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and the Middle East
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Salaam and spirit-filled greetings from Jerusalem and the Diocese of Jerusalem. My family and I have finally moved to our house in Jerusalem and we are very grateful to be here at the heart of our Diocese. It has been wonderful to receive your generous support and to welcome so many pilgrims to this Cathedral Church.

We were delighted to have Bishop John Bruno with 47 people from the Diocese of Los Angeles. It was a joy to accompany them to our churches and institutions in Israel and Palestine. It was also a pleasure to welcome a Japanese delegation from the Diocese of Tokyo. I want to ensure that this Cathedral and Diocese will always be a welcoming place for all our dear friends and visitors.

Working for Peace

The Revd Shehadeh Shehadeh is now responsible for the Department for Peace, Reconciliation and Interfaith Dialogue. He is one of the founders of Clergy for Peace. Both the Kids4Peace and the Interfaith Women will become part of this department.

The Zebabdeh Youth Group for Peace and Reconciliation was set up to explore a sense of identity for young people, in the context of a shrinking Christian community in the Holy Land, by connecting with students abroad and in their own community. Sixteen young people from the village of Zebabdeh went to Ireland in August and made friends with young people at the Ballinteer Community School in Dublin.

They learnt about each other’s culture through music, film and visits to places of historical interest, and also made and exchanged scrapbooks on their faith and action.

Ordination and appointments

Ibrahim Nairouz was ordained deacon on 20th September at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ramallah. He has moved to Nablus with his family to serve our parish, kindergarten and hospital there.

The Revd Nael Abu Rahmoun will be priest in charge of St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ramallah until summer next year, when he will move to St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Shefa Amr, while the Revd Fuad Dagher will be moved to Ramallah.

We are delighted to announce that Mr Eid Sader has been appointed the new director of St. George’s School, Jerusalem.

We welcome the Revd Canon Jim and Mrs Elaine Doust who will work with our English speaking congregation in Amman for six months. They will be followed by the Revd Lex and June Macqueen from Australia. Lex and June thought they would spend their retirement there, and have a great sense of privilege and awe in being called to serve our Lord Jesus Christ in Jordan.

We are restructuring our offices in Jerusalem, Jordan and Beirut in order to meet the needs of our Diocese. Dr Hisham Nassar will be my consultant and coordinator for health care institutions and services, Mr Zahi Abu El-Assal will be my legal adviser, and Mr Nicola Akel will be director of our offices in Jerusalem.

We welcome them all and ask for your prayers for their new ministries in this Diocese.

Diocese clergy retreat

A clergy retreat was held at St George’s College in Jerusalem in June, led by the Catholic priest Dr Rafiq Khouri from the Latin Patriarchate. It focused on the Holy Spirit and the role of the servant in the church. It was intended to both meet the needs of our clergy and to encourage St George’s College to serve our local clergy in the future. I met with the clergy to discuss their future, to try to understand their needs and aspirations, and to enhance teamwork..

Thank you so much for all your support. May the Lord bless you always!

Suheil

Clergy from around the world greet Suheil,
14th Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem

Bishop Suheil after his Installation
as Bishop in Jerusalem