The Catholic Action  Associations of the world share the invitation of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, † Pierbattista Pizzaballa, for this new initiative “Day of Peace for the East” with the annual celebration of a Holy Mass. In 2021 it will be celebrated on Sunday 27 June at 10 a.m. in each of the countries belonging to the Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the Middle East.

You are all invited thus to participate through your presence, and if not possible each one from his home Parish, to implore the Mercy of God and His Peace on this beloved Middle East, “where the Christian faith is born and still alive, despite the sufferings”.

«On the occasion of the Year of Saint Joseph, we will also proceed in the consecration of our beloved Middle East to the Holy Family, and for this reason, a special gesture will be included in the Mass which will be celebrated in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth on Sunday, June 27, 2021, at 10:00 am, with the participation of all the Ordinaries of the Holy Land. We will bless a specially painted Icon of the Holy Family inlaid with relics from the same Basilica of the Annunciation. The icon represents the painting of the Holy Family of Nazareth, which rests above the altar of St Joseph Church, in Nazareth, where, according to tradition, the Carpenter’s house was.

Once blessed, the Icon will go on a pilgrimage, starting from Lebanon, to the countries of the East, until its arrival to Rome towards the end of the year of St. Joseph, on December 8, 2021. From Rome, the Icon will travel back to the Holy Land where it will remain.

In Rome as well, the Holy Father Pope Francis will give his special Apostolic Blessing for the “Peace Day for the East”.»

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