His Eminence Monsignor Iyad Twal Celebrates His First Mass In Beit Jala

His Eminence Monsignor Iyad Twal, the new Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan, presided over his first solemn Mass on the First Sunday of Lent, March 9th, 2025, at the Church of the Annunciation in Beit Jala. This celebration was held at the kind invitation of the Beit Jala parish and the Seminary. This celebration marked the first Mass celebrated by the new bishop in the Bethlehem Governorate, a region where he had served for most of his priestly years.

Several Bishops, Priests, and Sisters attended the celebration, alongside representatives from other churches, the diplomatic and civil corps, and a large gathering of the faithful.

At the beginning of the Mass, Father Hanna Salem, the Parish Priest of Beit Jala, warmly welcomed His Eminence Monsignor Iyad Twal with warm words full of fraternal love and acknowledgment. He recalled their shared years of study in the seminary of Beit Jala, which had contributed to the formation of generations of seminarians over the years. He also expressed gratitude to God for bestowing the gift of the episcopal ordination on his eminence, emphasizing that it is a joy to the seminary, which has produced many competent priests and bishops capable of carrying out the mission of service and pastoral care for God's people in the Diocese of Jerusalem.

In his Homily, His Eminence Monsignor Iyad Twal appeared visibly moved at first but then focused on the Gospel of the day (Jesus' temptations in the wilderness). He distinguished between temptation and doubt, explaining that temptation comes from external sources, while doubt originates within a person. He pointed out that Christ, in facing the three temptations, remained steadfast in His faith, preventing temptation from overcoming Him. He emphasized that overcoming inner doubt is the key to defeating external temptations, just as Christ did…

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This news was originally published on the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Please click here to read the full text.