HOLY LAND – This year, and despite the difficulties and closures that the Holy Land went through because of the outbreak of COVID-19, the Diocese of Jerusalem was able to celebrate, with joy and gratefulness, 30 ordinations where 7 priests, 14 deacons were ordained while 4 acolytes and 5 lectors were instituted.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem 

On Saturday, June 27, 2020, H.E. Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, presided over the priestly ordination of Deacon Firas Abedrabbo at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Beit Jala.

Also, Fr. Mateo Alvarez Serna, who was formed at the Redemptoris Mater of Galilee, was ordained a priest on June 24, during the Solemn Feast of the nativity of Saint John the Baptist in the church of the Domus Galilaeae.

Also, the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Galilee celebrated the institution of nine new ministries; five lectors and four acolytes, on the Feast day of St. Ephrem, on June 9, in the Church of the Domus Galilaeae.

Yet, the priestly ordination of Deacon Wajdi Twal, which was scheduled in June 2020, had to be postponed indefinitely due to restrictions imposed in Jordan on the Churches due to the spread of COVID-19. 

Custody of the Holy Land:

On the day of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, on Monday June 29, 2020, five deacons received the priestly ordination by the imposition of the hands of Archbishop Pizzaballa, at St. Saviour’s church.

On Sunday, May 24, at the church of St. Saviour, six Franciscan friars were ordained deacons. Fr. Allan, Fr. Andrija, Fr. George, Fr. Gerson, Fr. Pascal, and Fr. Paulo received the ministry of the diaconate through the imposition of the hands of H.E. Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Salesian brothers: 

On Sunday, June 14, seven Salesian Brothers were ordained to the diaconate at the Church of All Nations, in Gethsemane.

Trappists of Abbey: 

For the first time in 10 years, On Sunday, January 26, the Trappists of Abbey of Our Lady of Sorrows celebrated the diaconal ordination of Br. Marie Alois, who has been serving at the Abbey of Our Lady of Sorrows for the last two years in Latroun, north west of Jerusalem. 

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem