wfn.org | Patriarch Vists Flock in Midst of War

[wfn@wfn.org]

Topic: Patriarch Vists Flock in Midst of War

Contact: Fr. Raed Awad Abussahlin
The Latin (Catholic) Patriarchate of Jerusalem
(972-2) 628-2323
Email: latinpat@actcom.co.il

JERUSALEM, November 5, 2000--During two sometimes violent days, the Latin
Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, traveled
throughout Israel and Palestine, visiting the faithful.

During the Saturday morning mass with the Franciscan Sisters of Mary in
Jerusalem, the Patriarch helped celebrate the memory of the seven
martyred-sisters of their congregation who were beatificated by the Pope last
month in Rome. The sisters were killed a century ago in China.

On this occasion the Patriarch said that there are many ways of martyrdom: to
die for the faith in God, to die for the national aspiration, but also what
we are living of daily suffering in the Holy Land, and he concluded that
death is not the last word, because afterwards we will have the glory of the
resurrection.

Going to Nazareth through the Jordan Valley the Patriarch's party passed
through Jericho where they saw many destroyed houses, which had been attacked
by Israeli gunfire, and the casino, which is closed.

The official party was stoped at the entrance and at the exit of each city or
village because checkpoints are everywhere. The Patriarch's entourage could
pass because he has a diplomatic car and the Patriarch has a diplomatic
Vatican Passport. Each city is an island separated from the other cities,
and freedom of movement between the cities is very difficult.
In Nazareth, the ranking Catholic leader in Israel-Palestine visited the
families of the three martyrs who where killed last month during the
confrontations inside Israel between the Israeli Arabs and Jews.
Msgr. Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal vicar in Nazareth joined the party along
with a delegation of the priests in Galilee including the parish priest of
Nazareth, Fr. Maroun Younan.

The Deputy Mayor of Nazareth, Mr. Ali Sallam, served as guide because he
knows everybody. The emotions and feelings during the Patriarch's visit to
these families was very high. The families of the victims appreciated the
Patriarch's initiative; all said that they felt that Palestinians are
brothers and sisters and one family.

The Patriarch expressed solidarity, collaboration, and unity, with all the
people in Nazareth, Moslems and Christians. The Patriarch signed also a
petition asking for an independent inquiry commission, to investigate all
that has happened in the last several weeks as a whole and in Nazareth in
particular.

Sunday morning began very early as the Patriarch celebrated the mass with at
the Carmelite Convent in Nazareth. There are 16 sisters praying the Holy
Family Carmel, and another 9 new, young sisters who just came from Poland and
are preparing themselves to take over the Carmelite Convent in Bethlehem
before Christmas.

The Patriarch asked them all to pray very hard for peace in the Holy Land,
especially in these difficult days. He told them: "Your specific mission is
to pray for peace". We have a pacific army inside the walls of many convents
all over they country who are dedicating time to prayer and working for
peace.

Later the Patriarch met the Mayor of Nazareth, Mr. Ramez Jarayseh, who is
struggling to bring about stability in his city. Nazareth has known a very
hard time during these last years.

The hometown of Jesus should know also a real peace. We are sure that this
day is coming soon. Nazareth is a beautiful city in the heart of Galilee and
the Annunciation Church is its at its heart, because it is town of the Holy
Family.

Patriarch Sabbah continued to Jenin (in the Palestinian Territories) and
visited the parish priest and sisters. In this city of 70.000 inhabitants
there are only around 50 Christian families. The parish priest then left to
join all the religious leaders of this region in a delegation to the Red
Cross where they presented a statement signed by them.

The next step was the village, Zababdeh. It is very calm, not only because
the residents are very pacific people but also because they are far from the
checkpoints. The village is in area A, under Palestinian Authority. It
provides evidence that when the soldiers evacuate and leave the villages and
cities, nothing happens; everything is calm. Palestinians are not against
anybody, but are against the occupation of their land.

Nabluse was the next destination. The Patriarch visited two parish priests
who are working in Nablos and Rafidia, and also the Governor, Mr. Mahmoud
Al-Aloul, whose 23 years old son (Jihad) died last month around the tomb of
Joseph.

Msgr. Sabbah presented his condolences to the Governor and his famly. All
the religious leaders, Muslims and Christians, had taken part in the
demonstration at which the young man was killed. Father Abussahlin explains
that the Intifada is "not only kids throwing stones or young men shooting
against soldiers, but a whole movement of a whole nation asking for freedom
and independence. This movement is expressed in many ways, which are not
always mentioned in the media. Journalists," he says, "cannot always cover
everything."

The Nablus district lost 25 martyrs in these last weeks, 14 died around the
tomb of Joseph before its evacuation. (At that time, the graves of 14 young
men had been desecrated near the tomb of Joseph. That Israeli action led to
the anger that was expressed in the partial demolition of the tomb of
Joseph.) The governor reported that Palestinian officials are finishing the
restoration of the Tomb, which will be open as soon as possible.

Most of the clash points are around religious places, such as the tomb of
Rachel at the entrance of Bethlehem, Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, Al-Haram
As-sharif in Jerusalem. The Patriarch believes that these hot points should
be handled in a very wise way in the future, to avoid the bloodshed of
further martyrs.

The Patriarch's parth then returned back to Jerusalem, passing through
numerous checkpoints. He found that his people are suffering everywhere, and
his deepest concern is to reach the long-waited peace and stability in this
part of the world in order to live peacefully like the other peoples of the
world.

-END-