Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Sunday, 2 August 2020
Fr. Bader celebrates first Holy Mass as parish priest of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

By Munir Bayouk/ en.abouna.org :

Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader, new parish priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Tla' Al-'Ali/ western Amman, celebrated the first Holy Mass on Saturday, August 1. The Holy Mass was concelebrated by assistant priest Fr. Simon Hijazin and attended by Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop William Shomali, Charge d'Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Amman Monsignor Mauro Lalli, Fr. Akram Musharbash, and a large number of parishioners.

After Holy Bible readings, Fr. Bader addressed the parishioners saying, "I have the honor to stand before you today as a new parish priest, namely the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, coming with my brother Fr. Simon Hijazin from the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Na'our. I would like to thank Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop William Shomali and the extended family of the Latin Patriarchate for their continued confidence in our beloved priests."

He pointed out that what characterizes this holy heart of Jesus is that it is compassionate, where the Holy Bible text says, "Lord Jesus showed compassion for the hungry multitudes. He has a compassionate heart. This compassion implies that Lord Jesus was strongly moved."

He added, " In today's reading from the Holy Bible, glorified Lord Jesus Christ said in front of the multitudes of the hungry: ''As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food. Jesus replied: They need not go away. You give them something to eat. We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,' they answered. 'Bring them here to me', he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over."

Fr. Bader added in his first homily: "Fr. Simon and I look forward to serving you in this parish, according to what St. Paul says in the first reading of the Holy Bible, 'Nothing separates us from Lord Christ's love.' We repeat this in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, the symbol of pure love. Yet, there are several challenges facing our people, our young people that separate us from the genuine and pure love of Lord Jesus Christ."

He continued, "We repeat what St. Paul said, 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?'Neither disease nor pandemic, computer, whatsapp nor even facebook can separate us from the love of Lord Jesus Christ. We adhere to the fact that we are one family, at a time when the priests, nuns and people express solidarity with every needy person in this parish, especially those who need help and encouragement, as well as visiting the sick with sincere love in order to have a coherent single family. What makes us united? It is our common love for the Sacred Heart of Lord Jesus. Let us raise our voices with St. Paul the Apostle and day, "Who separates us from the love of Christ? Together, we say: Nothing will separate us from the love of Christ! ”

He also conveyed well wishes to the extended Jordanian family, to His Majesty King Abdullah II on the advent of Eid Al-Adha, as well as to the security and health apparatuses for their services in these difficult days.He also thanked the Imseeh family for building this church 20 years ago, and paid tribute to all those who made donations and exerted efforts in the service of the Church.

Bishop William Shomali delivered also an address during which he expressed happiness for participating in the first Holy Mass celebrated by the new parish priest, Fr. Rif'at Bader and his assistant Fr. Simon Hijazin. He pointed out that Fr. Bader’s sermon “was full of energy to serve these beloved parishioners.” He also wished the two priests success in their new mission.