Deputizing for HRH Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, the Crown Prince, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al Fayez launched, on Monday 27 September 2021, the phase one of a project to rehabilitate the Christian pilgrimage route in Mount Nebo in the Madaba governorate, September, southwest Amman.

On September 26, 2021, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II visited the SOKU Conference Center in Orebro, Sweden.

His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Dioscorus Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin, Patriarchal Vicar in Holland, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

JERUSALEM - On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem organized a training day for its employees entitled “Safeguarding in Catholic Institutions”, in coordination with the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, which was held at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem.

Mr. Rafiq Said, Safeguarding Coordinator at the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries, presented this training day which came as part of the courses organized by the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries in 50 Catholic institutions in the Holy Land…

On Monday, 14/27 September 2021, the Patriarchate celebrated the feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Sacred and Life-giving Cross.

On this feast, the Church commemorates that after the consecration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the gathered crowd asked to see and venerated the Precious Cross and for this reason, the Archbishop of Jerusalem Saint Makarios and Saint Helen exalted the Cross to be seen by everyone.

On September 21, 2021, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II inaugurated a Sayfo Monument in Norrkoping, Sweden.

‎‏His Holiness was accompanied by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Julius Abdelahad Shabo, Archbishop of Sweden and Scandinavia, Mor Dioscoros Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, Mor Dionysius Issa Gurbuz, Patriarchal Vicar in Switzerland and Austria, Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar in Germany, Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin, Patriarchal Vicar in Holland, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

On Sunday 6/19 September 2021, for pastoral reasons the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos was celebrated earlier at the Holy Church of the Nativity of Theotokos in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem.

On this feast, the Church glorifies God because He granted Mary to the former baren Joachim and Anna, from whom our Lord Jesus Christ was born in the flesh. The Church joyfully chants “Joachim and Anna were freed from the corruption of death O immaculate one by thy Holy Nativity…the barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos and nourisher of our life” (Kontakion).

HOLY LAND – On Sunday, September 12, 2021, the General Secretariat of The Youth of Jesus’ Homeland – Palestine (YJHP), and the General Secretariat of the Youth Group in Jordan concluded their summer activities and camps for the year 2021.

In Palestine, the YJHP concluded all its summer activities with an activity day for the Secondary Group entitled “60 minutes”. The day started with a gathering in the Church of Christ the Redeemer in Taybeh, followed by an activity to break down barriers between parishioners. Later, Mrs. Yara Zayed gave a lecture about time management for young people.

On September 19, 2021, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo at St. Aphrem Cathedral in Sweden.

His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Dioscorus Benjamin Atas, Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, Mor Dionysius Issa Gurbuz, Patriarchal Vicar in Switzerland and Austria, Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar in Germany, Mor Julius Hanna Aydin, Director of Foreign Relations in Germany, Mor Polycarpus Augin Aydin, Patriarchal Vicar in Holland, and Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

Chargé d'Affairs of the Vatican's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva says access to safe drinking water is a basic human right.

By Lisa Zengarini

“Water is not a commodity; it is a universal symbol and source of life and health. It is therefore necessary to ensure drinking water and hygienic services for all”, the Holy See says.

On September 15, 2021 an important event took place at the Terra Sancta Theater, Jabal Luwaibdeh, Amman. It is the launching of a new website by Franciscan Sisters/ Missionaries of Mary titled," John the Baptist Center for Christian Catechism". The site, financed by the Pontifical Mission in Jordan, can be checked on this link: www.jcjo.org.

More than at any other time, the world, which is marked by increasing tensions, polarizations and crises of diverse nature and scope, is in dire need of healing. Healing is achieved through dialogue, mutual understanding and acceptance, and common commitment to ethical values and human rights. Religion may play a pivotal role in building ethically healthy, socio-economically equitable, and ecologically sustainable societies.

and the beginning of the academic year at Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary

On September 14, 2021, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II celebrated the Holy Qurobo on the occasion of the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross and the beginning of the academic year at Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary in Maarat Saydnaya, Syria, at the altar of the Martyrs of Sayfo in Mor Aphrem Monastery in Maarat Saydnaya.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. May His grace and mercy rest upon us, from now and forevermore. Amen.
I would like to congratulate you on the upcoming Feast of Nayrouz, also known as the Feast of the Martyrs. It is the oldest feast and is the celebration of the beginning of the ecclesiastical Coptic year, which began in the year 284 A.D. during the rule of the Roman Emperor Nicledianos.

His Holiness Pope Francis celebrates the concluding Mass for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, as a ‘Statio Orbis,’ a liturgy manifesting the unity of the whole Church around the table of the Lord.

By Christopher Wells

Jesus’ question to His disciples in Sunday’s Gospel — “Who do you say that I am?” — is addressed to each one of us personally, His Holiness Pope Francis said in his homily at the concluding Mass for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress.

On September 11, 2021, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II received His Eminence Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus, at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Bab Touma – Damascus, Syria.

The meeting was attended by his Eminence Archbishop Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Secretary and Media Office Director.

On Saturday 29 August/ 11 September 2021, the Patriarchate commemorated the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist at the Holy Monastery dedicated to him on the south-west side of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the heart of the Christian quarter.

On this feast the Church recalls the Gospel narratives (Mark chapter 6, Matthew chapter 14) in joyful mourning; in them, Herod the Tetrarch could not bear Saint John’s reprimands for living together with Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, so he imprisoned the Saint.

CYPRUS - From September 3- 8, 2021, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa made his first pastoral visit as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to the Latin Community in the four parishes of Cyprus, namely Larnaca, Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol. A visit to Kyrenia was also on the program.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. One God. Amen. May His grace and mercy rest upon us, from now and forevermore. Amen.
Sermon Highlights:
~ Various titles given to Psalm 37
~ 3 traits of the successes of wickedness
~ Comparing grass to trees, an analogy for contemplation

At noon on Tuesday, 7th of September 2021, H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, accompanied by the Director of the Patriarchate’s Finance Department, His Eminence Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, and Geronda Chief Secretary, His Eminence Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, visited the Holy Monastery of Prophet Elijah, located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem near the place of the “Seat of the Virgin Mary”.

The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops presents the base text and “vademecum” – or handbook – to guide the journey of the Synod on Synodality.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Listening without prejudice; speaking out with courage and parrhesia; dialoguing with the Church, with society, and with the other Christian confessions.