On Sunday, September 29,  2024 the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Tal'-Ali, western Amman, welcomed a group of French pilgrims from the Diocese of Lucon in Vendée--which is located on the western coast of France--who currently visit Jordan as part of a religious pilgrimage trip. During the trip, the pilgrims visited several Christian pilgrimage sites in Jordan, including Mount Nebo in Machaerus and the Grotto of Our Lady of the Mount in Anjara. They are scheduled to conclude their stay in Jordan by visiting the Baptism Site of Lord Jesus Christ in Bethany where they will receive blessings from the land on which Lord Jesus Christ had stepped. 

The pilgrims, accompanied by French priest Fr. Renaud Bertrand, participated in the 26th Sunday Holy Mass, which was celebrated by the parish priest of the Scared Heart of Jesus Church Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader, concelebrated by Fr. Fares Siriani and assisted by priest Fr. Ya'coub, in the presence of deacon Jubran Salameh.

Parish priest Fr. Bader welcomed the visiting pilgrims at the outset of the Holy Mass and associated the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Amman with the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Montemartre Hill in Paris, which is frequented by pilgrims and visitors from all over the world.

In his homily, Fr. Bader spoke about the talent that God gives to every person from different religions and civilizations without passing any judgment based on the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ Who asked the apostles not to stop those who cast out demons in His name and are not associated with them, then he referred to the recent Pontiff's visits which confirm that all people are children of God.

He also made an address in French during which he thanked the pilgrim delegation for their visit to the Land of the Baptist which is rich in Christian pilgrimage sites. He also asked the delegation members to unite with the parishioners in their prayers for peace in the Middle East at these difficult times. He also sought the intercession of the Archangels Raphael, Michael and Gabriel whose feast is marked by the Church on September 29, as well as the intercession of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus of France, whose feast will be marked on the October 1.

Prior to the end of the Holy Mass, Fr. Renaud delivered an address in which he thanked Fr Bader for the accorded warm welcome, and highly valued the opportunity of being with the parishioners of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. He also expressed solidarity in prayer with the believers in Jordan for the attainment of peace in the world and the Middle East because this region is thirsty for peace and is in dire need for prayer.

 Fr. Renaud presented Fr. Bader with a souvenir gift, which was a flag bearing the image of two hearts with the Holy Cross as a token of love and gratitude. He concluded his address with a prayer for Jordan and its people while seeking the intercession of Saint Joseph and Saint Mary the Virgin, and patron of Jordan St. John the Baptist, and the Prophets Moses and Elijah.