Their presence was intended to be a concrete sign of communion and support from the General Council, at a time marked by great challenges and a complex situation in the region.
Accompanied by the Superior of the MOR Province, Fr Simon Zakerian, and the Provincial Economer, Fr Thomas Johnleo Arockiam, the two superiors visited all the Salesian communities in the Holy Land, meeting the confreres personally and sharing moments of dialogue, fraternity and prayer.
The main objective of the visit was to listen, encourage and discern together the future prospects of the Salesian mission in these places so significant for the faith and for the presence of the Congregation.
A particularly intense moment was experienced on Sunday, 5 October, at Cremisan, where the provincial meeting of all the Salesians of Don Bosco of the Holy Land took place.
The day began with a meeting with the Directors of the communities, followed by the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr Martoglio and, in the afternoon, a community meeting open to all the confreres.
During the celebration, Fr Martoglio also presided over the installation of the new Rector of Bethlehem, Fr Jesudoss Arockiam, and confirmed the renewal for a third three-year term of the Directors of Nazareth (Fr Munir El Rai), Beit Jemal (Fr Gianmaria Gianazza) and Cremisan (Fr Emanuele Vezzoli).
During their stay, the two superiors also had important meetings with the local Church, in particular with His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and with the new Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo.
Another fraternal moment of great value was the meeting with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), which took place on the evening of 4 October at the FMA community in Cremisan, with the participation of sisters from Jerusalem and Nazareth.
Finally, on Monday 6 October, Fr Martoglio and Fr Stawowy met with the Provincial Council in a moment of sharing, listening and thanksgiving for the closeness and support expressed by the General Council towards the Salesian reality in the Middle East.
It was a time of serene and fraternal dialogue, in which the common commitment to a mission lived with fidelity, co-responsibility and hope was renewed.
In all the meetings, the two superiors expressed the closeness of the Rector Major and the General Council, sharing their concern for the current difficult situation, but also their gratitude for the fidelity and dedication of the Salesians who continue to serve young people with hope and courage.
Their visit was welcomed as a gesture of great comfort and fraternal communion, which renewed the spirit and motivation of the Salesians to continue the Salesian mission: to be close to the young people and families of the Holy Land, as a living sign of God's love.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/25662-holy-land-visit-of-the-vicar-of-the-rector-major-and-the-economer-general-to-the-holy-land#sigProIdccafd81e32
