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LATIN PATRIARCHATE PRINTING PRESSBEIT JALA – 2013

EditorialNumber 23

mai 2013

The Tears of Cremisan

Olive trees, grape vines, and sun: such is the setting for the little paradise of the Cremisan valley, an agricultural village of 170 hectares northwest of Bethlehem in the West Bank. But this bucolic setting is the home of a darker story.

The verdict is in. The State of Israel will continue construction of the “security bar-rier,” which will cut the Cremisan valley in two, depriving parishioners from Beit Jala of their land and separating the convent of Salesian sisters from the monastery of their Salesian brothers. The route will confiscate and destroy vineyards where the Salesian monastic community has de-veloped its well-known wine since 1891. Complaints issued by the farmers date back to 2006, but in vain. After seven years of proceedings, the Israel special appeals commission, which judges land and confiscation cases, rejected the case presented by landowners in Cremisan and the St Yves Society, a dependent or-ganization of the Latin Patriarchate which works to defend human rights in Jerusa-lem and who represented the Salesian sis-ters in the case.

Palestinian Christians from Beit Jala sent an open letter to Pope Francis. They wrote, “we are at risk of seeing most of our land confiscated by the occupying Israeli army, which has already started construction of the famous ‘wall’ annex-ing the land of Palestinian Christians.” What is this letter if not a cry for help by the villagers? The physical division of a religious community, the progressive isolation of Bethlehem’s inhabitants, and the seizure of their land by a security wall has driven them to tears. How will future generations live? How can the economy develop, and with what freedoms? Today,

Palestinian Christians ground their hope in the Pope, who has already met Israeli President Shimon Peres in the Vatican on April 30th—a man whom the writers of the letter consider “one of the main actors in the Israeli politics of colonization and Palestinian occupation.”

Fait Accompli

The last possible recourse is to the Israeli Supreme Court. This has been the overt demand by the Latin Patriarch, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, in the name of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinar-ies in the Holy Land in a communiqué published on April 29. In defense of this call, he stressed to Israeli policymakers “that the expropriation of land does not serve the cause of peace and does not strengthen the position of moderates.” In it, he called for mutual respect and for international legitimacy in proceedings, and demanded that the route of the wall be changed: “we are frustrated by this unjust decision which cites not only Is-raeli security interests, but also the dif-ficulty of changing the route of the wall; this has placed us before a decision which was a fait accompli,” he said. To conclude, “a fait accompli cannot be-come the source of a new law!” There is no doubt that Mahmoud Abbas, Presi-dent of the Palestinian Authority will take up this question when he is received at the Vatican.

Christophe Lafontaine

P a G e 2 n e w s l e t t e r — J E R U S A L E M

Diocese: Holy Land News

Shimon Peres Invites Pope Francis to IsraelOn Tuesday, April 30, Israeli President Shimon Peres invited Pope Francis to

Israel. “I hope to see you in Jerusalem; not only I, but all Israel” he told the Supreme Pontiff, with whom he had a private audience at the Vatican. We note, however, that Patriarch Fouad Twal, had already addressed this invitation to the Pope soon after his election. As yet unconfirmed, a joint visit of the Pope and the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew to the Christian Holy Places in 2014 has been mentioned several times since the election. Such a visit would be an opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic visit of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem in 1974.

According to a statement from the Vatican Information Service, the meeting provided an opportunity to grapple with the conflicts in the Middle East. According to the press report: “A prompt resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians is hoped for so that, by courageous decisions and willingness on both sides, as well as the support of the international community, an agreement that respects the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples can be reached, and so resolutely contribute to peace and stability in the region.” During the meeting, “reference was made to the important issue of the city of Jerusalem. Particular concern about the conflict that plagues Syria was expressed.” President Peres and Pope Francis also recalled “the significant progress made by the Bilateral Working Commission, working on the preparation of an agreement on issues of common interest, for which we wish a rapid conclusion.” A recurring theme of the negotiations relates to the economic and tax issues of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. At the end of the private audience, the IsraeliPresident presented to Pope Francis a Bible in Hebrew and English.

Christophe Lafontaine

Boston Cardinal on Pilgrimagein the Holy LandCardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, OFM Cap, Archbishop of Boston (USA), was on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a group of priests, including several Priest-Knights of the Holy Sepulchre from April 8 to 15. While in Jerusalem, the Cardinal was appointed by Pope Francis as one of the eight Cardinal advisers to the Holy Father in the gov-ernance of the universal Church.

Patriarch RecognizesSalam Fayyad for what he didfor the ChurchesOn Wednesday, April 24, 2013, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, praised the achieve-ment of the outgoing Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in working for the good of Christian Churches. He visited the Prime Minister at his residence in Ramallah, accompanied by Bishop William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem and Palestine, and Father George Ayoub, Chancellor.

“Watchers” for the Family Gatherin JerusalemAs in Paris and throughout France and increasingly abroad, sponta-neous gatherings are organized in Jerusalem to fight the Taubira law (named after the present Jus-tice Minister, Christiane Taubira) allowing homosexual couples in France to marry. Bishop Shomali, expressed “his admiration for the young and the not-so-young who protest silently, peacefully and with dignity, in defending a noble cause: the protection of family and children’s rights.”

A New Prioressfor the Benedictines in Abu Gosh

The Benedictine community of monks and nuns in Abu Gosh had the joy of announcing the election of their new Prioress, Mother Marie Baptiste Remywhich, which took place on Sunday, April 21, 2013. His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patri-arch of Jerusalem sent “his con-gratulations and assurance of his prayers as he awaits to welcome the abu Gosh community to the Pa-triarchate.”

The Holy Land in the Heart of the PopeOn Monday, April 15, 2013,

the Holy Father received His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and his delegation made up of his Vicars for Israel, Jerusalem and Palestine, Jordan and the Hebrew speaking Catholic community. The new Archbishop of Tunis and some priests were also received by Pope Francis. This meeting was above all the opportunity for the Patriarch and the delegation to reaffirm communion with the new successor of St. Peter and with the universal Church, bringing the prayers of the faithful of the Holy Land to the new Pope. The Patriarchal delegation also asked Pope Francis to pray for the Holy Land so that the Christians who live there can continue to live in the places where Jesus lived.

The faithful of the Holy Land just learned from a study that the percent-age of Christians in Palestine has dropped to half of what it was 13 years ago, from 2% to 1% between 2000 and 2013. Moreover, Jerusalem, which had 27,000 Christians in 1948, saw their numbers decrease to almost 5,000. This is what the study that Professor Hanna Issa sent to Fides reveals. The author is a Palestinian Christian, a professor of international law and general secre-tary of the Christian-Muslim Committee for the protection of Jerusalem and the holy places. The decreaseis largely due to migration and of lower popula-tion growth rates than in the Muslim population. The study by Professor Issa indicates that currently, according to Fides, there are 47,000 Christians in the Palestinian Territories while 110,000 live in regions where the State of Israel was formed in 1948. Christophe Lafontaine

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Diocese: Holy Land News

First Friendship Pact between Christians and Muslims at Bethphage

On Monday, April 22 at the Mount of Olives in Bethpage, Bishop William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem, and the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and other officials signed a friendship pact between the Christian people of a housing complex of the Custody of the Holy Land and their Muslim neighbors. A first!

One hundred participants gathered at “Mount of Olives Club” in the district of Bethpage for an unusual signing ceremony. A friendship pact signed by Bishop Shomali, Auxiliary, Mohammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Adnan Husseini, Governor of Jerusalem, and Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, ofm, treasurer of the Custody of the Holy Land. The signatories represent the 63 families on one side, the Christian residents of the Bethphage housing complex built by the Custody of the Holy Land, and on the other, the Muslim neighborhood. The pact has a two-fold purpose: to prevent violence between

On Friday, April 19, 2013, settlers illegally occu-pied a small hermitage with a chapel built on land belonging to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the vicinity of the town of Taybeh. Bishop William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop for Jerusalem and Pales-tine, visited the site on Saturday, April 20, along with the mayors of Taybeh and Deir Jarir to denounce such provocative acts, to investigate the situation, and to hear and gather the first testimonies. The oc-cupation by settlers, possibly from the neighboring Ofra settlement, was only temporary but long enough to stir provocations by raising the Israeli flag on the site. A group of young people, Christians and Mus-lims, intervened and foiled the illegal occupation of the hermitage which was uninhabited for one year. Bishop Shomali visited the site in the aftermath of the incident and condemned the attitude and tactics of the settlers. He stated that he “admired the courage and unity of the young people who have spoken and confronted the aggressors which prevented

Jewish Settlers Illegally Occupy Christian Hermitage in Taybeh

the expropriation of the property.” The Bishop also spoke in appreciation “for the good relations estab-lished between the two mayors, of Taybeh and the nearby village of Deir Jarir who helped defend the historical rights of the inhabitants of Taybeh.”

Taybeh is a small town in the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority located 30 kilometers north of Jerusalem and 12 kilometers northeast of Ramallah. It has the distinction of being a fully Christian com-munity since the early days of the Church. Follow-ing this incident, Bishop Shomali reminded Agenzia Fides that “the occupation of lands and properties of others is illegal under Israeli law.”

Furthermore, Taybeh is widely known for the marketing of oil lamps that are sold worldwide, and the production and sale of the famous Taybeh beer. Soon a Christian radio will open, whose equipment was donated by the Italian Episcopal Conference. The antenna is already mounted on the steeple of the Church. Christophe Lafontaine

neighbors, such as there was on two occasions in the past eight months, and to achieve good neighbor relations. The signing of the pact was proposed by a Coordinating Committee and as such, is not just a highly symbolic gesture. The Committee members are responsible for ensuring the implementation of the agreement and intervening in disputes to find the best solution for all.

This great initiative was conceived by some Muslim leaders who intervened in previous clashes in the neighborhood. Each signatory spoke and advocated the importance of good neighborly relations, acceptance of others and emphasized the values of friendship. The Grand Mufti, in a statement at the grand opening of relations with Christians, maintained that, according to him, as a Muslim, it is possible to sell land to Christians.

Amélie de La Hougue

P a G e 4 n e w s l e t t e r — J E R U S A L E M

Pastoral and Liturgical Life

Ricci, OP, Postulator of the Cause for the Con-gregation for the Causes of Saints; Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Apostolic Nuncio in Is-rael; and a commission of doctors and experts. The relics were transferred to an approved urn under the su-pervision of experts, and will remain in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. In the afternoon, the same delegation met at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem for the official clos-ing of the file of inquiry of Blessed Marie Alphonsine. The sealed envelope will be taken to the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints by the postulator, Father Francesco Ricci. In the words of Patriarch Fouad Twal, “Mother Marie-Alphonsine is a profound illustration, Arabic and Jerusale-mite, a splendid illustration of the Gospel of Christ.” Many hope to see her canonized one day.

Amélie de La Hougue

On Friday, April 5, 2013, the transfer of the remains of Blessed Marie Alphonsine took place at Our Lady of the Ro-sary Church in Jerusalem, with the Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal present and all experts closely involved in the cause of can-onization of the foundress of the Sisters of the Rosary.

The exhumation of the body of Marie Alphonsine, beati-fied three years ago on November 22, 2009, took place with much emotion and solemnity in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Identifying the body is a necessary step in the beati-fication or canonization of a person in order to avoid false de-votions, the trafficking of relics, and to ascertain that the re-mains buried are that of the saint. It also allows the faithful to pray for a second time before the remains of the person. This event took place in the presence of Patriarch Fouad Twal; Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel and the Judge Delegate in the canonization of Blessed Marie Alphonsine; Bishop William Shomali; Bishop Kamal Battish; Mother Iness Al-Yacoub, Superior General of the Sisters of the Rosary. Also present were Father Emile Salayta, pro-moter of Justice; Mr. Khader Habash, notary; Fr. Francesco

Beit Jala Seminary Celebrates 50th World Day of Prayerfor VocationsOn April 21, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church celebrated the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Two days earlier, the seminary in Beit Jala organized for young people an evening of prayer and song for priestly and religious vocations.

Rosary Sisters Novices Visit the Latin PatriarchateNovices and postulants of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Rosary accompanied by their superior, Sr. Gretta Qaz met with Bishop William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem on April 9. It was an occasion to speak about the founder of their Congregation, Father Tannous,the then Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate.

Farewell to Claudette Habesch of Caritas JerusalemThe Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of Holy Land gathered for a formal “goodbye” to Claudette Habesch, who retired as Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem after more than 26 years of loyal service. The gathering was held at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center on Wednesday, April 24. She is succeeded by Father Raed Abu Sahliah.

Holy Family School Graduation in GazaOn Monday, April 22, 2013, Bishop Marcuzzo accompanied by Father Faysal Hijazin,, General Director of the Latin Patriarchate Schools in Palestine and Israel, and Father Humam Khzouz, General Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, attended the 12th grade stu-dents graduation from Holy Family School, the best school in Gaza.

Exhumation of the Blessed Marie Alphonsine

International Family Center in Nazareth to be completed in 2016The International Center for the Family project was presented in Rome on April 16, 2013. The Center will be built in

2016 in Nazareth (Israel). It is at this point supported by a Vatican Foundation and the Italian Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel was invited to the press conference and spoke on behalf of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The Center should be operating before the completion of the work that will begin shortly, said Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family and Salvatore Martinez, President of the Italian Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, both responsible for the project. “After long and difficult negotiations and concurrence with the ecclesiastical, civil and political authorities in Israel, the approval of the final design has been granted,” explained Archbishop Paglia.

Bishop Marcuzzo attended the press conference, as a witness to the historic course of the project. The Vatican Foundation “International Family Center of Nazareth”, is a canonical and civil personality established by the Vatican on October 15, 2012. The “International Family Center of Nazareth” aims to become a place of training in Catholic family spirituality, in family ministry, and at the same time, to be a study center for family ministry in the Middle East, to support needy families primarily in the Holy Land (material assistance will be made through funds raised abroad) and in the region.

Bishop Marcuzzo also stressed the importance of this Center, which gives Nazareth the opportunity “to communicate to all families, and especially to the families of pilgrims, the message of the Holy Family of Nazareth: holiness, beauty and the importance of family.”

Christophe Lafontaine

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Our Church in the Middle East

Bishop William Shomali analyzes the visit of the American Secretary of State to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The Secretary of State just completed a three-day visit (from April 7 to April 9, 2013) to explore ways to revive peace talks suspended since September 2010. What can we expect?

“I think the Secretary of State John Kerry is motivated and serious. He did not come here to travel. He seems to be aware of the need for peace in the Holy Land for the overall balance of the region,” said Bishop Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem. The visit of the head of American diplomacy came after renewed tensions and discontent in the Palestinian territories following the death of an ailing Palestinian in custody. However, the Bishop knows that “the Palestinian Authority will not in any way renew a violent uprising. A third intifada would destroy any chance of peace.” Bishop Shomali expressed the presence of a double inner tension in the country. “On one hand,” he said, “I expect that the efforts of John Kerry will lead to frustration, as was the case after dozens of visits by politicians before him. On the other hand, we are driven by a positive interior hope. We do not know when peace will come, but we know it will come one day. Our prayer (Christians as well as non-Christians) tends toward this objective and we recognize the role of politicians as mediators.”

Efforts and sacrifices

On Monday, April 8, Secretary Kerry said that peace was possible by respecting the “security needs of Israel” and the “aspirations for a state” of the Palestinians. To do this, John Kerry and Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to “do their homework in the coming weeks,” said the U.S. Secretary of State. The Israeli Prime Minister for his part said “he is determined not only to resume the peace process with the Palestinians but also to make a serious effort to end the conflict once and for all.” But if Israelis and Palestinians are sticking to their positions, the slightest progress is impossible and the options of American diplomacy limited. Peace will only be achieved at the cost of effort and sacrifice. Moreover, it is in this sense that a hundred American Jewish leaders have called on Benjamin Netanyahu to commit to peace.They sent the Israeli Prime Minister a letter dated April 3, 2013, (sponsored by the Israel Policy Forum organization) urging him to take “concrete confidence-building measures to show Israel’s commitment to the two-state solution for two peoples, to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” The signatories of the letter ask the Prime Minister of Israel to “work closely with the Secretary of State to develop pragmatic initiatives consistent with the security needs of Israel, while expressing to Israel the willingness to make painful territorial sacrifices for the sake of peace.” They hope that this initiative will encourage “the Palestinian leadership to take similar positive steps including and especially a rapid return to the negotiating table.” Bishop Shomali announced that “this letter has its weight and will help John Kerry in his mission.” And the Bishop of Jerusalem hopes: “If John Kerry gets the settlement freeze, then yes, it would encourage the revival of peace talks.”

Christophe Lafontaine

Expectations After the Visit of Secretary of State John Kerry

Divine Mercy Sunday in Tel AvivOn Saturday evening, April 6, 2013, the Chapel of the Divine Mercy in south Tel Aviv celebrated the feast of its patron. Mass was celebrated by Bishop William Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar and Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Celebrates Divine Mercy SundayOn Sunday, April 7, 2013, priests, religious and laity gathered at the co-cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem for the Second Sunday of Easter, devoted to the Divine Mercy.

Marriage Preparation Course in RamallahSixteen engaged couples in the region of Ramallah participated in a marriage preparation course lasting eight sessions. Bishop William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem and Palestine, presided over the final session, which was dedicated to the liturgical celebration of weddings.

“Grand March” to EmmausEarly in the morning on Easter Monday, April 1, 2013, about sixty pilgrims walked for eight hours to Emmaus-Nicopolis. Upon their arrival, the Community of the Beatitudes arranged for a solemn Mass and warmly welcomed the ‘hikers.’ In 1993, the Church and custody of this holy place was entrusted to this community.

Fourth Retreat for Families in CyprusThe 4th Family Retreat in Paphos was held on Saturday, March 30 at the St. Paul Latin Catholic parish. About 160 people participated in the retreat.

Taking Easter Joy to PrisonOn Holy Thursday, Pope Francis celebrated the liturgy in a prison, washing the feet of the prisoners. During Easter Week, the Prison Chaplaincy team had the privilege of celebrating the Good News with the Catholic prisoners in Ayalon Prison (Ramleh).

P a G e 6 n e w s l e t t e r — J E R U S A L E M

Projects of the Latin PatriarchateRectory Renovation for the

“Mother Parish” in Amman

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has completed within the last few months the renovation of the rectory in Misdar, the oldest and most important parish in Amman. This was made possible, thanks to donations from the Grand Magisterium of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher. Here is a look at the parish of Christ the King, “the Mother of all parishes in Amman.”

The parish in Al Misdar was one of the first parishes in Amman and remains one of the city’s largest. Founded in 1924, the church building of Christ the King was built in 1928 and the current rectory dates to 1952. Father Riad Hejazin, the pastor stated that the house had never undergone any major restoration since it was built, and was therefore in great need of repair. The work site was finally closed after six months at the end of 2012 and the house now has a completely redone interior and some exterior modifications. The heating and electric systems have been reworked, the plumbing fixed, a second floor with a new bedroom and bathroom constructed, and new floors laid, along with other miscellaneous repairs. The rectory is finally ready to house its pastor as well as guests who come to visit this parish of more than 800 families.

Close to 90 years in existenceAmman, known in the Bible under the name of Ammon,

was renown in the Old Testament for its springs. It was the presence of these springs of sweet water which brought Christians to the region. In 1890 a Maronite priest, Father

Treasure of the Holy SepulcherThe exhibition “Treasure of the Holy Sepulchre: Gifts from European Royal Courts to Jerusalem” opened on Tuesday, April 16 at the Palace of Versailles and will run until July 14, 2013. 250 “unknown” masterpieces and some of the last art treasures of the West are on display.

Call for Solidarity and Prayer for Abducted Bishops in SyriaThe Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the East (CCPE) published a statement on Sunday April 28, 2013 which was read in parishes on Palm Sunday. (Please note that in the Holy Land, majority of the parishes in the Diocese will celebrate Easter on May 5, following the Orthodox Julian calendar). CCPE is an institution of the Catholic Church, its members are the Patriarchs of the Catholic Churches of the Middle East, including His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Pope Prays for Peace “particularlybetween Israelisand Palestinians”The Pope celebrated his first Mass of the Resurrection of Our Lord on Easter Sunday in St. Peter’s Square. The new Bishop of Rome prayed for “peace in the Middle East, in particular be-tween Israelis and Palestinians, who struggle to find the road of agreement: that they may willingly and courageously resume negotiations to end a conflict that has lasted all too long.”

New Archbishop of Tunis Takes Posessionof his Episcopal SeeOn Sunday, April 14, 2013, Bishop Ilario Antoniazzi was installed as the Archbishop of Tunis in the cathedral of St Vincent de Paul. A priest of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the new Archbishop of Tunis was accompanied by Bishop Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar in Israel who represented Patriarch Fouad Twal.

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Youssef, came from Salt (west of Amman) to teach children the rudiments of reading and writing over the course of their religious education. At that time there were no buildings.

The first official parish was created in 1924, and the church building and school were completed four years later in 1928. With the creation of the parish and the construction of the church, local Christians were joined by others in neighboring provinces. After 1948 and 1967, the parish continued to grow from welcoming the numerous refugees—Christians, but also Muslims—who were arriving in the region. This led to a large parish, which became even fuller as Amman became a destination for immigration as well as “transit” for emigration to other countries while awaiting administrative papers.

The rectory of the church of Christ the King was the residence of the Vicariate until the late 1960’s when the Vicariate moved to Webdeh. Later, with the construction of the Bishop’s new residence, of the cathedral, and of offices in 1998, the Vicariate moved to Sweifieh. Today, Misdar continues to be the Mother Church of Amman, and has contributed to the birth of a dozen new parishes.

A Multicultural Community

in a Poor Neighborhood

Today the community in Misdar is composed of both Catholic and Orthodox Christians (Latin, Melkite, Marionite, Syriac, Armenian, Coptic, Greek, and Chaldean) among a majority of Muslim believers.

“In fact, we have about 2,500 parishioners” according to Father Hejazin. But, he adds, “this number is constantly decreasing because of internal migration.” Located in the poorest neighborhood in downtown Amman where there are old homes and low salaries, most of the population of Misdar live below the poverty line. Most people in the middle class leave the neighborhood once they have saved enough money to move to other areas in the western part of Amman or to Fuheis. Poverty continues “to be one of the biggest problems for our parish,” according to the pastor. “It can incite people to forget their Christian morality, or even to change religion,” he worries.

Since 1991 many Iraqi immigrants have settled in Misdar. “There is now a sizeable population from Iraq as well as Syria.” An Iraqi Chaldean priest is present and celebrates Mass in the church every Sunday.

Amélie de La Hougue

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Order of the Holy Sepulcher

Knights of the Holy Sepulcher Bike to the Holy Land

On Sunday, August 4, 2013, after the noon Mass in the Church of Our Lady at Sablon, the chapter church of the Belgian Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, members of the Order will set off on a cycling pilgrimage to the Holy Land. As in annual pilgrimages, non-members of the Order will join them. Such a form of pilgrimage promotes a progressive path in this journey to Jerusalem.

As they travel this journey of over 5,600 km, they hope to inspire prayers and solidarity, and receive donations for the orphans of Bethlehem, a city that is a symbol of welcome to all children. (*) The money will be donated to the orphanage of the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul in Bethlehem. The Pilgrims will assume all of the costs of their journey and return flight.

For the moment, five participants have already confirmed: Michel Duponcheele, Ghislain della Faille, Jean-Claude de Gourcy, Charles Ullens and Xavier de Witte.

Hopefully, there will be a dozen participants. The route is planned and will pass through Rome, Greece, Turkey, and Israel to reach Jerusalem. As they arrive in early November, they would like to meet with His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and those in charge of the orphanage.

For further information, please contact this email address: Daniel.vansteenberghe@skynet.be(*) Any donation on behalf of the “Belgian Foundation for the Holy Land” 630-0122895-55 will be

received with gratitude. Donations from €40 are tax deductible. Mention “Bethlehem Orphanage.”

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