A celebration was held on Tuesday, October 8, 2022 marking the inauguration of the new building of the General Secretariat of Christian Educational Foundations, located in the Jabal Al-Hussein area, western, Amman. The event was patronized by Latin Patriarchal Vicar For Jordan Bishop Jamal Khader and Bishop Joseph Jbarah, archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Petra and Philadelphia and entire Jordan.

In attendance were Secretary General of the Christian Educational Foundations Fr. Rashid Mustrih, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Jordan Msgr. Mauro Lalli, Armenian Orthodox Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Archimandrite Avedis Ibrijian, Director of Private Schools Department at the Ministry of Education Dr. Nawal Abu Raden, American University of Madaba President Dr. Ma’moun Akroush, as well as a number of directors of Christian schools in Jordan. 

Fr. Mustrih expressed joy marking the inauguration of the new headquarters of the General Secretariat of Christian Educational Foundations in Jordan, noting that the secretariat has always aspired to have a permanent headquarters since its founding in 1990, instead of the mobile headquarters.

He noted that the new  headquarters indicates that our schools always seek to develop their educational standard which is deep rooted in the holy land of Jordan, and also participate in its educational process which has so far  lasted more than 160 years ago at a time when the first school of the Latin Patriarchate was established in the city of Salt. He pointed out that the General Secretariat of Christian Educational Foundations functions in harmony and solidarity with the Ministry of Education.

It is worthy to note that he General Secretariat for the Christian Educational Foundations in Jordan is a non-profit non-governmental private ecclesiastical educational foundation, which assembles and represents the Christian educational foundations and schools in Jordan.

Furthermore,  the Church’s involvement in the field of education is demonstrated especially by the Catholic schools. No less than other schools does the Catholic schools pursue cultural goals and the natural development of youth. But it has several distinctive purposes.

They aim to create for the school community an at­mosphere enlivened by the gospel spirit of freedom and charity and help the adolescents in such a way that the development of their own personality will be matched by the growth of that new creation which he became by baptism.

They strive to relate all human culture eventually to the news of salvation so that the light of faith will illumine the knowledge, which students gradually gain of the world, of life, and of mankind. So it is, that while the Catholic schools fit­tingly adjusts itself to the circumstances of advancing times, they are educating their students to promote effectively the welfare of the earthly city, and preparing them to serve the advancement of the reign of God.

By Munir Bayouk/en.abouna.org