Patriarcat Latin de Jérusalem

Yesterday, Sunday 7 February 2010, the Parish Saint Joseph in Jifna (Palestine) celebrated the Presentation of the Lord to the Temple. The Parish Community presented its children too, giving the opportunity to 25 of them to serve the Lord at the altar. After the parishioners have renewed their baptismal promises, Fr. Firas Aridah blessed the new white albs. Then the parents came to help their children to dress them and presented them to the altar.

Mardi 2 février, à l'occasion de la rencontre mensuelle des prêtres à Jérusalem, le P. Luis Hazboun a donné une courte méditation (en arabe) intitulée : "Le Père Youssef Tannous : un exemple pour les prêtres du Patriarcat latin." Le P. Luis présente l'image du sacerdoce telle qu'elle se reflète dans les dernières volontés du P. Tannous et les nombreuses lettres qu'il a écrites à ses parents et aux religieuses. La figure de ce prêtre extraordinaire, co-fondateur des Sœurs du Rosaire, est un trésor précieux et un phare pour nous tous en cette année consacrée aux prêtres. La méditation est divisé en deux parties : 1. Vocation et spiritualité sacerdotale du P. Tannous ; 2. Le P. Tannous : pasteur et guide spirituel.

Yesterday, Tuesday the 2nd of February, during the Mass celebrated on the occasion of the Presentation of the Lord, World Day for Consecrated Life, more than 200 priests, religious and consecrated persons gathered at the church of the Rosary Sisters in Jerusalem renewed their consecration with this prayer: "Holy Father, in Jesus Christ and in the Spirit you have consecrated me through the Baptism and with a particular call. In response to your love, today, I renew my vows of poverty, chastity and obedience according to the constitutions of my institute. I commit myself to live a community life and an apostolic life, and to work within the Church for your glory and the salvation of the world. I ask you the grace to be faithful during all my life. Amen."

The week of prayer for Christian unity has filled us with a sense of gratitude and hope. Gratitude for the daily prayer meetings we have lived with Christians from other churches, meetings full of cordiality and mutual respect. A few hundred meters from each other, the various churches in Jerusalem offer the faithful their rich spiritual and liturgical traditions. A treasure we have learned to discover during these evenings.

Monday, February 1
16:00 Presbyteral Council
17:30 College of Consultors

Tuesday, February 2
15:00 Mass for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple (Church of the Rosary, Mamilla)
18:00 Speech to Legionaries of Christ's trainee priests

Yesterday, Tuesday 19 January, in the press room of the Holy See, Msgr. Nikola Eterovic, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, presented the Lineamenta of the Special Assembly for the Middle East to be held in October 2010 (read the document). This document includes an introduction, three chapters and a conclusion, and suggests 32 questions on the selected themes that have to be returned to the Secretary before Easter. The summary of responses to the questions will be used to prepare the Instrumentum Laboris that Pope Benedict XVI will present to delegates of the Eastern Catholic Churches during his visit to Cyprus in June.