 Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3)
Unity in diversity
First Pastoral Letter of H.B. Msgr. Fouad Twal
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
On the occasion of Pope Benedict XVI's visit
to the Holy Land 8 - 15 May 2009
download the pdf
Friday 18 June, the Latin Patriarchate has organized a trip to Galilee for all its employees and their families. At six o'clock in the morning, everyone is at the bus, in Jaffa Gate. In their parents' arms, younger children are still sleepy ... Participants are numerous: a hundred, divided into two buses.
 The Dominican-affiliated Saint Stephen's Convent was the site of the first celebrations in the Holy Land held on the occasion of the end of the year dedicated to Saint Paul. Cardinal Walter Kasper, sent from Rome by Pope Benedict XVI on this occasion, along with His Beatitude Mgr. Fouad Twal, most of the Ordinaries of the Holy Land, and Nuncio and Apostolic Delegate Mgr. Antonio Franco led the second vespers on the day of the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul before a large gathering of priests and others from among the religious, as well as some of the faithful from Jerusalem.
Source and photos: Site of the Custody
 His Beatitude the Patriarch Fouad Twal presided the celebration of the Priestly Ordination of four Deacons: Ala' Msharbash, Wisam Masa'deh, Issa Hijazeen and Wagdi Fahmy, i.v.e. The celebration took place on June 25, 2009, at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Amman.
 On the feast-day of St. Peter and St. Paul, the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land had the honour and joy of seeing eight of their brothers ordained priests, five of them for the Province of the Custody and three for the same Province of Mexico. The celebration was held at the Convent of St. Saviour in Jerusalem, in the presence of a large assembly, with many relatives and friends of the new priests in the front rows. About one hundred priests, in a climate of particular concentration, concelebrated the Mass, which was presided by His Beatitude Mons. Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. (Read the homily in Italian). Source and pictures: www.custodia.org
There are no translations available.  Messieurs les cardinaux,
Vénérés confrères dans l'épiscopat et dans le sacerdoce,
Chers membres et amis de la ROACO,
1. C'est pour moi une heureuse tradition de vous accueillir au terme de la deuxième session annuelle de la Réunion des œuvres en aide aux Eglises orientales (ROACO).
June 23, 24 and 25, in Rome, the R.O.A.C.O. (Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches) held its second plenary meeting of the year 2009. The R.O.A.C.O. is a committee which unites funding agencies from various countries around the world for the sake of providing assistance to the Churches in different areas of life from worship buildings to scholarships, from houses of study and formation to social and health care facilities. On June 23, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, has introduced the working session. Then Archbishop Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, opened the discussion on "Life and Witness of Christians in the Holy Land. Observations and perspectives of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem "(read the speech below). The apostolic Nuncio in Israel, Msgr Antonio Franco, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, spoke as well.
Dear Brother Priests,
On the forthcoming Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday 19 June 2009 - a day traditionally devoted to prayer for the sanctification of the clergy -, I have decided to inaugurate a "Year for Priests" in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the "dies natalis" of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests worldwide. This Year, meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a more forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in today's world, will conclude on the same Solemnity in 2010.
 To His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:3)
I write to thank Your Beatitude and all your fellow Ordinaries for your kind invitation to visit the Holy Land and for the gracious hospitality extended to me during my recent stay among you. It was a great joy for me to celebrate the sacred liturgy with you, together with so many of the faithful, in holy places associated with the central mysteries of salvation.
 One month ago, Pope Benedict made a much-heralded trip to the Holy Land. But what was his message? In two instalments, Fr. David Neuhaus s.j., our Patriarchal Vicar for the hebrew speaking Communities, examines his words and actions to uncover a bold, prophetic message which has received all too little coverage in the media.
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