Marking the advent of the Holy Week, the Union of Religious Congregations (URC) in Jordan held a spiritual meeting on Friday, April 19, at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Tla’ Al-Ali, Amman. The meeting included a spiritual address by Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader in which he touched on the ecumenical spirit as well as the role of the consecrated women in their various places of service and work.

He also spoke about the 50th anniversary of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Year of Prayer 2024 in preparation for the Jubilee of 2025, and the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. He also briefly touched, on the two Vatican documents, namely Fiducia Supplicans and Dignitas Infinita with regards to respect for human dignity.

The meeting started with the dawn prayer and the Holy Mass which was celebrated by Fr. Dr. Rif’at  and concelebrated by Fr. Rashid Mustrih, adviser of the URC, in addition to Fr. Bashir,  Fr. Iyad Bader, Fr. Ala’ Ba’ir, Fr. Wajdi Twal, and Fr. Salam Haddad. Prayers were lifted up during the Holy Mass with the intention of the nuns celebrating the golden jubilee of their vows (50 years), namely Sister Nebras Touma of the Dominican Nuns, Sister Sylvin of the Sisters of Mother Teresa, as well as the silver jubilee (25 years) of Sister Mary Bader of the Sisters of the Two Sacred Hearts, and Sister Sophia of the nuns of Mother Teresa and Sister Afaf Rabah are Basilian nuns of Choueiriat.

The meeting was attended by the URC President Sister Sarah Ghneim, URC Secretary Sister Cecile Hijazin, and Sister Maysoon Rihani, with the participation of the regional head of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Sister Valentina.