On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop Iyad Twal celebrated a solemn Mass marking the Feast of Saint Elijah at Saint Elijah Church in Al-Wahadneh, northern Jordan, commemorating the centennial anniversary of the establishment of Al-Wahadneh Parish.

The Holy Mass was attended by a number of priests and religious sisters, including parish priest Fr. Salam Haddad, and Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader, parish priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Tla' Al-Ali, northwestern Amman, and director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, in addition to parishioners from Ajloun and the faithful who arrived from various parts of the Kingdom.

In his homily, Bishop Twal noted that pilgrimage to this holy place is "a meeting between time and place," and called on the faithful to remain steadfast in their mission so that “we always remain the salt of the earth and the light of the world." Reflecting on the life of Prophet Elijah, he said that his life teaches courage, honesty, and trust in the Divine Providence, as well as the power of prayer, humility, and hope especially at these times marked by challenges and wars.

Following the Holy Mass, Lebanese hymn singer Christiane Najjar presented an evening of hymns, by performing a selection of hymns dedicated to Saint Elijah alongside other Marian hymns which encouraged the faithful to follow the example of the saints and bear witness to their faith in daily life.

The evening also featured a documentary film produced by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, which highlights the centennial anniversary  of the life of Saint Elijah Parish. The film also highlighted the priests who served there or began their priestly ministry from the parish, and paid tribute to the religious sisters who ministered in the community or whose religious vocations began there, particularly the Rosary Sisters. Top of Form

Earlier, Fr. Salam Haddad officially announced the launch of the parish's centennial jubilee celebrations. In the end, he presented a mosaic plaque to Bishop Twal and Christine Najjar as tokens of gratitude for their participation in the event. The parishioners also presented a gift to their pastor in appreciation of his efforts in organizing the centennial jubilee celebrations.