Projects
The Latin Patriarchate is aware of the concerns of its community resulting from the critical socio-political difficulties. Therefore it has gone to great efforts to implement various projects to develop the educational and social life of the Christians in the Holy Land. All of this has been made possible by the help of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher as well as through donors and friends of the Latin Patriarchate.
The primary objective is to empower the Christians in this difficult moment and help ensure a life with dignity, especially for those who are most in need, by providing them with educational support, housing possibilities and jobs.
The Amman vicariate gets a makeover
After 11 months of work between December 2011 and October 2012, the renovation of the Patriarchal Vicariate in Amman was completed, thanks to the generous support of the Grand Magisterium of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher. The building, which is home to the Patriarchal Vicar, two Rosary Sisters, six employees, and occasionally the Patriarch himself, was in great need of restoration. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Vicariate has been home to six Patriarchal Vicars: Bishops Zeitoun, Leandre, Nemeh Sim’and, Sayegh,...
read moreRenovation of Latin Patriarchate nursery and kindergarten in Haifa
HAIFA – A few months ago, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem began the repair work of one of its kindergarten and nursery schools in Haifa. It was an urgent project in order to comply with the security measures required by the Ministry of Education. The Patriarchate’s kindergarten and nursery accommodate 84 children, between 2 and 5 years old who are Christians or Muslims, all from Haifa and its vicinity. “The work was urgent,” said Mirvat Shuqha, head of the center. “We fought to keep this center.” In fact, unhealthy...
read moreHoly Family School in Gaza is growing
GAZA – The end of 2012 saw the completion of one of the major projects carried out by the Latin Patriarchate in the Holy Family School in Gaza. For nearly a year, the architect of the Patriarchate and his associates have worked to add an additional 3rd floor on the school building, with the challenge of leaving the school open that students continue to attend classes during the year. The expansion is no less than 1045 sq. m. in addition to that presently available at the Holy Family School in Gaza. The third floor has added a large...
read morePatriarch inaugurates new Stella Maris church in Aqaba
AQABA – The Patriarch, Archbishop Twal, accompanied by four Bishops. Among whom was H.E. Archbishop Lahham, Vicar in Amman, inaugurated the new Church of Stella Maris in Aqaba, Jordan, on Friday, December 14, 2012. For the first time, after two years of work, this year the Christians of Aqaba will celebrate Christmas with their pastor, Father Issam Zoomot, in their Church. It was Mary 15, 2011 when Patriarch Fouad Twal place the cornerstone of what would become, a year and a half later, the new Stella Maris Church in Aqaba. After almost two...
read moreRenovation of the Immaculate Conception parish Church in Bir Zeit
Founded in 1859, the parish of Bir Zeit (25 km north of Jerusalem) is one of the first four parishes created after the restoration of the Latin Patriarchate in 1847. The pastor, Father Louis Hazboun, stated that renovation started in the summer which included upgrading the buildings according to code regulations, restructuring of electrical system and underground installation of cables in front of the Church. The work now completed will allow the 2,500 Christians of the city to participate in many parish activities. 2,500 parishioners today,...
read moreChapel for Rosary Sisters in Aboud
ABOUD – Thanks to the efforts of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and donations of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the house renovation and chapel addition for the Rosary Sisters in Aboud (near Ramallah) has been completed. The work took five months and now the Sisters are able to continue their important mission in the Church for the Christians in the village. Aboud is a Palestinian village located 22 kms northwest of Ramallah, 30 kms north of Jerusalem. The Rosary Sisters first came to Aboud in 1911 and has been serving...
read moreItalian Cuisine in Ramallah
RAMALLAH – A new restaurant “THE ITALIAN COURT” was inaugurated yesterday in Ramallah on the premises of the parish of Holy Family. The inauguration took place in the presence of many personalities including the Governor of Ramallah, Dr. Leila Ghannam, a Muslim, the Mayor of Ramallah, Mrs. Janette Mikhail, Christian, Auxiliary Bishop Shomali of Jerusalem and the Consul General of Italy in Jerusalem, Mr. Giampaolo Cantini. Special guests of honor, friends of the General Confederation of Italian Crafts (GCIF) with the presence...
read moreJordan: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, flourishing parish and school
The parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Jordan, was foundedin 1950. It is located east of Amman in Hashimi and has 400 families. Their number is increasing, according to Father Adnan Bader, its pastor since 2005. What is the main attribute of the parish? “Prayer” replied Father Adnan Bader, without hesitation. “People here are poor but the whole parish prays a lot. It relies especially on the Virgin Mary.” The region, like the parishioners, is actually relatively poor, with a high unemployment rate. But the faithful, who come mainly from...
read moreOctober 17 kick-off for the University of Madaba
The American University of Madaba (AUM), located 35 km southwest of Amman in Jordan, started its first official academic year, on October 17th. Designed to welcome 8000 students, AUM opens its doors, six years after the High Council for Education granted permission to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to establish its own University in 2005. This project is now becoming a reality. The High Council for Education gave permission to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 2005 to open its own university . Important works began then to...
read moreSolidarity for pilgrimage
After a visit to the Holy Land in 2001 I returned to the UK angry and upset at how the whole situation had deteriorated since my previous visit in 1990. My deepest concern was for the declining and increasingly marginalised Christian population. I spoke with my Bishop – Michael Evans – and, as a result the Diocese of East Anglia was twinned with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Since then we have arranged for over 1,000 pilgrims to not only visit the Holy Places but to meet with the “living stones”, celebrating Sunday Mass with the local...
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