JUBEIHA - From Friday, February 23rd, until Sunday, February 25th, 2024, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, spent three days with the parishioners of Jubeiha, during which he learned more about the life of the parish and the area in general.
The visit began with the welcoming of H.B. Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the delegation accompanying him by Fr. Samer Madanat, parish priest of Jubeiha, Fr. Giacomo Dainotti, assistant priest, Deacon Basel Brancy, the sisters of the parish, as well as the Pastoral Council, heads of the Pastoral Activities, and the Scouts, at the entrance of the church. He blessed the faithful with the Holy Water, before presiding over a Mass at the church of Saint Paul the Apostle.
“I come to you with a great desire and passion to learn more about the reality of the parish of Jubeiha,” said H.B. Card. Pizzaballa, in his homily. “My main goal is to listen to your needs and to learn about the various pastoral activities that I always hear about so that I can bear witness to God’s work among you.” Commenting on the Gospel, he urged the parish to maintain the bonds of love between the family, saying: “God consecrated the family unit to reflect the image of His eternal love for humanity. Hence this love must always be present and apparent in your families. Despite the challenges, that may face the family unit, in our day and age, you must not forget the presence of God among you. That’s how you can overcome all challenges. Let us pray by asking God to protect the families of this parish so that you can be a source of light in your communities”.
Following the Mass, he visited the sick parishioners and gave them the sacrament of anointing the sick and Holy Communion. Then he has a meeting with the “Faith and Light” group, which cares for people with special needs. He learned about their different activities and initiatives and said to them: “You are truly filled with faith and light.”
This was followed by a meeting with the parishioners, where he gave a lecture on spiritual formation under the title “The New Jerusalem”. They discussed various scriptures, meditated on them, and he answered the different questions, which were raised. It is worth noting that the parishioners gather weekly around the Word of God.
Then His Beatitude Card. Pizzaballa went to the Tabarbour area, in Amman, to the Moab Association (the office of the Hijazin clan) to offer condolences to the Hijazin family, where he also met with the sheikhs and members of the clan. The meeting was attended by Father Jihad Shweihat, Jordan's Patriarchal Vicar, Fr. Madanat, the parish priest, and a few priests and sisters. Then ended the first day of the pastoral visit with vespers.
On the morning of the Second Day, H.B. Card. Pizzaballa visited the kindergarten and the Patriarchal School, where he met with the kindergarten director, Ms. Fadia Samarneh, and the school principal, Ms. Flora Kasabreh. They discussed the conditions of the various departments of the school and their latest developments and achievements. He also visited various classrooms and met with the school’s students.
Later on, he met with the Pastoral Council, where His Beatitude learned about their various needs and listened to their suggestions.
In the evening, he met with the First Communion and Confirmation students, their parents, and their sponsors, during which he spoke to them about the importance and necessity of cultivating their faith, by continuing their Christian formation and applying it to their daily lives. He said to the students: “You can now see Jesus Christ through the Most Holy Eucharist, so do not be afraid to bear witness to Him by your deeds.” This was followed by celebrating a Mass and holding a meeting with the various groups of parish activities.
On the third and last day of the pastoral visit, H.B. Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa met in the morning with the Rosary Sisters. Then, he visited the University of Jordan. He had an open meeting in the University Hall, during which they talked about the Church’s strong relationship with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, pointing out their sublime role in the protection of the holy places. They also discussed the status of the Holy Land, the special status of the city of Jerusalem, and the war on Gaza and its ongoing consequences on the ground. Afterward, he visited some of the parish families in their homes.
H.B. Card. Pizzaballa concluded his pastoral visit by celebrating a Pontifical Mass at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, with the participation of many priests and faithful. In his homily, Cardinal Pierbattista explained that success is not limited to earning money and achieving higher positions, but rather by choosing the right standards to live by that must be compatible with our Christian principles, which are summed up in the act of love, charity, and reflecting the face of God to others.
In the end, Fr. Samer Madanat, the parish priest, presented a gift of appreciation to His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista who at the end of his homily praised the parish, by describing it as complete and harmonious, while urging them to continue on this path with a spirit of unity, which increase the strength and beauty of the Church.
Click here to view all the pictures from the Pastoral Visit to Jubeiha!
