On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem His Beatitude Pierre Battista Pizzaballa inaugurated the Spiritual Formation Center for Laity at the Seminary – Beit Jala.

The ceremony began with a welcome speech from the project coordinator, Mrs. Asal Slaibi. This was followed by a speech from Father Bernard Poggi, the rector of the seminary, who gave a speech in which he referred to the importance of spiritual and faith formation for the laity. Then Mr. George Akroush, projects manager at the Latin Patriarchate, gave a speech in which he spoke about the origin of the idea of establishing a spiritual center for the laity.

In the end, His Beatitude Pizzaballa gave a speech. Starting from his own experience in the Holy Land, he talked about the importance of having and establishing a spiritual formation center for the laity in faith, morals, and the Holy Scriptures in the Arabic language. At the end of his speech, he asserted that this was one of the most important things he worked to achieve since he took up his position at the Patriarchate. 

At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Beatitude Pizzaballa blessed the center where the courses will be held, with the participation of Bishop William Shomali, Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, along with a group of priests, heads and representatives of various religious congregations.