Prot. (3) 30/2025
Jerusalem, October 4 2025
Annual Inter-Ritual Spiritual Retreat ACOHL
Between September 29 and October 3, the annual spiritual retreat of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land took place at the Latin Patriarchate Seminary in Beit Jala.
The retreat was led by H.E. Mons. William Shomali of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and about 35 people participated, including bishops and priests from the various rites and jurisdictions present in the Holy Land.
Bishop Shomali focused on the different challenges that priests face in today’s world, the spirituality of the diocesan priest, the healing power of the sacraments they administer, faith and confidence in Divine Providence.
The Liturgy of the Hours and the Divine Liturgy were celebrated in the Byzantine Rite, Maronite Rite, Syriac Catholic Rite, and Latin Rite. Meditation on the Word of God through Lectio Divina enriched the days of retreat, as did formation on pastoral topics such as the use of AI, the importance of preparing pastoral activities, and the practice of exorcisms in the Church.
The Apostolic Delegate H.E. Adolfo Tito Yllana, along with Msgr. Nicola di Ponzio, joined in the evening prayer on Monday and shared dinner with the participants. H.B. Pierbattista Card. Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and president of the ACOHL visited twice the retreat. He shared with the bishops and priests his vision of the current situation in the Holy Land and the pastoral challenges it poses for everyone. He presided the Holy Mass concluding the spiritual exercises.
Bishops and priests are grateful for the generous hospitality with which we were welcomed by the Latin Patriarchal Seminary.
We give thanks to God for these days of prayer and fraternity, during which we implored the Lord particularly for peace and for all those suffering the consequences of the war in the entire region.
