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The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem traces its origins to the apostolic Church of Jerusalem in New Testament times and can thus claim to be the oldest diocese in the Catholic Church. Its boundaries currently include Jordan, Israel, Palestine, and Cyprus. In addition to the new English-language parish, the Jordanian part of the diocese includes 32 parishes and 45,000 Latin Catholics under the leadership of the patriarch's auxiliary, Bishop Selim Sayegh. The diocesan offices in Jordan are on Princess Alya Street (near to St. Mary of Nazareth Church) in As-Sweifyeh, Amman.
For some years prior to the establishment of the new parish, Mass had been celebrated in English in various Arab parishes of Amman, but the number and location of these Masses varied according to the availability of priests willing and able to offer them. The new parish will provide a regular schedule of weekend Masses in English, as well as more consistent pastoral care for those Catholics in Amman who find it easier or necessary to use English
The English-language parish, dedicated to the Sacred Heart, has no special building, but its religious services are offered in Arab parish churches convenient to the areas of the city in which English-speaking Catholics live and work. The pastors of these churches provide facilities for the services, but Father O'Connell is responsible for the conduct of worship and all other aspects of parish life for those foreign Roman Catholics who choose to participate in the parish A few New England Jesuits have been at work in Jordan since 1985, and Father O'Connell lives with them in The Jesuit Center on Jabal Hussein (just down Ar-Razi Street from Frères College). However, the Sacred Heart English-language parish is entirely distinct from the Center.
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