The entrance of the Custos of the Holy Land in Bethlehem is traditionally preceded on the same morning by the meeting with the notables of the parish of Jerusalem at St. Saviour’s Convent. Father Feras Hejazin, the new parish priest, and Father Silvio De La Fuente, the new Custodial Secretary, who speaks fluent Arabic, also attended the reception for the first time. Waiting for Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa to arrive, the Custodial Vicar and guardian of St. Saviour, Father Artemio Vitores, received the guests.
As soon as he entered, the Custos personally greeted all those present and then he sat down to listen to the message of the muktar, Mr. Amer, who spoke as the representative of the parishioners.
In his speech, Mr. Amer thanked the Custody for the loving and proactive support it gives to the Christian community of Jerusalem, underlining in particular the actions of the Custody in housing, renovating old houses and building new ones, which were recently made available. Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa contextualized the meeting in the time of Advent, wishing that the path leading up to Christmas can be a path of conversion and testimony of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. The whole of the Christian world looks to Jerusalem and this entails a great responsibility for the first parish of the Custody.
Thanking Mr. Amer for his words, Father Pierbattista stressed the Custody’s desire to continue identifying and acquiring new spaces for new homes, renovating old ones: “I can assure you,” said the Custos Father, “that we will continue, especially in Jerusalem, where it is important to preserve the Christian character of the city and its population.” At the end Father Pierbattista and Father Feras again greeted the guests, extending their best wishes to them; the procession that accompanied the Custos to Bethlehem was then formed.
FRC
As soon as he entered, the Custos personally greeted all those present and then he sat down to listen to the message of the muktar, Mr. Amer, who spoke as the representative of the parishioners.
In his speech, Mr. Amer thanked the Custody for the loving and proactive support it gives to the Christian community of Jerusalem, underlining in particular the actions of the Custody in housing, renovating old houses and building new ones, which were recently made available. Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa contextualized the meeting in the time of Advent, wishing that the path leading up to Christmas can be a path of conversion and testimony of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. The whole of the Christian world looks to Jerusalem and this entails a great responsibility for the first parish of the Custody.
Thanking Mr. Amer for his words, Father Pierbattista stressed the Custody’s desire to continue identifying and acquiring new spaces for new homes, renovating old ones: “I can assure you,” said the Custos Father, “that we will continue, especially in Jerusalem, where it is important to preserve the Christian character of the city and its population.” At the end Father Pierbattista and Father Feras again greeted the guests, extending their best wishes to them; the procession that accompanied the Custos to Bethlehem was then formed.
FRC