Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem sent a video greeting to Synod, wishing “everyone a blessed time and a time with the fruitful outcomes.”
The archbishop said the diocese of Jerusalem, which also includes Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, is bleeding.
The suffering of Palestinian Christians was at the heart of a joint letter the archbishop issued with Archbishop Justin Welby, who followed through with a planned pilgrimage before he steps down as Archbishop of Canterbury in January. An excerpt is below. In his Charge, Bishop Shane encouraged everyone to “pray, donate and reach out to individuals and agencies who are either struggling or serving to alleviate the effects of obscene violence in the land of the Holy One. PWRDF, UNICEF and Canadian Red Cross … seek to bring relief to those who are suffering.” He relayed Archbishop Hosam’s plea to pray fervently for peace, justice, and reconciliation for all Jews, Muslims, and Christians in the land where Jesus walked.
“The current war continues to be a huge struggle for many of us, for our ministry and our people, so thank you again for allowing me to share this with you and very much for being such wonderful friends. May God bless you all,” Archbishop Hosam said in his video message.
Bishop Shane has been asked to serve on the North American Committee for St. George’s College, Jerusalem and to chair a Canadian campaign to raise $250,000 across the country to pay the Palestinian staff of the college.
Related articles
From our Bishop: An appeal from our partners in Jerusalem
Archbishops launch Advent appeal for the Diocese of Jerusalem
Le repentir : Le chemin de la vie