Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org
The Latin Patriarchal Vicariate in Jordan announces the establishment of the Christian Pilgrimage Coordination Office – Jordan, as an ecclesial, pastoral, and service-oriented body operating under the supervision of the local ecclesiastical authority. Its purpose is to assist and serve pilgrims arriving in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, while strengthening their connection with the local Church and with the Christian spiritual heritage preserved and embraced by Jordan.
The establishment of this service comes in recognition of Jordan’s importance in Christian history and heritage, and in response to the continuous increase in the number of pilgrims visiting the holy sites in the Kingdom. It also forms part of the preparations for the Jubilee of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, ensuring that the pilgrimage experience becomes a comprehensive spiritual and faith-filled journey that goes beyond simply visiting holy sites to include a living encounter with the local parishioners and the communities of faith.
The objectives of this initiative are as follows:
• To strengthen communication and partnership between Churches around the world and the local Church in the field of Christian pilgrimage.
• To assist groups of pilgrims arriving in Jordan.
• To assist in coordinating liturgical celebrations, Masses, and special prayers for visiting groups.
• To organize spiritual and pastoral encounters and activities for ecclesial institutions, schools, apostolic groups, and youth groups.
• To highlight the witness, role, and presence of Christians in Jordan as the “living stones” who preserve the Christian faith in this blessed land, in harmony with its national narrative and identity.
• To preserve the sacred character of pilgrimage and respect the sanctity of religious and archaeological sites.
• To organize all types of initiatives related to Christian pilgrimage, including, but not limited to, seminars, site visits, educational and awareness programs, publications, and informational materials.
Nature of the Service
The Christian Pilgrimage Coordination Office – Jordan is a non-profit ecclesial initiative of a pastoral and service-oriented nature. It does not engage in any commercial activities, nor does it replace tourism companies, travel agencies, or tour operators. Rather, it cooperates with them, within the framework of its ecclesial mission, to provide pilgrims with pastoral and liturgical support and ecclesial coordination.
A Message of Thanks and Cooperation:
With the establishment of this Coordination Office, the Catholic Church in Jordan looks forward to constructive cooperation with governmental and official institutions, tourism authorities, organizations concerned with religious and cultural heritage, and all relevant partners. This cooperation aims to contribute to strengthening Jordan’s position as a global destination for Christian pilgrimage, dialogue, and human encounter.
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