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The Diocese of Jerusalem

The Archbishop of Canterbury visits Jerusalem Diocese

The Baptismal Site

Accompanied by fifteen buses of local priests, parishioners, and guests, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, with the bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani led a procession to the site of the future Anglican Church Centre given by His Majesty, King Abdullah of Jordan at the Baptismal Site.

The Church complex will sit as an oasis in the desert landscape, witnesses to the interfaith respect and cooperation between the Muslim leadership and the Christian Church in Jordan. His Majesty King Abdullah is vocal in his support of the Christian minority in his country and the moderating influence Christians have in the region. This gift of land is tangible evidence of his belief that a strong Christian presence in the area promotes peace.

Bishop Dawani has chosen to share this gift and honour, and has reached out across the Anglican Communion, inviting all Provinces to participate in making this Centre a place where all pilgrims are welcome to worship and pray together. He reminds the Anglican Communion that we are “all one body”, each part having its own function. Bishop Suheil proclaims the way to peace and reconciliation is through mutual respect and dignity and he believes the Baptismal site will further this aim among all peoples.

The Archbishop of Canterbury endorsed the joint efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah and Bishop Suheil Dawani in this Baptismal Site project by blessing the corner stone placed at the site in honor of his visit.

The Jofeh Centre

The main building of the Jofeh Centre is in the Jordan Valley serving thirteen villages and a Moslem population of 60000. It started in a pre-fabricated unit providing vocational training for people with special needs, under the direction of Yousef Rizik, (a retired hotel manager). Free transport is provided for all students from schools, clinics, and homes where they receive outreach services. Volunteers for the Centre are young women from the villages, whose parents or husbands allow them to help and also learn new skills. The Centre currently offers seven vocational training workshops- sewing, embroidery, weaving, candle making, paper-making and recycling, computer training, and woodworking. English and Sign language lessons are also offered as well as speech therapy and hearing tests. During the visit, the Archbishop was presented with a Compass Rose made by a deaf woman at the Centre.

Ahliyyah School for Girls

Returning to Amman after the Baptismal Service, the Archbishop of Canterbury enjoyed lunch with diocesan clergy, followed by a tour and a reception at the respected Ahliyyah School for Girls which is nationally recognized as one of the outstanding schools in Jordan. Lambeth staff remarked that it underlined the pastoral priority placed on education, particularly the education and empowerment of young women … both Christians and Muslims. The reception, attended by many alumni, in the company of members of the Royal Family and of government, demonstrated the success of past and present students and the reputation of the Ahliyyah School and its director, Mrs. Haifa Najjar.

Hotel School in Ramallah

After a reception for Heads of Churches and invited guests, and paying respects to our Jewish neighbors, the Archbishop was guest at a reception in Ramallah. The diocesan Episcopal Technological and Vocational Training Centres’ new Hotel School, with its first upcoming graduating class, provided the décor and fare for the occasion.

Only a few schools and universities have focused hospitality service programmes and the increasing awareness of the economic potential of tourism, the Diocese of Jerusalem, through the Arab Evangelical School, embarked on a new programme to increase employment opportunities for the youth of Ramallah. In conjunction with education provided at the Evangelical School, the students of the Hotel School will graduate with occupational skills and educational qualifications. Some students will follow this experience with a university education, others are competing for select internship and employment programs. All seemed proud of their accomplishments as they stood behind the beautifully prepared table of Arab delights and gourmet snacks or practiced their hospitality skills by offering drinks and food through the assembled crowd.

Ahli Arab Hospital Gaza

Bishop Dawani hosted Archbishop Rowan Williams on a pastoral visit to the Ahli Hospital in Gaza where they rededicated St. Phillip’s Church, which had been badly damaged in a previous conflict. Restored to its former dignity, having stood testimony to the trials of the people of Gaza for many years, St. Phillip’s Church became again a symbol of peace and reconciliation, a place of prayer and welcome, and a sign of resilience and hope for the local Christian population.

Crowded with faithful worshippers who rejoiced in the restoration, Bishop Dawani and the Archbishop of Canterbury blessed the Church, and by their presence, filled it with faith and love of God which sustains us through difficult times. With just a few hours before an afternoon flight to London, the Archbishop appreciated his tour of the hospital, honored the staff for their service, and greeted Gazans in the hospital grounds.