On Monday, July 24th, 2023, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass at Our Lady of Fatima church in Beit Sahour, to mark the end of Fr. Tony Hain’s service to the scout’s movement in Palestine and inaugurate Fr. Issa Hijazin, as their new spiritual leader.
Scouts are usually characterized by summer camps, music bands, and other volunteering activities. Yet the spiritual aspect is necessary to help the members gain better understanding, and increase their belonging to their parishes, Church, and country.
“The pillar of the scout’s is our Catholic faith. So take pride in it and live the faith out,” said Mgr Pizzaballa, in his homily, as he expressed his continuous and steadfast support to the scout’s movement, highlighting the essential role they play in the Church and the local communities as a whole. He noted that the scouts’ members join at a young age and remain until a later age. Hence, the need for a spiritual leader to provide sound spiritual guidance to the members. He ended by thanking Fr. Hayen for his service, and congratulating Fr. Hijazin for his prompt willingness to take this duty upon himself.
At the end of the celebration, Fr. Hayen handed over the scouts scarf to Fr. Hijazin, who addressed the leaders of the various scouts groups, saying: “I don’t have much to offer you, but I promise you to be present, to listen carefully, and always be prepared with you.”
By: LPJ Media Office
