On May 8, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop Jamal Daibes celebrated his first Holy Mass following his episcopal ordination at the Church of Our Lady of Visitation in Zababdeh township, the Holy land, in the presence of Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Charge d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Amman Monsignor Mauro Lalli, a number of priests, and a large number of people.
Parish priest Fr. Boutros Hijazin delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of all the parish families, wishing the Latin patriarchal vicar for Jordan a fruitful episcopal service in Jordan.
At the end of the Holy Mass, Bishop Daibes delivered an address in which he excessively thanked the Lord for the grace bestowed on him quoting the Holy Bible, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (Jacob 1:17-18)
Noting that he returns to his parishioners after his episcopal ordination where the seeds of the call to follow the Lord grew, where he was ordained to the priesthood and where he celebrated his first Holy Mass, he said that this day marks the Sunday of the Good Shepherd. He consequently quotes a verse from the Holy Bible which states, “I am the good shepherd, my sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”He adds that the mission of the bishop to follow the model of Lord Jesus and be a good shepherd.
He recalled his early days and the time he joined the Latin Patriarchal Seminary of Beit Jala, adding that he was pleased to see several young people ready to dedicate their lives in the service of the Lord and of the Holy Church. He added: “Some view the episcopate as a prestigious position, and some view it as a great responsibility, yet I view it as blessing from God and a mission. When God asks a person to perform a mission, He gives the power to carry out that mission and to preserve this grace. The bishop is a baptized Christian. He is requested to do whatever is required from any Christian… The decision made by His Holiness Pope Francis’ for my episcopate ordination as well as the support and confidence given by His Beatitude Patriarch Pizzaballa motivated me to shoulder the responsibility and work with the patriarch and the bishops for the good of the Church and the faithful… From this premise, I convey my greetings to our believers in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, hoping to meet them very soon to continue the path started by those who preceded me on this position.”
He concluded his address by thanking to all those who participated in organizing this ceremony, noting that he entrusts his new mission to the Good Shepherd and His Blessed Mother, namely Lady of the Church of the Visitation, in this dear month, May.
By Munir Bayouk/ en.abouna.org
