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Coadjutor Archbishop Fouad Twal, of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem,
Embarks on Speaking Tour of the US
26-Sep-06
HCEF
Contact: Jessica Rodgers
(301)951-9400 x219
JRodgers@HCEF.org
Coadjutor Archbishop Fouad Twal will be addressing American Christians at several United States venues about our spiritual family in the Holy Land. He seeks to increase awareness of the living conditions for Holy Land Christians in partnership with HCEF Cofounders Fr. Majdi al-Siryani, Ph.D., Director of Schools for the Latin Patriarchate, and Fr. Emil Salayta, Assistant to the Archbishop, who will accompany him on this tour. Many Christians wonder what they can do to keep hope alive in the Middle East, how their faith fits in, and what happened to the first Christians. Most importantly, we might wonder how we can act as Ambassadors of the Mother Church. Archbishop Twal's visit affords a unique opportunity to learn more about our Christian heritage in the Holy Land from the appointee of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to be the next Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Christians today comprise less than 1.5 percent of the population of the Holy Land, down from 18 percent in 1948. Archbishop Twal will address the need to preserve the Mother Church and her 'living stones' - spiritual monuments to Jesus Christ from the time he walked the land. The 'living stones', our brothers and sisters in faith, represent not only a bridge back to the time of Christ but also a bridge to hope today. Ever faithful, they have not forgotten the words of our Lord: Blessed those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
These words have sustained generations of Christians since the time of Christ, and today they live on in Christians enduring extreme hardship. As a representative and leader of our spiritual family in the Holy Land, Coadjutor Archbishop Twal will communicate the realities of their lives and faith journeys.
The speaking tour will visit sixteen cities around the United States. Coadjutor Archbishop Twal will meet with Christian leaders of every capacity, from bishops and cardinals to the heads of charitable organizations and universities. He will also visit with Christian lay people and Arab communities around the country. The Archbishop will celebrate masses, baptisms, and an ordination. The Archbishop will also open the "Holy Land Arab Christians: Faith and Culture" Exhibit and the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in conjunction with Archbishop Weuler. Finally, Archbishop Twal will participate in the first ever Arab Christian Conference and in the Childrens' Peace Project. He will pay a visit to the eleven Palestinian children living with host families in the United States as Ambassadors for Peace.
HCEF President Rateb Rabie said, This is a very important visit to the US for Archbishop Twal, because we are introducing him to the Christian Community as the next Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. We hope his visit will increase awareness and promote peace and justice for all people of the land.
For more information, visit:
Oct. 5 - Chicago, IL: Banquet honoring Archbishop Twal
http://hcef.org/index.cfm/EventID/185/ID/384.cfm
Oct. 9 - Detroit, MI - The Holy Land Arab Christians: Witnesses of Christ in the Holy Land Today
http://hcef.org/index.cfm/eventid/187/ID/384.cfm
Oct. 11 - Cincinatti, OH: LeBlond Lecture: The Holy Land Christians: The Forgotten Faithful, by Archbishop Twal
http://hcef.org/index.cfm/EventID/183/ID/384.cfm
Oct. 13 - Cleveland, OH: City Club
http://www.cityclub.org/content/speakers/SpeakerDetail.aspx?spkID=5373
Oct. 13 - Cleveland, OH: Banquet honoring Archbishop Twal, entitled The Living Stones, Witnesses of Christ in the Holy Land Today
http://hcef.org/index.cfm/EventID/186/ID/384.cfm
Oct. 14 - Charlotte, NC: Talk: Holy Land Arab Christians: Witnesses of Christ in the Holy Land Today
http://hcef.org/index.cfm/EventID/184/ID/384.cfm
October 18 - Washington, DC Opening: Holy Land Arab Christians: Faith and Culture Exhibit: Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
http://hcef.org/index.cfm/ID/417.cfm
Oct. 20-21 - Washington, DC: HCEF 8th International Conference, Keynote Address; A Message from Jerusalem; and other Conference participation.
http://hcef.org/index.cfm/EventID/181/ID/384.cfm
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