gospel and for the missionary proclamation to the faithful of other religions.
The sound of songs in Arabic and Greek alternated during the celebration, wreathed in plumes of incense, according the custom of the Greek Catholic Church. After Mass the new priest received the congratulations of the many friars who came from all the convents of the Holy Land, as well as those of his friends and relatives, who also came in large numbers.
The celebration continued with a breakfast, during which many people took the floor to offer their congratulations. Among them was the Custos, who reminded the new priest that the enthusiasm of beginnings is followed by routine. He encouraged him to renew continually the élan of faithfulness to the Lord.
Heartfelt congratulations, Brother Zaher!
AC
Presiding over the celebration was the Metropolitan of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and all the Galilee, Mgr. Elias Chacour, concelebrating with the Custos of the Holy Land, Brother Pierpattista Pizzaballa and other Friars Minor who gathered for the occasion.
It is not unusual in the Custody that a Friar Minor is ordained in a rite other than the Roman rite that Saint Francis chose for his Order. Here in the Middle East, many vocations are born in the Christian communities of the oriental rites, as in Brother Zaher’s case. The Church does not want the spiritual and liturgical riches of these rites to be lost. Quite the contrary: she offers these friars the possiblity of celebrating the liturgy in both rites – that of their birth and the Latin rite that they embrace upon entry to the Order of Friars Minor.
The celebration began with the procession of friars, religious brothers and priests, preceded by the Scouts, to the sound of their fanfare.
In his homily, Mgr. Chacour compared the Christian community of the Galilee and that of the Apostles, born in this land, to an olive tree: to the eye, it looks dry and gnarled, but the tree can give abundant fruit in season. He then invited Latin and Melkite Christians to work together for the Gospel and for the missionary proclamation to the faithful of other religions.
The sound of songs in Arabic and Greek alternated during the celebration, wreathed in plumes of incense, according the custom of the Greek Catholic Church. After Mass the new priest received the congratulations of the many friars who came from all the convents of the Holy Land, as well as those of his friends and relatives, who also came in large numbers.
The celebration continued with a breakfast, during which many people took the floor to offer their congratulations. Among them was the Custos, who reminded the new priest that the enthusiasm of beginnings is followed by routine. He encouraged him to renew continually the élan of faithfulness to the Lord.
Heartfelt congratulations, Brother Zaher!
AC