JERUSALEM – On December 2nd, 2022, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, welcomed several Palestinian families and their children to the Diwan of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem for Christmas greetings.
This event was organized by Ms. Dima Khoury, director of the LPJ’s social services department, and Ms. Reem Khader, the social worker of that same department.
Before heading to the Diwan, the children enjoyed a program filled with fun activities and games at the Saint Saviour monastery, led by a youth group from Zababdeh.
Afterward, they went to the Patriarchate to meet His Beatitude. Ms. Dima welcomed everyone to the Diwan, thanking the Patriarch for his service to the church and to the faithful. Then the children sang Chrismas melodies, and presented short poems and drawings they made for the Patriarch. “Truly, the story of the birth of Jesus is the most beautiful story; it still fills us with joy, hope, and strength,” the latter said, commenting on what the children had said. “And you too bring a lot of joy into our house.” Then, a parent thanked His Beatitude on behalf of all the families of Jerusalem, presenting him with a small gift.
The meeting was immediately followed by the arrival of Santa Claus, who distributed gifts to the children, and concluded with the Patriarch’s blessing.
This is the second meeting of the kind, which goes in line with the vision of the Latin Patriarchate and His Beatitude.
