Patriarch of Jerusalem to visit Liverpool

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, is to visit Liverpool this Sunday, the day after he speaks at Pax Christi's 60th anniversary celebrations in London. (see Listings) The Patriarch is guest of the Archbishop of Liverpool, the Most Reverend Patrick Kelly. He will celebrate the 11 o'clock Solemn Mass on Sunday morning in Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in what is a return visit following the Archbishop's work in the Holy Land. Archbishop Kelly regularly represents the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales at an annual international conference of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land which brings together Bishops from countries inextricably bound up with the story of those lands with the leaders of the Churches in the region itself. It is through these regular meetings that he has met and worked with the Patriarch. Archbishop Kelly said: "I know how sincerely people in this part of England have obeyed the call of the Psalm: "For the Peace of Jerusalem pray." It has been a blessing for us all to be ever more deeply associated with the followers of Our Lord in his own Land, especially through the Patriarch and Bethlehem University. The Church Leaders on Merseyside join me in declaring our joy that in this month of his Golden Jubilee as a priest, the Patriarch will be with us. His celebration of Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral will renew our fidelity to our one Lord, to the Gospel of his Death and Resurrection and our determination to pray for that justice whose fruit will be peace in the Master's own land." His Beatitude Michel Sabbah was born in Nazareth in March 1933 and ordained priest in June 1955. Following work in the Parish of Madaba in Jordan and a teaching post in the University of St Joseph in Beyrouth he became responsible for work with young people in the Diocese of Jerusalem and later Director of Schools. Following further teaching posts he was appointed to Christ the King Parish in Amman, Jordan. In 1980 he became President of Bethlehem University and in 1988 Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Mass at 11am on Sunday morning, 19 June, is open to all and no tickets are required. Source: Archdiocese of Liverpool