MINOR SEMINARY FURNITURE BEIT JALA / PALESTINE

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1 LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM PROJECT PROPOSAL MINOR SEMINARY FURNITURE BEIT JALA / PALESTINE GA 016/15 General Administration Project Development Office June 2015 MINOR SEMINARY FURNITURE / BEIT JALA - PALESTINE 1

2 MINOR SEMINARY FURNITURE / BEIT JALA - PALESTINE THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (LPJ) was restored in 1847; its main goal is to promote the best interest of the local communities it serves in. Today, the Patriarchal Diocese oversees about 90,000 faithful in four countries, including the Galilee, The Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Cyprus, covering a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, religions and traditions. Serving all with special emphasis on the support and care of indigenous Holy Land Christians remains the enduring mission of the Mother Church, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. INTRODUCTION The Latin Seminary When the Latin Seminary was founded in 1852, it was the only Roman Catholic Diocesan Seminary in the Middle East. It became a central place for priesthood preparation for both Palestinian and Jordanian students. It is divided into two seminaries: a Minor one and a Major one. At the minor one, young students with the minimum age of 14 are educated and prepared for five years. It is the path to procure students to the major seminary. The formation received at the seminary is very essential to the students future as priests. Throughout the past 17 years, more than thirty priests have been ordained at Beit Jala. Currently, half of the student body in the Minor and Major Seminaries, come from Jordan, while the other half are Palestinians. As of mid-2008, twelve of our priests have become bishops, and three were appointed to serve as Latin Patriarchs of Jerusalem: (Msgr. Giacomo Beltritti, Msgr. Michael Sabbah and Msgr. Fouad Twal).The ordained priests serve throughout the Diocese of Jerusalem, which includes historical Palestine, Jordan, Israel and Cyprus. The Latin Patriarchate Seminary prepares new priests for the local Church. Therefore, creating a friendly and more adapted environment for the seminarians helps in their formation. It is the place where seminarians study, sleep, learn and spend most of their time. The human formation is accomplished through daily life, under the supervision of a high qualified team of educators. Each seminarian is coached by a specific priest to follow his human, psychological and spiritual progress. A fulfilling community-based life is an important component for the healthy formation of the seminarians. The daily program at the Seminary is organized around the life of prayer, where the Sequela Christi is the focus of the future priests. Finally, Major Seminarians receive special training in pastoral life. They undertake courses in pastoral theology and catechism, and then experience the pastoral life in parishes every weekend during their theological studies, followed by a month of service each summer at a local parish, under the supervision of the parish priests. This training provides them with the important experiences in pastoral life, necessary to become ordained as priests at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Minor Seminary was built in 1956, and throughout the past years, the building was adjusted to meet the needs of the seminarians ages Due to the fact that adjustments were made without proper planning, and no major renovation works were done for a long time, the Minor Seminary has been put under a three phase renovation project to make the place healthier, and a more sustainable place to 2 MINOR SEMINARY FURNITURE / BEIT JALA - PALESTINE

3 live in and study. The first phase included all the necessary works for renovation, and upgrading of the electrical and warm water system of the Minor Seminary. It has been rehabilitated to create more space and privacy for the seminarians. Better sleeping arrangements have been created and the toilets were repaired adding new wash basins and showers. Moreover, a storage room was added in addition to an efficient heating as well as lighting systems. Furthermore, the new classrooms have been designed to promote group work, and a spacious hall has been constructed. The teachers rooms were also renewed for a more welcoming atmosphere. Flexible furniture which is convenient for students and staff needs to be purchased to furnish the classrooms, teacher s rooms and the study hall. LOCATION/DEMOGRAPHICS Beit Jala is a small town that lies near Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was born. It is relatively small and its inhabitants do not exceed sixteen thousand. Around 87% of its population is Christians. Together with Bethlehem and Beit Sahour, Beit Jala forms a Christian triangle where most of the Christians live. NEEDS Total population: 15,670 Total Number of Christians: 11,500 Minor seminarians: 43 Major seminarians: 35 PALESTINE The Minor Seminary is the heart of the Latin Patriarchate, where new priests are formed and sent to serve in the local parishes of the Holy Land. Rehabilitating the place where new priests spend most of their time is important, to create a peaceful and healthy atmosphere. After the conclusion of the first phase of the renovation project, the need to purchase the new furniture is crucial. To create a better use of the resources and space available after the completion of first phase, suitable furniture for the classrooms, dormitories, teacher rooms and the study area. L Jord Aboud Jifnah Lydda Birzeit Taybeh H Ain-Arik RAMALLAH JERICHO JERUSALEM Rafat Abou Gosh Ain Karim BETHLEHEM eit Gemal Beit Jala OrtasBeit Sahour Hebron ad Sea SALT Erme Fuhe N Mt N Ma in BENEFICIARIES The direct beneficiaries are 43 Minor seminarians, and 35 Major seminarians. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem priests are also beneficiaries. Execution and Duration The Latin Patriarchate technical and procurement staff, will comply with all LPJ internal contracting and supervision procedures. The technical team will prepare the detailed work which includes the purchase, delivery and installation of furniture. MINOR SEMINARY FURNITURE / BEIT JALA - PALESTINE 3

4 Proposed Budget The total estimate cost of this project is: US $ 154, For further details and the financial study, please contact the Project Development Office. PHOTOS 4 MINOR SEMINARY FURNITURE / BEIT JALA - PALESTINE

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8 LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM Rev. Fr. Imad Twal General Administrator General Administration Office Jaffa Gate, P.O. Box Jerusalem Tel ceo@lpj.org 8 MINOR SEMINARY FURNITURE / BEIT JALA - PALESTINE