BETHLEHEM – On Saturday, June 19, 2021, H.B. Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the priestly ordination of Deacon Nadim Adel Giacaman, in the Church of St. Catherine in Bethlehem, after having completed his studies at the Latin Patriarchal Seminary in Beit Jala.

Concelebrating the ordination ceremony were Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo, Bishop Kamal Bathish, Fr. Yacoub Rafidi, Rector of the seminary, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, Fr. Bashar Fawadleh, as well as several priests of the Latin Patriarchate, in the presence of seminarians and Religious Men and Women, the family and friends of the newly ordained priest, and the faithful.

In his homily, Patriarch Pizzaballa pointed out that this day is “an important feast for the parish of Bethlehem, especially that we don’t have many priests coming from this parish. We are very happy to have another priest from this important parish, which is a blessing for the Church of Bethlehem and the whole Diocese”. Patriarch Pizzaballa further encouraged Fr. Rami Asakriyeh, parish priest of Bethlehem, to promote more vocations from this important and big parish of Bethlehem.

In reference to the Gospel of St. Mark (Mark 4: 35-41) when Christ said to his disciples “let us go over to the other side”, the Patriarch addressed the new priest, indicating that this passage has a symbolic meaning that a person leaves his land, his life and stability, to start a different life on the “other side”. “Remain on the other side. People have to feel that you are on this other side. On this other side, you cannot be alone. This other side has a meaning if Jesus is with you. Thus, you have to become transparent in your life, so that everyone can see that Jesus is with you,” Patriarch Pizzaballa said. He added: “Take Jesus into your life exactly as He is, the Jesus of the Church, without adding to or removing anything from the life of Jesus”.

The Patriarch of Jerusalem concluded: “The priesthood is not yours. It doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to the Church. Therefore, the most important thing is to love the Church as it is, in its beauty and difficulties, not according to your idea of it. We have to love the Church because despite everything, it is where we find Jesus and salvation. Teach the people that you meet to love the Church, despite all difficulties that you may encounter. Fear and faith are opposites. Where there is faith, there is no place for fear.”

On the next day, Sunday, June 20, the newly ordained priest presided over his first Holy Mass in the Church of St. Catherine. Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo concelebrated the Mass, along with Fr. Yacoub Rafidi, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, Fr. Rami Asakriyeh, Fr. Firas Abedrabbo.

Fr. Nadim Giacaman was born in Bethlehem on September 3, 1991. He was baptized in the Church of St. Catherine where he also received his First Communion and Confirmation.

He entered the seminary in Beit Jala in 2013, after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bethlehem University. During his years of studying Theology (2017 – 2019), he received the investiture to the Soutane and the institution of Lectors and Acolytes.

Fr. Nadim served in the parish of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in Aboud (Ramallah) for one year. He later returned to the seminary, and on March 19, 2021, he was ordained deacon at the seminary in Beit Jala.

By: Layal Hazboun

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem