On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, an election of a council of priests was held at the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, in the presence of Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and the Holy Land Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, and Patriarchal Vicar for Migrants and Asylum Seekers Fr. Rafic Nahra.

The new council of priests consists of the following: Ramallah parish priest Fr. Jamal Khader, Shafa ‘Amer parish priest Fr. Elie Kurzum, Beit Jala parish priest Fr. Hanna Salem, parish priest of Bethlehem Rami Askariyeh, and seminary priest Fr. Bernard Buji.

According to Article 171 related to the Latin Patriarchate, the council of priests acts like a consultative council for the bishop. It consists of priests whose duty is to assist the patriarch, according to law related to administering the diocese. Decisions and directives will be subject to the endorsement of the patriarch.

By: Munir Bayouk

Source: en.abouna.org