A 90-member delegation of French pilgrims has paid an eight-day visit to Jordan. The delegation concluded the tour of Jordan, the Holy Land, by attending  a Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Tla' Al Ali, which was celebrated by accompanying priest  Fr. Dominic.

Following  the Holy Mass, parish priest Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader, director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan, met with the delegation and spoke to them about the importance of visiting Jordan, and the importance of being a pilgrim this year, while referring to the motto launched by Pope Francis for next year,  the Jubilee Year 2025 marking the birth of Lord Jesus Christ, namely "the Pilgrims of Hope".

 He said that we in the East need this hope, and we also need witnesses and pilgrims for peace at a time when this land is still athirst for. He exchanged views with the pilgrims and answered their questions about the enlightening Christian presence in Jordan. Fr. Bader noted that despite their small number, they  have  effective, vibrant, and fruitful presence of Christians' religious and civil institutions that serve in the development  of modern Jordan, the land of a bright future.

Marriage Jubilee

On the other hand, on Saturday November 16, Acting Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Fr. Jihad Shwaihat celebrated Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Tla' Al-Ali, western Amman, marking the wedding  jubilee (10 years and above) for a number of families.

The Holy Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader and  Fr. Bashir Bader, director of the Pastoral Center for Family and Marriage Affairs, in addition to assistant priest Fr. Wajdi Twal and Deacon Jubran Salameh in the presence of a large number of believers, and members of the celebrating families.

During the Holy Mass,  couples lifted up "the prayer of the couple marking  their jubilee", while Fr. Shwaihat presented the couples with certificates of blessing signed by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.