On Monday, October 19, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop William Shomali celebrated Requiem Mass at the Memorial Church of Moses on Mt. Nebo for late Fr. Shadi Hani Bader, a Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land and parish priest of  the Sacred Heart of  Jesus in Latakia, Syria.

I attendance were Monsignor Mauro Lalli, charge d'affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Amman, relatives of the late priest, Latin Vicariate priests, and nuns.

 At the outset of the Mass, a condolence message was read out on behalf of Custos of the Holy Land Fr. Francesco Patton who conveyed condolences to the family of Fr. Shadi Bader, then a briefing was presented on the life of the late priest was presented.

 
 In his homily, Bishop Shomali presented his condolences saying that it is saddening that this priest died at an early age and that he would have worked longer in the service of the Lord. He also quoted (Wisdom4:7-9) which says: “The virtuous man, though he dies before his time, will find rest. Length of days is not what makes age honorable, nor numbers of years the true measure of life; understanding, this is man's grey hairs, untarnished life, this is ripe old age.” He added saying that the verse gives a summary saying, “Coming to perfection in so short a while, he achieved long life.” (Wisdom 4-13)

He concluded his homily saying, “Our great consolation today is Christ, who illuminated the darkness of the tomb with the light of his glorious resurrection, beat death, and gave life to those in the graves. In light of the resurrection of the Lord, every death is a transit."

On his part, Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader, thanked  ecclesiastical and official parties that exerted efforts to transfer the body from Syria to Jordan including, the Custody of the Holy Land represented by Fr. Francesco Patton; Franciscan regional superior for Syria, Lebanon and Jordan Firas Lutfi; the Monastery of Mount Nebo and the Terra Sancta monastery; monks; and priests in Jordan and Syria; the Latin Patriarchate represented by Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Bishop William Shomali, Patriarch Michel Sabbah; Patriarchs Fouad Twal; Bishop Salim Sayegh, Bishop Paul Marcuzzo, priests, and Rosary Sisters.

He also thanked the Apostolic Nunciature in Amman represented by Monsignor Mauro Lalli, the official departments in Syria including the ministries of health, interior and foreign affairs, and the parishioners of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Latakia. He also thanked Jordanian prime Ministry, the Crisis Management Department, the ministries of foreign affairs and the interior, as well as the Jordanian embassy in Damascus.

In Latakia, Syria, Fr. Raymond Jiryes celebrated requiem Mass for Fr. Shadi Bader on Sunday October 18. The Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Samir Ishaq.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.