The English-Language Parish in Amman Sweifieh Community ` Vol. 12 #2 Website: http://www.wfu.edu.edu/~horton/amman April / June 2008
Dear Friends and Parishioners,
rd
While much of the world celebrated Easter on March 23 , I had the privilege of confirming three of our parish teens at the Saturday eveningMass on March 22nd, as well as of baptizing two infants from expatriate families at the Baptism Site on that Saturday morning & on the following
th th
Monday morning, March 24 . We had begun our Lenten observance some ten days earlier, on March 12 (Ash Wednesday according to the Julian Calendar), & we will finally begin Holy Week in mid-April.
th
On Sunday, March 30 , Sacred Heart English-Language Parish completed its first 12 years of life. It was on Saturday, March 30, 1996, that Iarrived in Amman to begin my assignment as the founding pastor for this new parish in the Latin Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The first parishMass that I celebrated was that same afternoon at St. Mary of Nazareth Church in Sweifieh. It has been a continually fulfilling & challenging ministry.I thank God for the grace of this ministry, & I thank all who have given their encouragement, generous cooperation, & devoted prayers for the successof this special part of the Catholic Church in Jordan. May the parish & all its members continue to enjoy God’s abundant blessings & every spiritual grace!
As usual during Lent, I will try to be available for confessions on request before weekend parish Masses & by appointment in my office at theJesuit Center at other times. When I can arrange it, a priest will also be present for confession during the first part of the weekend Masses. The schedule of parish Masses in English will remain unchanged until Wednesday of Holy Week:
Saturday, 5:00 PM. St. Mary of Nazareth Church in Sweifieh
Sunday, 11:30 AM. St. Joseph Church in Jabal Amman (near 1st Circle, on the same street as the Indian Embassy)
Sunday, 6:00 PM. De La Salle College (Frères College) on Al-Razi Street in Jabal Hussein
Friday, 12:00 Noon. Annunciation Church in Jabal al-Weibdeh (11:30 AM Way of the Cross)
Monday-Saturday, 8:30 AM. Chapel of the Jesuit Center, 43 Al-Razi Street, Jabal Hussein
th th
The special schedule of parish Masses in English from Holy Thursday (April 24 ) through Easter Sunday (April 27 ) is outlined by date inthe list of UpComing Events on the reverse of the newsletter. Please note that there are no English-Language Masses at St. Mary of Nazareth duringthose days. The regular parish schedule of daily & weekend Masses (as above) will resume on the Monday after Easter.
th
On Saturday, May 10 , at the 5:00 PM Mass in Sweifieh, 15 of our parish children will make their First Holy Communion. This will be avery joyous occasion for the children, their families, & the entire parish community. I am very grateful to their teacher, Clara Metzhagopia, who hasworked very hard to prepare them.
th
As we continue our Lenten journey through Holy Week & Easter to Ascension Thursday on June 5th & Pentecost Sunday (June 15 ), let uspray that the abundant love of God will come to ever new life in our hearts & in the world through the power of Christ’s Resurrection & the gentlenurture of the Holy Spirit.
4th Sunday of Lent [Julian Calendar] (April 6): 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 [or shorter, vv. 1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38].
5th Sunday of Lent [Julian Calendar] (April 13): Ezekiel 37:12-24; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45 [or shorter, vv. 3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45].
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion [Julian Calendar] (April 20): Matthew 21:1-11 (for procession before Mass); Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66 [or shorter: 27:11-54].
Holy Thursday [Julian Calendar] (April 24): Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15.
Good Friday [Julian Calendar] (April 25): Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42.
Easter Vigil [Julian Calendar] (April 26): Genesis 1:1-2:2; Genesis 22:1-18 [or shorter, 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18]; Exodus 14:15-31; 15:20, 1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15; 32-4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28; Romans 6:3-11; Matthew 28:1-10.
Easter Sunday [Julian Calendar] (April 27): Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; John 20:1-9 or Matthew 28:1-10 [or evening, Luke 24:13-35].
Solemnity of St. James, First Bishop of Jerusalem & Principle Patron of the Diocese, and St. Philip, Apostles (May 3): 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; John 14:6-14.
Feast of the Finding of the Cross (May 7): Numbers 21:4-9 or Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17 [This feast is proper to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem].
3rd Sunday of Easter [Julian Calendar] (May 11): Acts 2:14, 22-28 [or perhaps 2:14, 22-33]; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35.
4th Sunday of Easter [Julian Calendar] (May 18): Acts 2:14a, 36-41; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10.
5th Sunday of Easter [Julian Calendar] (May 25): Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12.
6th Sunday of Easter [Julian Calendar] (June 1): Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21.
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord [Julian Calendar] (June 5): Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20.
7th Sunday of Easter [Julian Calendar] (June 8): Acts 1:12-14; 1 Peter 4:13-16; John 17:1-11a.
Pentecost Vigil [Julian Calendar] (June 14, evening): Genesis 11:1-9 or Exodus 19:3-8a, 16-20b or Ezekiel 37:1-14 or Joel 3:1-5; Romans 8:22-27;
John 7:37-39.
Pentecost Sunday [Julian Calendar] (June 15): Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23.
Trinity Sunday [Julian Calendar] (June 22): Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18.
Vigil of the Birth of St. John the Baptist (June 23, evening): Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Peter 1:8-12; Luke 1:5-17.
Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist (June 24): Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66, 80.
Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58.
Vigil of SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles (June 28, evening): Acts 3:1-10; Galatians 1:11-20; John 21:15-19.
Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles (June 29): Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19.
Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle (July 3): Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:24-29.
Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus [Julian Calendar] (July 4): Deuteronomy 7:6-11; 1 John 4:7-16; Matthew 11:25-30.
14th Sunday of the Year (July 6): Zechariah 9:9-10; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30.
April 5, 2008 Readers : David McKenzie & Marian Karmandarian Offertory : Ghawi Family
Servers : Yazan Haddad & Seth McKenzie April 12, 2008 Readers : Donna Naber & Sana’ Dababneh
Offertory : Stephens Family Servers : Nicole Nader & Farah Haddadin April 19, 2008 Readers : Marty Haddadin & Suzan Shetawi Offertory : Halasi Family Servers : Angela Hamati & Rami Hamati April 26, 2008
Holy Saturday — No Mass in Sweifieh
May 3, 2008 Readers : Jodi Stephens & Amer Mouasher Offertory : Ghawi Family
Servers : Amanda Hamati & Tiffany Ghawi May 10, 2008 Readers : Jacqui Taylor Basker & Paul David
Offertory : Stephens Family Servers : Nicole Nader & Abigail Stephens May 17, 2008 Readers : Doris Sahyoun & David McKenzie Offertory : McKenzie Family Servers : Lee Stephens & Seth McKenzie May 24, 2008 Readers : Sana’ Dababneh & Donna Naber Offertory : Halasi Family Servers : Joseph Nader & Rami Hamati May 31st, 2008 Readers : Laurel Nader & Suzan Shetawi Offertory : Ghawi Family Servers : Amanda Hamati & Farah Haddadin
June 7, 2008 Readers : Marian Karmandarian & Andrew Longworth
Offertory : McKenzie Family Servers : Yazan Haddad & Seth McKenzie June 14, 2008 Readers : Jacqui Taylor Basker & Marty Haddadin Offertory : Stephens Family Servers : Nicole Nader & Abigail Stephens June 21, 2008 Readers : Gayana Krnatyan & Doris Sahyoun Offertory : Ghawi Family Servers : Tiffany Ghawi & Reem Haddadin June 28, 2008 Readers : Bernadette O’Brien & Laurel Nader Offertory : Halasi Family Servers : Amanda Hamati & Angela Hamati July 5, 2008 Readers : Jodi Stephens & David McKenzie Offertory : McKenzie Family Servers : Rami Hamati & Joseph Nader
April 4 First Friday - Mass at 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).
April 12 Monthly 2nd Collection & Social after Mass in Sweifieh.
April 18 Anticipated Palm Sunday Mass with Blessing & Distribution of Palms - 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).
April 19-20 Regular weekend Mass schedule for Palm Sunday according to the Julian Calendar; Blessing & Distribution of Palms at each Mass.
April 24 Holy Thursday according to the Julian Calendar; Mass of the Lord’s Supper - 5:00 PM at St. Jean-Baptiste De La Salle Church (Frères College, Jabal Hussein).
April 25 Good Friday according to the Julian Calendar; Celebration of the Lord’s Passion - 12:00 noon at St. Jean-Baptiste De La Salle Church (Frères College, Jabal Hussein).
April 26 No 5:00 PM Mass at St. Mary’s; Easter Vigil Service & Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection - 10:15 PM at St. Jean-Baptiste De La Salle Church (Frères College, Jabal Hussein).
April 27 Solemnity of Easter Sunday according to the Julian Calendar; Easter Masses - 11:30 AM at St. Joseph Church (Jabal Amman); 12:00 Noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh); 6:00 PM at St. Jean-Baptiste De La Salle Church (Frères College, Jabal Hussein).
May 2 First Friday & Mass of the Friday of Easter Octave - 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).
May 3 Solemnity of St. James, First Bishop of Jerusalem & Principle Patron of the Diocese, and St. Philip, Apostles - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).
May 7 Feast (in the diocese) of the Finding of the Cross - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).
May 10 Parish First Communions, monthly 2nd Collection, & special Social after Mass in Sweifieh.
May 14 Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).
May 22 Fr Kevin’s 70th birthday.
May 25 Jordan Independence Day.
May 31 Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary; 39th anniversary of Fr. Kevin’s ordination to the priesthood - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).
June 5 Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord according to the Julian Calendar - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).
June 6 First Friday & Mass of the Ascension of the Lord (from Thursday)
12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh). June 13 Anticipated Mass of Pentecost Sunday - 12:00 noon at Annunciation
Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).
June 14 Monthly 2nd Collection & Social after Mass in Sweifieh.
June 15 Pentecost Sunday according to the Julian Calendar; Father’s Day (in USA); regular weekend schedule of Masses.
June 20 Anticipated Mass of the Most Holy Trinity (from Sunday) - 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).
June 21 First Day of Summer.
June 22 Twelfth Sunday of the Year & Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity according to the Julian Calendar; regular weekend schedule of Masses.
June 24 Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).
June 27 Anticipated Mass of Corpus Christi (from Sunday) - 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).
June 29 Thirteenth Sunday of the Year, Solemnity of Corpus Christi according to the Julian Calendar, & Solemnity of SS. Peter & Paul, Apostles; regular weekend schedule of Masses.
July 3 Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).
July 4 First Friday & Solemnity of the Sacred Heart; American Independence Day - Mass of the Solemnity at 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).
July 6 Fourteenth Sunday of the Year; regular weekend schedule of Mass.