On Saturday, June 27, 2020, Bethlehem University represented by its Vice-Chancellor Brother Peter Bray, FSC, EdD, announced the appointment of Fr. Iyad Twal as Executive Vice President, to replace Dr. Michael Sansur who has decided to take one year’s leave from the university after serving in this position for nine years.

Br. Peter mentioned in his announcement that this appointment is for one year effective at the beginning of the new academic year 2020-2021.

Fr. Twal is currently the Chairperson of the Department of Humanities at the Faculty of Arts at Bethlehem University and was the chairperson of the Religious Studies Department and is a teacher of Philosophy there as well.

Fr. Twal has assumed a number of administrative positions in his professional career. He was appointed Director-General of the Latin Patriarchate Schools in 2016 and has served as a Parish priest in Birzeit, Al-Zababdeh and Beit Sahour as well as at the Latin Patriarchal Seminary in Beit Jala. He holds a Ph.D. In Theoretical and Political Philosophy.

Following is a briefing on Fr. Iyad Twal biography:

Fr. Iyad Twal was born in Amman in 1973.

1994: BA in Philosophy, Latin Patriarchate Seminary

1997: BA in Theology, Latin Patriarchate Seminary

09/07/1998: Ordained Priest in Madaba

1998-2000: Vicar, Immaculate Conception Parish in Bir Zeit, Palestine

2000: Parish Priest, Immaculate Conception in Bir Zeit; Deputy Director of the Latin Patriarchate School; Animator of Catholic Scouts in Palestine

2000-2003: Formation in different fields: Education for Peace; International Relations; Crises Management

2003: Director, Latin Patriarchate School in Bir Zeit

2003-2005: In charge of Latin Patriarchate Minor Seminary; Member of the Seminary Clergy Team; Member of the Ad Hoc Committee with the Jewish people

2005-2006: Parish Priest, Visitation in Zababdeh, Palestine; Director of Latin Patriarchate School in Zababdeh

2009: Completed Licentiate in Epistemology and Theoretical Philosophy at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome

2012: Completed Doctorate in Theoretical Philosophy and Political Philosophy at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome

09/2012: Parish Priest, Our Lady of Fatima in Beit Sahour, Palestine; Professor of Philosophy at the Latin Patriarchate Seminary

09/2013: Professor of Philosophy and Head of Religious Studies, Bethlehem University

2015: Chaplain, Misericordia Confraternity

06/2016: Member, Appeals Court, Diocesan Tribunal in Jerusalem

08/2016: Director of Latin Patriarchate Schools in Palestine and Israel

08/2019: Chairman of the Humanities Department at Bethlehem University

The Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan conveys heartfelt wishes of success to Fr. Twal wishing him further achievements in the service of the Lord and the Christian community in Bethlehem.

Source: Bethlehem-en.abouna.org