Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has celebrated a solemn Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Karak, southern Jordan, marking its 150th anniversary. The Holy Mass was concelebrated by parish priest Fr. Alaa' Ba'ir in the presence of a number of priests, a large crowd of parishioners, and apostolic figures.

 In his homily, Cardinal Pizzaballa expressed his gratitude to the parishioners for their warm welcome, noting that this visit enabled him to closely experience their daily reality. He said, "It is important to see the reality with our own eyes, since it is more impressive than any reports or relevant documents on my desk."

Despite noting that there is "much work ahead of us," yet he said that these parishioners "are vibrant due to the commitment of its members and their continued support for the Church."Highlighting the importance of caring for schooling and thinking about the future of young people, he stressed that true belonging must in the first place be to Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the source of life and of all good deeds.

He added, "By obeying God and responding to His will, we can change our reality, because nothing is impossible with God. Despite the difficulties that Blessed Mary experienced, She remained faithful to the Divine call and contributed through Her obedience to the salvation of humanity."

Patriarch Pizzaballa concluded his homily by calling on the faithful to seek the intercession of Blessed Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, saying, "Let us ask Her to fill our hearts with inner freedom that enables us to respond with a sincere yes to God's will in our lives."

On the other hand, Parish priest Fr. Alaa' Ba'ir delivered an address. He said, "When we address the Latin Parish in Karak, we are talking about the first school in the city, the first ecclesiastical educational home, and the first educational haven that welcomed all the people of Karak. Here, education was not a privilege, but rather a mission; it was not a monopoly, but rather a partnership with everyone. Those who later became leaders, doctors, teachers, priests, and nuns graduated from this school. This parish has carved its place in the city's memory, not in stone, but in hearts and conscience."

He added, "The Rosary Parish is suffering from emigration, from the changing times, from the small number of parishioners, and from the pain of a place where the hustle and bustle of life has subsided. Yet, despite this, it does not die. It gets tired, yes, but it endures." 

He also expressed his deep gratitude for Cardinal Pizzaballa's constant and honorable stands in support of the people of Gaza, saying, "You are the one who not only prayed from afar, but rather felt their pain and stood by their side, holding Gaza's wounds in your heart, and raising its voice to the world. You visited its land three times despite the dangers, and today you are launching a humanitarian project that is a miracle of hope in the Jubilee of Hope by establishing a new hospital in Gaza. It is living testimony indicating that the Church is not just a pulpit for preaching, but rather a hand that touches wounds, and a heart that knows how to love even in the midst of pain."