On Friday, October 25th, 2024, the Latin Seminary of Beit Jala held the second gathering for betrothed couples from the Latin parishes in Palestine, organized by the Family Center of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. This event is part of the center’s effort to prepare couples for marriage by helping them establish strong foundations, nurture healthy relationships, and grow spiritually. The program is designed to equip them with the tools needed to face the challenges that may arise in family life.
The second meeting witnessed a commitment from all those who participated in the first meeting, which was held on September 27, 2024. The number of participants reached 50 young men and women (25 couples) from several parishes across the diocese.
The meeting featured two insightful lectures by Dr. Johnny Matarwa and Dr. Salameh Qumsiyeh on sexual education for couples, emphasizing the significance of premarital examinations, contraceptives, and related topics. Following a break, Fr. Bernard Poggi, Rector of the Latin Patriarchal Seminary of Beit Jala, addressed the Catholic Church’s stance on medical ethics. He highlighted how couples can begin their married life by including God in their lives and asking for his blessing, referencing the biblical call to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and the fowl of the air and every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28).