From the Web-site of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
KORAZIM – In 2009 a second seminary, held by the Neocathecumenal Path, was installed in the Holy Land, the Missionary Seminary of the Redemptoris Mater of Galilea located in Korazim in Upper Galilea. The institution comes as an addition to the Latin Patriarchate Seminary, founded in Beit Jala back in 1936. Mgr Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar in Israel, made his usual official visit at the onset of the academic year.
According to the general statutes of all priestly formation houses belonging to the Neocathecumenal Path, the Movement is diocesan and as such under the authority of H.B. the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Mgr Fouad Twal, in conjunction with Bishops of the Greek Catholic and Maronite Churches of Galilea.
As a diocesan, Mgr Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar in Israel, went on 23 October on an official visit marking the beginning of the new academic year. He met the rector, Don Francesco Voltaggio ; the director of Domus Galilea, Don Rino Rossi, tutors, students and staff. He was briefed on the progress of this very important institution, and made a lecture to introduce the newly started academic year.
Starting from the life of the local Church, of the reality of the Middle East and life of the Universal Church, especially of the Pope’s teaching, the Bishop pointed out the three basic dimensions to each priestly formation : time, space, human being.
The Redemptoris Mater of Galilea houses this year some 35 seminarians of whom 28 residential (8 new ones in the first year) and 6 in mission (pastoral experience). Most of them come from abroad (especially from Latin America and Italy) and 7 come from the Holy Land, more precisely from Meelia, Fassouta, Eilaboun, Naharia, Jaffa of Nazareth and Jaffa-on-Sea. Permanent and residential tutors are 5, while professors locals and foreigners come up to about thirty. The Studium Theologicum Galilae is affiliated to the Faculty of Theology of the University of Latran, as a section dissociated from the Studium Theologicum of the Latin Patriarchal Seminary of Beit Jala.
The Seminary gave forth, over the last two years, 6 priestly ordinations. These priests, who talk fairly well Arabic and Hebrew, are appointed as assistants in certain Latin Patriarchate parishes in Jordan and Palestine ; one of them is Parish Priest in Eilat, Israel.
The Vicar shared a meal with the Seminary community, exchanging latest news related to the local Church ; he further thanked, in the name of the Patriarch, the larger family of the Seminary for the good work which is being performed. He has also expressed his best wishes to the seminarians for the new year.
Text: our correspondent in Galilea
Photos : A.K.
