“The Royal banner forward goes / the mystic Cross refulgent glows.” It is with this ancient liturgical hymn (theVexílla Regis, 6th century) that the procession with which the precious relic of holy wood was carried from Calvary to the chapel of the Apparition of St Mary Magdalene, was concluded, at the end of the solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on 14 September. The holy mass was presided by Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, at his first official ceremony as Vicar […]
The Catholic Church in Syria is celebrating: for the first time one of its “children” has become the bishop of Catholics of the Latin rite in the country. On Sunday 17 September, fra Hanna Jallouf, a Franciscan of the Custody of the Holy Land, was ordained bishop and took up the appointment of Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo of the Latins. This figure is similar to that of a diocesan bishop, but governs a part of God’s people in an area […]
