New Zarqa Parish
Zarqa was first established as a military base, and became an important training area for the army. With the arrival of the military, many people came from the north of the country in search of employment and to start businesses. With the signing of the Peace Treaty between Jordan and Israel in 1994 and the simultaneous ending of Military National Service, the importance of these bases diminish. A large new Government University has been built on the outskirts of the city. Refugees from other Arab countries migrated to the area over the years. In this mainly middle to low-income area, with both skilled and unskilled workers, there is a high level of unemployment.
Infrastructures of the Latin Patriarchate
The sanctuary was established as a parish on September 23, 2016, under the patronage of the Queen of Peace. The Saint Joseph Center where the parish was established in 1984 as a vocational school with a few students. Now it has become a great professional and academic school. There are approximately between 600 and 650 students beginning at sixth grade to high school. The school is not part of the Don Orione Fathers but is an autonomous Patriarchate school. The St. Joseph Center is located in the area called New Zarqa. The sanctuary was built and consecrated in 1994. A large hall under the Church is used for various gatherings and activities. For the past two years, the Parish Center has welcomed Iraqi refugees in Zarqa. The Center also conducts agricultural projects, such as greenhouses.
