On Sunday, May 9, 2021, four children received the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation at the Holy Redeemer Parish in Taybeh. It was an occasion to celebrate the feast day of the parish, during a Holy Mass presided over by His Beatitude Pierbattisa Pizzaballa on his first visit to the Taybeh Parish as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. 

Concelebrating were Fr. Johnny Abu Khalil, Parish priest of Taybeh, who had prepared the children spiritually to receive the Sacraments, along with the Rosary Sisters.

In his homily, Patriarch Pizzaballa spoke of the current events in Jerusalem. “Jerusalem is in our hearts, for we cannot live our faith without it. From the city of Jerusalem, Christ has risen. Our faith without the Holy City is an abstract faith which only becomes a reality with Jerusalem.” The Patriarch concluded his homily by praying for peace in Jerusalem, pointing out the importance of believing that peace is possible, and that it will only be so through us. 

In Jifna, fifteen children received the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation at the Latin Parish of St. Joseph on Friday, May 7. The parish’s 165th anniversary, along with the year of St. Joseph, were also celebrated during a Holy Mass presided over by Patriarch Pizzaballa on his first visit to the Parish of Jifna as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Sr. Mira Kasabreh from the Rosary Congregation, had prepared the children spiritually to receive the Holy Sacraments.

On Sunday, May 9, Bishop William Shomali, Latin Patriarchal Vicar of Jordan, presided over a Mass celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday (Second Sunday of Easter), in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Tla’ Al-Ali in Jordan. Concelebrating was Parish vicar Fr. Simon Hijazin. During the Mass, two children received the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

On Saturday, May 8, Bishop William Shomali administered the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation to several children of the Latin Parish of St. Joseph in Mafraq, Jordan. Concelebrating were Fr. Tareq Hijazin, Parish priest; Fr. Fares Al Buqain, Parish priest of the Greek Melkite Catholic Archeparchy in Mafraq; in the presence of Hazem Al-Nammari, Parish deacon and several Religious women, the families of the children and some parishioners.