JERUSALEM. Editorial. n e w s l e t t e r. I thirst. l o v e t h e H o l y l a n d a n d b e l o v e d. If you knew the gift of God

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1 n e w s l e t t e r JERUSALEM l o v e t h e H o l y l a n d a n d b e l o v e d Number 10 February 2012 Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem P.O.B Jerusalem Tel : Fax : Media office: meo@latinpat.org LATIN PATRIARCHATE PRINTING PRESS BEIT JALA 2012 Editorial I thirst. It has rained in the Holy Land for two months. It is a blessing because the country was thirsty for many years. According to the Israeli Meteorological Institute, the Holy Land experienced 29 days of rain in January. Not seen since And the level of the Lake of Tiberias rose by 55 cm for that month alone! Rain having no border, the Palestinian Territories have also benefited... The Middle East is experiencing a situation of water stress. That is to say, a structural imbalance between its water capital - limited - and its consumption. In this region of semi-desert, rain is absent from April to September. The issue of water has a geopolitical evident nature in relations between Israel and the West Bank, and Gaza. There, tensions are rooted in a gross disparity in consumption between the two communities using the same sources of water supply. The absence of ground water is compensated by the contribution of waters from Lebanon and Syria, which, via the Golan Heights, supply the Lake of Tiberias. From there arises the Jordan River, whose waters are the only freshwater resource shared by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Kingdom of Jordan. When you know the many tensions that persist between these countries, we understand very quickly then the geopolitical interest of water control. On the Jordan, 46% of flow benefits to Israel, 25%, to Syria, 23.5% to Jordan and 5% to the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority does not control any water resource. The scarcity of water is imposed on the governments in the region, causing them to face problems that can lead to the questioning of their territorial integrity. Water control, and therefore its exploitation, permits the maintaining of a certain pressure towards potential dependent neighbors. On 22 March, World Water Day will focus on water as a necessity to supply a rapidly growing world population. In February, the Pope s prayer intention was that all peoples have full access to water. Water is a gift, access to it is a right. But water here has a price: gold... blue gold. It has a challenge: peace. Or at least, cooperation. But what hope? If you knew the gift of God The image of the Samaritan Woman mentioned at the third Sunday of Lent reminds us that she came to draw water in order to live on this arid earth. But what brought this woman to Jesus and to meet is their respective thirsts. For Jesus the thirst is to to seek and to save what was lost. For the Samaritan, it is a physical thirst. But coming to draw this water becomes a reflection of an inner search of love. In this encounter at the well, the emerging theme of Christ s thirst which culminates in the cry on the cross: I thirst (Jn 19: 28). Jesus had a thirst for the faith of this woman, as for the faith of all of us. Lent is a favorable time to quench our thirst with Christ. If you knew the gift of God... Christophe Lafontaine The Jordan River near the site of the Baptism almost overflowing. It is a major water source in the Holy Land

2 P A G E 2 Sisters of Nazareth in Shafa amr: Jubilee celebration The Sisters of Nazareth in Shafa amr are celebrating this year a particular thanksgiving for 150 years of their presence in Galilee. The opening of the Jubilee year took place on Friday, January 13 th in the Great Room of the religious Sisters of Nazareth in Shafa amr, with Mass presided by Archbishop Elias Chacour, Melkite Archbishop of Accra. Present were Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Israel; Bishop Sayyah of the Maronites and Bishop Mouallem, Archbishop-emeritus. Holy Land celebrates Don Bosco, Apostle of Youth On Sunday, February 5 th, the Salesiens celebrated their patron saint. In Bethlehem, the Patriarch celebrated mass at the Salesian convent, and in Nazareth, Msgr Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Vicar of the Latin Patriarchate for Israel, presided over the mass at the Salesian church of Jesus the Adolescent. Italian Choir for Peace in the Holy Land The Scholae Cantorum Society of Verona, Italy, began the project Brothers in Christ: songs for friendship and peace in the Holy Land on the occasion of its 25 th anniversary. The Italian Choir, on pilgrimage in the Holy Land, presented three concerts for peace from February 14 to 17. This idea was born after having contacts with the Seminary in Beit Jala where priests of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem are formed. From Holy Land volunteer to Bishop in Lourdes The new Bishop of Tarbes- Lourdes, France, Bishop Nicolas Brouwet, is a former volunteer teacher ( ) at the seminary in Beit Jala. He was Auxiliary Bishop of Nanterre, France since The Latin Patriarchate conveys its prayers and warm greetings for his new mission. 3rd Congress of Commissaries of the Holy Land N E W S L E T T E R J E RU S A L E M Diocese : Holy Land News Patriarch welcomes new Auxiliary in Amman Here with you today are Bishops, clergy, monks, nuns, laity, pastoral animators, numerous friends, dedicated supporters and relatives acclaim you as Patriarchal Vicar here in Amman, Jordan. It is with these words that the Patriarch, in his homily, welcome the new Auxiliary Bishop for Jordan, during the solemn Mass in which the Apostolic Nuncio of Jordan, Bishop Lingua, assisted in the presence of other religious authorities (bishops of the Holy Land, as also the Custos of the Holy Land). Also the civil authorities, Government representatives of the Kingdom of Jordan (among whom a Christian minister) and some counselors of the King, came to the celebration. About ten Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher participated alike at the Mass. The scouts led the procession, waving their banners in the aisle. Bishop Lahham arrived in a country where 200,000 Christians live (of which 50,000 are Catholic), without counting the 30,000 Iraqis who abandoned their country or other migrants for an overall number of about 100,000 persons. H.E. Maroun Lahham, new titular Bishop of Madaba and Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan Bishop Lahham, in fact, experienced the first outbursts of the Arab Spring what began right in his former diocese of Tunis. The Patriarch for that matter emphasized in his homily that he appreciated the overall good outlook ( ) far from exaggerations and prejudice which Bishop Maroun Lahham adopted regarding these political events that are touching the Arab world. And he continued, addressing himself to the new Auxiliary: Your mission in Tunis enriched you with wisdom, maturity and a universal dimension. Addressing his homily to the new mission of Bishop Lahham, Patriarch Twal recalled: You were assigned to all, Monsignore: Christians, Muslims, rich and poor, healthy and sick, young and old. Whether you are serving in Jordan and its people, as well as in Palestine and its people. The worries and aspirations of all are a responsibility for us before God and in the face of history. Christophe Lafontaine Over 100 Commissaries of the Holy Land Ambassadors of the Custody- met in Jerusalem for their Third International Congress which took place from January 30 to February 4. Representatives of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land from 44 countries: commissaries, vice-commissaries, experts, collaborators, translators and journalists. This meeting occurs every six years. The theme of this year s Congress is: Confronting, sharing and keeping each other up-to-date, according to the provisions of the statutes said the Custody of the Holy Land. Patriarch Fouad Twal thanked the commissaries for their services. In his homily, he emphasized the importance of the Franciscans mission. Thanks to you he said many people can live and work in different institutions ( ) your mission is not without sacrifice, humiliation and misunderstanding, and yet it is an indispensible mission and necessary for all to make a living and to make progress. The Patriarch concluded praying that their mission excites a growing zeal in this land. He then added I wish that every Christian feels they are accountable with us and guardians of this Land and its peace. This year, the commissaries in the presence of the Minister General of the Order, the Very Rev. José Rodriguez Carballo worked on three key issues: the economy of the Custody in the face of the world economic crisis, communication strategies, and the creation of a practical reference guide for commissaries and pilgrims. Amélie de La Hougue

3 l o v e t h e H O L Y l a n d a n d b e l o v e d P A G E 3 Diocese : Holy Land News Nazareth interreligious meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, head of the Anglican Communion, was on pilgrimage in the Holy Land. During a visit to Nazareth on Saturday, January 28 th, Archbishop Williams participated as guest of honor in an interreligious meeting at St. Margaret Guest House. The meeting was organized by the parish and the Anglican diocese. About a hundred guests from all the religious communities were present: Muslims, Druze and Christians of different denomination, represented by Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Latin Patriarchal vicar for Israel, Bishop Elias Shacour, Melkite Archbishop of Accra and Bishop-emeritus Boutros Mouallem. Bishop Marcuzzo welcomed, congratulated and thanked Archbishop Williams for his extraordinary position in favor of justice and peace in the Holy Land and in the Middle East in general, for his Christian vision on scientific questions like evolution, for ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, and for his excellent relations with the Catholic Church manifested during the visit of the Pope in England for the beatification of John Henry Newman, and in regard to the Personal Ordinariate, created especially for Anglicans who became Catholics. The Anglican Primate spontaneously spoke on all topics dear to him: peace, reconciliation, inter-church and interreligious relations, the new harmony in the Middle East. He particularly lingered on the message of Nazareth. All believers, are invited to become children of Abraham, to live the faith of Abraham and to fulfill the promise of Abraham. We will be in the measure in which we can imitate Mary of Nazareth in her total availability to the Word of God and in her radical abandonment to the will of God, he added. Correspondent in Nazareth Celebration of Consecrated Life On the occasion of the Day of Consecrated Life and of the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Archbishop Franco, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel and Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, presided over the Mass at the Rosary Sisters in Jerusalem on Thursday, February 2 nd. The Chapel of the Rosary Sisters received more than 250 religious and lay people gathering to pray together. Archbishop Antonio Franco presided over the Mass along with about The Archbishop of Canterbury attended an interreligious meeting in Nazareth, on January 28th The Day of Consecrated Life at the Rosary Sisters in Jerusalem twenty other priests who concelebrate. The songs and readings alternated in English, Latin, Arabic, French, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, reflecting the different nationalities that made up the assembly. In his homily, Archbishop Franco expressed how happy he was able, as Apostolic Nuncio, to spend time with all the consecrated people in the Holy Land. From all around the world, you make up here, a local presence in Jerusalem, a sign of God s presence. Amélie de La Hougue Popular demonstration against violence in Rameh On Saturday, February 11, 2012 a large popular protest demonstration against violence was held in Rameh, Upper Galilee. A rally which had united the religiously mixed local population, because of which some episodes of violence in the last weeks struck the country and which unfortunately culminated with the homicide of a young 23 year old Druze man. Farewell to Bishop Sayegh from the clergy in Jordan The Council of the Latin Clergy in Jordan organized a farewell for Bishop Salim Sayegh on the occasion of his termination of his Episcopal service following the approval of his resignation by Pope Benedict XVI upon attaining the legal age. The ceremony opened with a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament at the Church of the Virgin of Nazareth in Sweifieh, Amman. Anti-Christian graffiti in Jerusalem Some anti-christian graffiti was discovered this morning, Monday, February 20, on the walls of a Baptist Church in West Jerusalem. This is the second incident of the kind that occurred in the month of February and intended for places of Christian worship. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem reacts strongly against these hateful and hostile acts towards Christians. It wishes for a better formation in society to avoid this type of fanaticism. Don Dezzotto: 90-year passion for the Bible Don Domenico Dezzotto, a Salesian from Beit Jemal, a big promoter of spreading the Bible and good press, celebrated joyfully and with gratitude to the Lord his 90th birthday and 75 years of presence in the Holy Land and in the Middle East. The Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Israel, Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, visited Don Domenico Dezzotto to congratulate him and convey the greetings and gratitude of the Patriarch, Archbishop Fouad Twal, the Auxiliary Bishops, the Clergy and the local community.

4 P A G E 4 N E W S L E T T E R J E RU S A L E M Diocese : Pastoral activities and liturgical life Patriarch consecrates new altar of the Kehillah On Sunday, February 5, 2012, His Beatitude Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal came for a first visit since he became Patriarch to the Jerusalem kehilla, which meets in the chapel named for Saints Simeon and Anne. A few months after his arrival as coadjutor bishop in the Patriarchate, in 2007, he visited the Jerusalem kehilla. He was invited to celebrate the mass of the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple forty days after the Nativity. This is the feast of the kehilla s home the Saints Simeon and Anne House, the two saints being those who awaited the Messiah and recognized him in the baby, held in his parents arms. On this occasion, the Patriarch dedicated the new altar in the chapel, a magnificent wooden altar made especially for the chapel by master carpenters, Yona The grace of Jericho for the Sick Bishop Shomali gave the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to 100 people during the Mass he presided at the Parish of the Good Shepherd in Jericho on Sunday, February 5 th. The Sacrament of the Sick is an Anointing of Holy Oil. This Sacrament is a response to Christ s word who established it asking to his apostles to heal the sick: (You) will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Cf. Mk 16:18). It is particularly acute in Jericho. Jericho is a place of healing. We can remember the healing of Bartimaeus and Stas. The altar was made possible thanks to the generous contribution of the Frick family in Switzerland. The dedication ceremony of an altar is a rare celebration and includes anointing with oil (which has been sanctified on Holy Thursday). It is similar to the ordination of a priest preparatory prayers, litany of saints, anointing with oil and vesting. The Patriarch celebrated the dedication of the altar in French and the mass in Arabic, the numerous congregation responded in Arabic and in Hebrew. It is significant to point out that the congregation was able to respond in Arabic thanks to a special transcription. Twenty priests celebrated, including Fr. David Neuhaus SJ, Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew-speaking Catholics in the Holy Land. And about 120 faithful attended the and also the conversion of Zacchaeus. In Jericho one and the other met Jesus. Tough encounter for the blind beggar Bartimaeus who was put aside by the crowd out of the city. Encounter just as painful for the tax collector Zacchaeus who was too small and hidden by the crowd. But their encounter with Jesus opens their eyes: they see! The conversion of Zacchaeus is also the healing of his spiritual blindness. In Jericho, Bishop Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop for Jerusalem, gave the Sacrament of the Sick to half of The Patriarch dedicated the new altar of the Kehillah Mass, a number superior to the number of seats in the chapel. In his homily, the Patriarch spoke of recent events in the life of the Church and underlined the role that the Saint James Vicariate plays in the pastoral of the local Church. The Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel the assembly of 200 persons. After Mass, the parish priest Ibrahim Sabbagh offered a meal. The community of Silent Workers of the Cross - Mater Misericordiae organized this day. They have been in the Holy Land since This celebration anticipated the World Day of the Sick which takes place every year on February 11 th. On this occasion the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is offered during the Eucharist in all parishes of the diocese. Christophe Lafontaine Over One Thousand Faithful for the Beatitude Celebration As has become the tradition, the last Sunday in January this year the 29 th of January the Church of the Holy Land celebrates the Beatitudes at the Sanctuary of the Beatitudes. On this occasion, Patriarch Fouad Twal presided over the Pontifical Mass. Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle On Sunday, February 19, the Church of the Holy Land gathered in Tiberias, at the Sanctuary of St. Peter to celebrate the feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle, brought forward this year from February 19 to 22. Bishop D Ercole (of the Archdiocese of L Aquila, Italia) celebrated the Mass together with Bishop Marcuzzo. Crown of thorns veneration at Ecce Homo Convent in Jerusalem On the first Friday of Lent, the faithful are invited to venerate the crown of thorns at Ecce Homo Convent in Jerusalem. This year, on Friday, February 24, 2012, Father David Neuhaus, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew speaking Catholics in Israel, celebrated the mass. New Executive Committee for the Bureau of Catholic Schools in Israel On Friday, February 10 th, the members of the Directive Committee (aka the G14) for the Bureau of Catholic Schools in Israel (BCSI) renewed its Executive Committee. The election was directed by Sr. Renée Moussa at the school of the Franciscan Sisters of Kafrkanna, in the presence of Latin Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Giacinto- Boulos Marcuzzo, who works closely with the bureau. The official lawyer for BCSI, Mr. Issam Abu Nassar, was also present. Valentine s Day in Nazareth On Friday night, February 10 th, the Chemin Neuf Community anticipated the celebration of Valentine s Day by inviting Christian couples in Nazareth for a festive dinner at the Mary of Nazareth International Center. The Community works for the Unity of the Family in many countries around the world especially with the mission Cana. Faithful to this vocation it offered a time of resourcing for couples present. About twenty couples responded to this invitation.

5 l o v e t h e H O L Y l a n d a n d b e l o v e d P A G E 5 Diocese in the Middle East and around the world Patriarch Twal: «We want peace with and for everyone» Is the Doha Declaration a step towards Palestinian reconciliation? In any case, it is a step within a framework of negotiations with this goal that began last Sunday in Doha between Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority and head of Fatah, and Khaled Mechaal, head of Hamas. The two Palestinian parties have had tenuous relations since 2007 with Hamas s takeover of the Gaza Strip. The accord that was signed yesterday will reinforce the 2011 reconciliation accord that had been all but quashed. The meeting in Doha took place in the presence of the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-thani, following the initiative of King Abdullah of Jordan. According to this agreement (which is scheduled to be ratified in Cairo on February 18 th ), the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas will direct a transitional unity government for the West Bank and Gaza. The two parties have agreed to pursue the process of reconstructing the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), in order to integrate Hamas and Islamic Jihad within this authority that will represent all Palestinians. This government will also be charged with supervising the reconstruction of Gaza and of conducting the elections (tentatively set for May 4 th 2012). The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has commented that he sees no obstacle to anything that all Palestinians begin to help Mahmoud Abbas to implement these two projects. Moreover, the Patriarch recognizes Mahmoud Abbas as a moderate, cooperative, and open man. With this accord, Mahmoud Abbas will henceforth take on the dual role of President and Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, assuming the responsibilities of the incumbent Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad who has enjoyed good relations with western nations. Patriarch Fouad Twal expressed his regret that this move does not acknowledge the great work successfully carried out by Salam Fayad, who has, with prudence and care, set up infrastructure for a future Palestinian State. The Way of Peace Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the head of the Palestinian Authority for having signed a governmental accord with Hamas. If Abou Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas: Editor s note ) enacts what was signed in Doha, he forfeits the way of peace in order to align himself with Hamas, declared Mr. Netanyahu, in a communiqué from the executive office. He also ventured that it is either peace with Hamas or peace with Israel; you cannot have it both ways. Precisely not, responded Patriarch Fouad Twal, who disagreed with this reaction. For him, this effective reconciliation is a response to the aspirations of Palestinians for unity, and in that we must rejoice. To further insist on his hope for a global peace: we want peace for all, a good agreement with Israel and among brother Palestinians, in all currents of political thought. Who does not experience, even in one s own family, diverging or opposing points of view? The Patriarch also noted in passing the abnormal reciprocity between the two camps whereby there are those who do not want to recognize the State of Israel, and others who do not want to recognize the State of Palestine. Patriarch Fouad Twal hopes [that this reconciliation might] contribute to maintaining negotiations which have never directly or indirectly stopped. Thus the liberation of Shalit and more than 1000 Palestinians was foreseen. Dialogue is made for men who do not understand. There is nothing to gain by wanting to stop it. We must combat the spirit of division. It is never the best way to operate when outlining a way to peace. Christophe Lafontaine February 17 Ecumenical Prayer for Syria On Friday, February 17 th, the Sabeel Theological Center organized an Ecumenical Prayer for Syria in the St. Stephen Church (Jerusalem). It echoes the words of Pope Benedict XVI at the Angelus on Sunday, February 12 th. Holy See and the PLO bilateral meeting Delegations of the Holy See and Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), met at the offices of the Palestinian President in Ramallah on January 28 th, in the context of their bilateral negotiations. The negotiations resumed in 2010, ten years after the signing of a Fundamental Agreement, and, and centered on the Catholic Church s rights in the Palestinian territories, respect for religious liberty and conscience and equal rights among all citizens of the future Palestinian State. Christian presence and witness in the Arab world A Christian-Moslem conference about the Christian presence and witness in the Arab world, was held at the Armenian Orthodox Catholicos at Antelias, Lebanon from January 24 to 28. Fr. Boulos Rouhana, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, delivered a speech at the opening session. Custos Appeal for Syria The Custos of the Holy Land, Father Pizzaballa, promoted an appeal to concretely support the numerous Christians of Syria and the charitable works of the Custody in the Holy Land, in which he declared: The medical dispensaries of the Franciscan Convents are becoming places of refuge and welcome for all, following the tradition of the Custody, without any difference among the ethnic groups of Alawite, Sunni, Christians or of rebels and of government.

6 P A G E 6 N E W S L E T T E R J E RU S A L E M Projects of the Latin Patriarchate Housing crisis for Christian families in Jenin Jenin is a city located in the northern West Bank, 60 km north of Jerusalem. Overwhelmingly Muslim, Jenin has a small parish of 60 Christian families. The pastor, Father Vito, a priest of the Latin Patriarchate, established within his parish, an apartment renovation project to prevent the departure of Christians. In the northern West Bank, 43 km from Nablus, Jenin is adjacent to the Israeli border. This city, formerly called En Ganim, is surrounded by 88 Muslim villages. But also by Zababdeh, the only town in the region to be mainly Christian. The Holy Redeemer Parish, a family of 300 Christians. Father Vito Vacca has been for nearly two years the pastor of Jenin and its surrounding villages (Bourqin, Deir Ghazaleh, Jalameh, Kafr Qoud, Sabah el-kheir and Ya bad). The Parish of Holy Redeemer is composed of 60 Christian families, who are almost all of the Latin Rite. It is a small and poor parish, according to the priest. Small, because the 300 Christians are few in number alongside the 60,000 Muslims in the town. And poor because here, in this agricultural region, and as in many other villages in Palestine, the unemployment rate is very significant, which sometimes reaches 60%. Father Vito watches over each of these families like the Shepherd watches over his sheep. Given the community s small size, he knows all the parishioners. I can follow each family, he says. Attentive to their needs, Father Vito makes every effort to ensure that the Christian presence (in Jenin) does not disappear, because the risk is present. And more than a risk, it s a reality. Many Christians are leaving, being forced for economic reasons. Yet, according to the city priest, the number of Christians could grow, because families have many children. But the main problem is housing. Too small, or unhealthy, families must leave their apartments that they cannot renovate because of the lack of money. And thus leave Jenin, reluctantly. Help Christians for housing in order to stay in Jenin Father Vito considered this issue and decided to raise funds to renovate the apartments of his parishioners. Now we are doing work for four families. Among them, the family of Iusra: Her house is not

7 l o v e t h e H O L Y l a n d a n d b e l o v e d P A G E 7 Renovation of the apartment of Iustra Fathie in her new apartment Four families benefit from work in their apartment clean and water gets everywhere. The parish helps her renovate her entire home for a budget of almost 15,000 shekels. For others, the renovation is not enough and they must build a new apartment. This is the case of family of Fathie: we are building a bedroom and a kitchen near from the house of her son. The budget is 35,000 shekels, Father Vito says but we are still lacking 15,000 shekels.» In the parish, an organization of women set up sewing work, of which goods are sold to pilgrims. Everyone participates to keep alive this Christian community, a small minority but so precious. And it is vital according to Father Vito, not to give up. Amélie de La Hougue For further information visit : Fr. Boulos Rouhana s speech Christian presence and witness in the Arab world (Lebanon, January 2012) The Vatican-Israel Accord (1 February 2012) Cardinal-designate Dolan reflects on Holy Land pilgrimage (3 February 2012) Message of Cardinal Turkson for the Peace in the Holy Land (27 January 2012) Archbishop O Brien thanks Patriarch Twal on news of his appointment as Cardinal (30 January 2012) Patriarch s homily at the Kehillah in Jerusalem (5 February 2012) Lent 2012: Patriarch s pastoral letter Syria, one year later, where are the Christians? Patriarch s homily for H.E. Maroun Lahham s installation (25 February 2012)

8 The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem Archbishop O Brien, New Cardinal On Saturday, February 18, during the fourth ordinary public consistory, Pope Benedict XVI has appointed 22 new cardinals, including Archbishop of Baltimore, Edwin O Brien, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Pope Benedict XVI imposed the red biretta and robe and delivered the ring to each of the 22 designated cardinals, including His Excellency Edwin O Brien, former Pro-Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher. Being created Cardinal, he became the Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher. For this occasion, H.B Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Grand Prior of the Order, went to Rome on Saturday 18 th. There are also among the new cardinals His Excellency Fernando Filoni, former apostolic nuncio in Jordan from 2001 to 2006 and now Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. In his homily, the Pope stressed the depth of the vocation of the Cardinal: The new Cardinals are entrusted with the service of love: love for God, love for his Church, an absolute and unconditional love for his brothers and sisters, even unto shedding their blood, if necessary. It is also expressed in the words of placing the biretta, he added. Finally, the Pope invited the faithful to pray for the new Cardinals so that their lives will always reflect the Lord Jesus, our sole shepherd and teacher. Amélie de La Hougue Cardinal Dolan, a pilgrim in the Holy Land His Eminency Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York and President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and created Cardinal on February 18 th, was on pilgrimage in the Holy Land from January 25 to February 3. On Monday, January 30 th, he and seven other Priests-Knights made a solemn entry to the Holy Sepulcher. He was accompanied by 50 priests of his Archdiocese. They were received by the Franciscan Friars who are custodians of many holy sites in the Holy Land for centuries. They prayed at the tomb of Christ. Shortly after, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem welcomed and received the pilgrims to the Patriarchate. I am pleased to be here (in the Holy Land), said Cardinal Dolan. For here, we remember that we belong to the Church of the Resurrection, he added. The Patriarch spoke to them about the situation of the Church and Christians in the Holy Land. He answered their many questions. The Patriarch then presented the pilgrim shells to Cardinal Dolan and the other members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher from the group. The Patriarch presented Cardinal Dolan with a gift an icon of Our Lady of Jerusalem with the inscription Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, you who love her from Psalm 121. At the end of the meeting, the Patriarch invited the pilgrims to pray the Our Father together, in the spirit of the call to prayer in Psalm 121. Daniel Le Subscribe To subscribe free, write to: medialpj@latinpat.org Visit our website: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem P.O.B Jerusalem Tel: Fax: Media office : meo@latinpat.org