On Saturday and Sunday, February 1 and 2, 2025, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the liturgical celebrations of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord at the temple and the Day of Consecrated Life.

The liturgical celebrations began on Saturday evening at St. Catherine’s Church in Bethlehem, where His Beatitude led the solemn First Vespers in preparation for this feast, which reminds us of the light that has shone upon the world. Several bishops participated in the prayer, along with Fr. Rami Asakrieh, parish priest of Bethlehem, as well as various religious orders and lay apostolic movements dedicated to serving the Church of Jerusalem.

On Sunday evening, February 2, His Beatitude the Cardinal presided over the solemn Mass at the Pro-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem. Concelebrating were many bishops, and priests, in the presence of various religious orders of the Holy Land. Seminarians from the Latin Patriarchate Seminary of Beit Jala assisted in the liturgical service.

The celebration began in the courtyard of the Patriarchate, where the Cardinal blessed the candles, and followed by a solemn procession into the church.

In his homily, Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasized the special role consecrated life plays in bearing witness to the Christian faith in the Holy Land, stating:

“And on this day dedicated to religious life, I really want to emphasize the other face of our Christian life in the Holy Land. The face of those who, despite everything, by your presence continue to be “lamps shining in the night” and “seeds of goodness in a land rent asunder by conflict”, as the Holy Father told us a few months ago. It is your presence that above all makes the style of Christian life visible in this Holy Land. An open-minded style that places itself at the service of all men and women in this country. And I would like to thank you for that."

His Beatitude called on the religious communities to live out their vocation in the spirit of the two elders in the temple, guiding the faithful in discerning God's presence and work in the world through their “humble and simple witness of self-giving”.

Following the homily, a group of consecrated men and women renewed their religious vows. At the end of the Holy Mass, His Beatitude bestowed a special blessing and a commemorative gift upon those celebrating their jubilees. Among them, seven had reached milestones ranging from 10 to 50 years of consecration, while another seven marked over 50 years, with some celebrating up to 80 years of devoted service to God and His people.