As Christmas celebrations approach, preparations are under way in churches and homes whether spiritually by intensifying prayers, and supplications, or socially by holding charity bazaars whose proceeds go to the needy, or by outdoor decorations by erecting and lighting Christmas trees, and setting up nativity scenes in a spiritual visual simulation of the birth of Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.

 As for the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, located in Tla' Al-Ali, northwestern ​​Amman, it has placed an expressive Christmas tree and a nativity scene in an effort to convey a message of love, peace, and solidarity. The huge Christmas tree was decorated with Jordanian and Palestinian headcovers as a sign of solidarity from the Jordanian people towards the suffering of their brethren in Palestine.

Next to the tree, a distinctive nativity scene is placed in the shape of a model of the map of the Holy Land, namely of adjoined Jordan and Palestine. In the middle of the nativity scene, which was skillfully crafted by engineer Marwan Haddad-- from the town of Mar Elias in Al-Wahadneh, in Ajloun Governorate--the door of the nativity scene is placed in the shape of a heart, which incorporates the Gospel texts of the Christmas event.

Parish priest and Director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader says that this year the Council of the Heads of Churches in the Jordan decided, in coordination with the official authorities, to have Christmas celebrations include external decorations that ignite the light of hope and optimism especially children.

Father Bader said, "Unlike the case last year, there is joy marking the feast this year, as several celebrations were held and Christmas trees were lit in many governorates of dear Jordan, especially at the main sites of Christian pilgrimage, such as the Baptism Site Mount Nebo, Mar Elias, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Mount, and the Fortress of Machaerus.

Fr. Bader pointed out that Christmas celebrations do not mean that we forget the suffering of our brethren, but on the contrary we pray more for them and we work to highlight the suffering even in the midst of celebrations. This is what the Christmas tree and the nativity scene in the Sacred Hear of Jesus Church represent, and this is also what happened in all the Christmas eves that were held in front of this Christmas tree and nativity scene, where prayers and hymns were increased for the blessing of peace and for extinguishing the fire of war in Gaza and in entire Palestine.

Fr. Bader added that prayers have been lifted up, and will continue to be so, during the f Holy Masses marking the feast, while pleading for the perpetuation of stability in dear Jordan, especially since we are celebrating this year the silver jubilee of His Majesty King Abdullah II’s ascension to the Throne, and the silver jubilee of the King’s decision to consider Christmas as an official holiday for all citizens in the country in 1999. He pointed out that we are also on the threshold of a new year, namely the silver jubilee of the start of the Christian pilgrimage to the Baptism Site of Lord Jesus Christ in the modern era.

Furthermore, next to the nativity scene which is topped by the Jordanian seven-pointed star, a number of musical choirs held eves of Christmas and national hymns. The "Fountain of Love" choir held its eve titled: "O Child of the Cave" in the presence of Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan  Bishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, Acting Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Fr. Jihad Shweihat, Patriarchal Administrator of the Greek Catholics Archdiocese Boulos Nazha, as well as a number of heads and representatives of churches.

For its part, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church choir also held its eve of hymns titled, "Let Us Go to Bethlehem" under the patronage of Fr. Jihad Shweihat, while the "Flower of Cities" choir made a performance with a call to prayer for peace in Jerusalem, Gaza, and the entire Palestinian territories.