Madaba, “the city of Mosaics”, is home to one of the biggest Christian communities in Jordan. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has played a significant role in the urbanization and burgeoning of the city of Madaba. It is indeed rich in history and has become known for its highly esteemed education through the Patriarchate school and university.
History of the parish
In 1880, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem obtained land in Madaba, near Mount Nebo, to host the Christian tribes who arrived from Karak (south of Jordan). Before arriving, Christian immigrants lived in Dhiban, in tents and prayed in caves. In 1881, the Christian tribes finally settled in Madaba and obtained a permit from the Turks proving their ownership of the land, with which they began to build their houses using the Byzantine stones found in the village of Madaba.
In 1883, the Latin Patriarchate built the first Latin church on the highest peak of Madaba known as the Acropolis, in addition to a small monastery and a primary school.
In 1896, five Rosary Sisters arrived at the parish of Madaba to help serve the girls and women of the parish.
The current church was built on top of the old church out of the stone of the Acropolis, in 1913. The first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve, and since then, religious services have been held without interruption. Many historical remains and Mosaics dating back to the ancient civilizations of the Moabite, Nabatean, Byzantine, and Roman, have been uncovered during the building of the church and can be viewed upon your visit to the parish, such as the Roman Columns and Corinthian capitals, an Exhibition of old photos of Madaba (1902-1911), a castle stair, an old Moabite well, Mosaics of Madaba, Model of Madaba in the 6th century AD, ancient tunnels from the Byzantine times.
The cave that hosted the first parish in 1880
The faithful named their parish in tribute to St. John the Baptist, who was beheaded by Herod on “Macherus” castle, 32 Km southwest of Madaba.
The Latin church of Madaba was recognized by the Vatican as a Shrine of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, on December 7th, 1967, and encouraged pilgrims to visit this Sacred Site. On August 26th, 2011, the former patriarch Fuad Twal consecrated and blessed the shrine of Saint John in the old castle rooms underneath the church and monastery.
In 2005, the second church for the parish of Madaba was inaugurated by the former patriarch Michel Sabbah and consecrated to the Holy Spirit.
The Patriarchate School
Over the years, many of the Latin priests who came to serve Madaba’s parish have helped develop the educational landscape of Madaba. One of whom was Fr. Yousef Manfredi, an Italian priest known for his profound knowledge, who arrived in 1896. He played a major role in establishing a clear and distinguished educational system for students. In 1904, he began building the current Patriarchate school in Madaba. It currently caters to approximately 516 males and 370 females. It encompasses secondary schools, playgrounds, and centers for cultural, religious, and spiritual education. The priests were also instrumental in bringing various Arts to the school. For example, the students performed their first play at the School’s Theater, making it the first theater in Jordan, which dates back to 1918.
The Patriarchate school in the year 1924
The Patriarchate School of Madaba has made significant milestones over the years, as it seeks to graduate socially responsible and culturally enriched students, as well as prepare them to thrive in an ever-changing world. The following are some of the innovative programs established by the school throughout the years:
- ‘The student leadership forum’, which helps promote leadership skills by bringing together interested students from all the Patriarchate schools of Jordan.
- ‘Free Medical days’, where the students cater to the local community by delivering essential healthcare services to those who are in need.
- ‘Fostering the spirit of sports’ by holding training courses, in collaboration with the Real Madrid club in Jordan.
- Cultural exchange program with Polish students.
Future Vision of the School
- To honor the theatrical legacy of Madaba, the Patriarchate school plans to transform the theater into a cutting-edge facility, which serves as a vibrant hub for artistic expression and personal growth.
- Integrate new educational technologies (e.g. whiteboards), and students' study rooms.
- Expand its curriculum by adding new languages such as Italian or Spanish to provide students with opportunities for linguistic and cultural enrichment.
American University of Madaba
In 2005, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem established a university in Madaba. It grew to become an internationally renowned university, that integrates Catholic values in its educational and human development. It currently has seven faculties, 19 undergraduate programs, and 2 postgraduate degrees. AUM is dedicated to building a better world through wisdom and science.
H.B. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will visit the Latin parish of Madaba from May 22 until May 26.
Stay tuned for day-by-day pictures of the visit, through our Facebook page: the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
