Under the patronage of Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan Bishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, Caritas Jordan, in cooperation with the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan, held an eve of hymns titled, "Amman, Praying for Peace with Faith", on Saturday Novemebr 30, 2024 with the participation of Lebanese hymn singer Layal Nehme, accompanied by Lebanese-Jordanian pianist Grace Abu Daher Omeish, and a group of Jordanian musicians.

The eve, which was held at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Tla' Al-Ali, was attended by Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar, Lebanese Ambassador Yousef Rajji, Lebanese MP Najat Saliba, the director of the United Nations Population Fund, Dr. Nadine Hosari representing the ambassador of Palestine, the secretary of consular affairs at the embassy of Ukraine, in addition to Director of Caritas Jordan Wael Suleiman, Caritas employees, and a large gathering of guests.

At the outset of the eve, which was moderated by Mrs. Dana Shaheen Abawi, CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif'at Bader delivered an address during  which he explained that faith unites us in the capital, Amman, in prayer for peace in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Ukraine, noting that Jordan and Lebanon were in the past years, as referred to by His Holiness Pope Francis, the warm embrace for displaced brothers, whether they were from Iraq or Syria.

Fr. Bader said,"Jordan is taking steady steps towards diplomatic endeavors, as  well as wonderful and pioneering ones in the world, led by the skilled leader His Majesty King Abdullah II, along with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al-Hussein Ibn Abdullah II, and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, through her pioneering media interviews. As for Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ayman Safadi, he always infatuates the world with his shuttle tours in order to say: Stop the war immediately!

Regarding the situation in Lebanon, Fr. Bader pointed out that despite being a warm embrace for many refugees,it found itself in the heart of the storm. After the attainment of the ceasefire, we hope that peace will prevail there. He said: "We not only want a fragile ceasefire, but we want a lasting peace for the homeland of the cedars, to rise up and restore its status quo, namely  Lebanon, the country of saints, and the country of a message, as Pope John Paul II said.

During the eve, hymn singer Layal Nehme presented hymns that conveyed messages of peace for Lebanon, Palestine, and the countries athirst for this gift, in an atmosphere full of faith and hope, with an emphasis on the importance of merging voices and hearts for bringing about the desired peace.

Later, Layal Nehme gave an address during which she thanked Caritas Jordan and the CCSM for their invitation extended to her to hold this eve of hymn singing in Amman. She pointed out that the large attendance of this eve is evidence that everyone is united in offering fervent prayers to stop the cycle of war and violence in the region, especially in the Holy Land and Lebanon, so that this year's Christmas may be a Christmas of peace, love and brotherhood.

At the end of the eve, the patron of the event Bishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso presented a shield to hymn singer Layal Nehme in honor of her. He also thanked Caritas Jordan and the CCSM for holding such a spiritual and humanitarian activity that reflects the essence of Christmas, noting that this evening united Jordanians' prayers for peace.