Saturday, September 2nd, was a feast day for the Franciscan Sanctuary of Mount Nebo in Jordan, from where, according to tradition, Moses was able to see the Promised Land but not enter it (cf Deut. 34: 1 ff). The Feast of Saint Moses, which is September 4th, was anticipated on the preceding Saturday to permit the local faithful to assist at the Solemn High Mass.
In an exception from usual practice, the Father Custos of the Holy Land, Pierbattista Pizzaballa was the principal concelebrant of Holy Mass, celebrated in this sanctuary dedicated to the holy lawgiver of Israel. His presence in the holy place was motivated by a joyful event for the Holy Land Franciscan family: the vesture of six new novices.
The vesture ceremony took place in the chapel of the Franciscan convent on Mount Nebo in the presence of some of the new novices’ relatives and a number of their Franciscan brothers, come for the occasion from various convents in the Middle East. For the novices, vesture marks the end of their canonical postulancy. They come from four different countries: an American, Jean Choupin; an Argentinian, Ariel Dube; an Italian, Sergio Galdi, and three Lebanese: Zyad Assaf, Jihad Krayem and William Makari. Because of the political situation in the region, the Lebanese postulants spent their postulancy in their own country, at Harissa. Their Father Master, Toufic Bou Merhi accompanied them to the ceremony. The other three spent their postulancy in Ain Karem, not far from Jerusalem, and their Father Master, Fergus Clarke, also came with them to the ceremony.
The postulants all met together for the first time in mid-August at the Holy Land College in Amman where, under the direction of Brother Ibrahim Sabbagh, they experienced an especially intense period of spiritual preparation for their vesture. We hope that they will now be able to continue their formation together during the important Novitiate period, political conditions permitting,* since they have now formed mutual relationships during this meaningful time of fraternity.
In his brief homily, the Custos reminded the novices that Francis of Assisi chose a poor garment to live among the poor and that he had this habit cut in the form of the cross to resemble Christ Crucified and Risen. Brother Pierbattista then invited the novices to remember to consider the signs of God’s loving presence for them, particularly during the inevitable moments of crisis and difficulty that follow the initial enthusiasm.
The Vesture was immediately followed by a Solemn Mass in this sanctuary overlooking the Jordan Valley. While the Custos was the principal concelebrant, the homily was given in Arabic and Italian by Father Galeb, head of Amman’s ecclesiastical tribunal. Many of the faithful from the neighboring city of Madaba, accompanied by their pastor, Father Riad, assisted at the Mass, which was sung by the parish choir. There was also a number of the faithful from the city of Ma’in present, accompanied by religious brothers and sisters from the Little Family of don Dossetti. Among the concelebrants, the presence of Msgr. Luca, charge d’affaires of the Holy See at Amman was notable; he had passed the previous day in retreat with the postulants.
The Mount Nebo convent feted the new novices with a bountiful moonlight supper, looking out over the lights of Jerusalem and of Bethlehem, the city of the Nativity, where the young friars will spend their Novitiate.
AC
* For the Lebanese friars, entry to the Novitiate is subject to obtaining entry visas. To date, in spite of months of effort, the precious “open sesame” has not yet been delivered; this will require the Lebanese brothers to pass their Novitiate in Italy, far from the realities of the Holy Land they wish to serve…
In an exception from usual practice, the Father Custos of the Holy Land, Pierbattista Pizzaballa was the principal concelebrant of Holy Mass, celebrated in this sanctuary dedicated to the holy lawgiver of Israel. His presence in the holy place was motivated by a joyful event for the Holy Land Franciscan family: the vesture of six new novices.
The vesture ceremony took place in the chapel of the Franciscan convent on Mount Nebo in the presence of some of the new novices’ relatives and a number of their Franciscan brothers, come for the occasion from various convents in the Middle East. For the novices, vesture marks the end of their canonical postulancy. They come from four different countries: an American, Jean Choupin; an Argentinian, Ariel Dube; an Italian, Sergio Galdi, and three Lebanese: Zyad Assaf, Jihad Krayem and William Makari. Because of the political situation in the region, the Lebanese postulants spent their postulancy in their own country, at Harissa. Their Father Master, Toufic Bou Merhi accompanied them to the ceremony. The other three spent their postulancy in Ain Karem, not far from Jerusalem, and their Father Master, Fergus Clarke, also came with them to the ceremony.
The postulants all met together for the first time in mid-August at the Holy Land College in Amman where, under the direction of Brother Ibrahim Sabbagh, they experienced an especially intense period of spiritual preparation for their vesture. We hope that they will now be able to continue their formation together during the important Novitiate period, political conditions permitting,* since they have now formed mutual relationships during this meaningful time of fraternity.
In his brief homily, the Custos reminded the novices that Francis of Assisi chose a poor garment to live among the poor and that he had this habit cut in the form of the cross to resemble Christ Crucified and Risen. Brother Pierbattista then invited the novices to remember to consider the signs of God’s loving presence for them, particularly during the inevitable moments of crisis and difficulty that follow the initial enthusiasm.
The Vesture was immediately followed by a Solemn Mass in this sanctuary overlooking the Jordan Valley. While the Custos was the principal concelebrant, the homily was given in Arabic and Italian by Father Galeb, head of Amman’s ecclesiastical tribunal. Many of the faithful from the neighboring city of Madaba, accompanied by their pastor, Father Riad, assisted at the Mass, which was sung by the parish choir. There was also a number of the faithful from the city of Ma’in present, accompanied by religious brothers and sisters from the Little Family of don Dossetti. Among the concelebrants, the presence of Msgr. Luca, charge d’affaires of the Holy See at Amman was notable; he had passed the previous day in retreat with the postulants.
The Mount Nebo convent feted the new novices with a bountiful moonlight supper, looking out over the lights of Jerusalem and of Bethlehem, the city of the Nativity, where the young friars will spend their Novitiate.
AC
* For the Lebanese friars, entry to the Novitiate is subject to obtaining entry visas. To date, in spite of months of effort, the precious “open sesame” has not yet been delivered; this will require the Lebanese brothers to pass their Novitiate in Italy, far from the realities of the Holy Land they wish to serve…