An overview
The Family Center was inaugurated on March 3, 2024, by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The establishment of the Family Center addresses one of the most pressing needs of the Church in the Holy Land and reflects a key priority of His Beatitude. He emphasized the importance of nurturing the "living stones" of the diocese, especially in Galilee, where the need for such a center is particularly urgent. This initiative arises from the complex economic, political, and existential challenges that have deeply affected our parishioners, as well as families— the very foundation of society— and the youth, who represent the future and hope of the Church.
The center is dedicated to supporting all Christian families in Haifa and Galilee. It offers a wide range of social services aimed at strengthening family bonds, nurturing love, and fostering unity within families. Through collaboration with specialists in various fields, along with the support of church institutions and civil society organizations, the center provides spiritual, psychological, and social assistance to help families overcome the challenges they face. This collective effort ensures the stability and future of the family unit.
Who We Are
The Family Pastoral Center in Haifa is affiliated with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. It is a non-profit ecclesiastical institution, operating under the supervision and guidance of Msgr. Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar for the Latin Catholics in Galilee, and Fr. Eli Kurzum, Parish priest of the Latin Parish in Shefa'amr.
The center works in partnership with professionals, consultants, therapists, and clergy to provide comprehensive care for families. Through its diverse activities, it also relies on numerous volunteers from different fields, including families, priests, consecrated persons, and specialists.
Vision
The Family Center was established to support Christian families by providing social, psychological and spiritual support, in order to live in peace and harmony in the family, especially in the complex existential circumstances that the basic nucleus of society is going through. The center follows the situation of Christian families in the Holy Land and works to provide a safe space and create many opportunities for individual, couple and group meetings. The center's staff believes in listening, dialogue, and embracing differences, and encourages families to partner, serve, and give back to each other.
Work Strategies
- Counseling and Support: The center aims to respond to individuals and couples seeking support by assessing their needs, guiding them to the appropriate resources, and coordinating with other service providers and community resources to ensure comprehensive support for families.
- Education and Prevention: The center works to develop workshops, support groups, and enrichment programs on various topics related to family life, marriage, and parenting.
- Spiritual Formation: The center focuses on the spiritual formation of families and seeks to establish family committees in various parishes to enhance a sense of belonging to the Church and parish, thus fostering the progress of families at the diocesan level.
Location and Address
Haifa – Lower Town, next to the St. Anne's Kindergarten and the Latin Parish of St. Joseph.
Phone and WhatsApp: +972 246040577
Email: [email protected]
Working Hours
- Monday and Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
The center is closed on Sundays and Christian holidays.
