On the evening of Saturday, May 30, 2026, the Latin Parish of Jerusalem concluded the Marian Month with a solemn celebration, gathering clergy, religious, and faithful in prayer and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The celebration was attended by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; Msgr. Bolous-Marcuzzo; Msgr. Ilario Antoniazzi; Fr. Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land; and Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, Apostolic Nuncio. They were joined by the friars of St. Saviour’s Monastery, numerous religious men and women from various congregations in Jerusalem, and hundreds of faithful from across the city.
The celebration began at the courtyard of St. Saviour’s Monastery, with the recitation of the Rosary, followed by Mass presided over by Fr. Rami Asakrieh. During the liturgy, girls from the parish recited the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, while the Patriarch imparted the blessing upon the Miraculous Medals, which were then conferred by the Custos upon them. The faithful, gathered in prayer, offered thanksgiving for the gift of Mary’s maternal presence in the life of the Church and invoked her intercession for peace, and true witness to her Son in the land of the Gospel.
Reflecting on the Gospel of the Visitation (Lk 1:39–56), Fr. Asakrieh highlighted the encounter between the Virgin Mary and St. Elizabeth as a meeting between the promises of the Old Covenant and their fulfillment in Christ. Elizabeth, he explained, represents "the promises of God in the Old Testament," while Mary bears "the fulfillment of God's promises and prophecies," bringing God's presence among His people. "That is the reason behind their joy," he said, adding that Christians experience the same joy whenever they gather and "Jesus is present among us in the Eucharist."
Fr. Asakrieh noted that the Virgin Mary teaches believers three essential attitudes of Christian life. First, he said, "the presence of Jesus pushes us to get out of ourselves and go to help others," moving beyond isolation to serve God through service to one's neighbor. Second, Mary reveals the source of authentic joy: "We sometimes mistake looking for joy in worldly things, but Mary teaches us that God gives us true peace and joy that is lasting." He encouraged the faithful to deepen their relationship with God through the sacraments and the Word of God.
Finally, he emphasized Mary's example of gratitude, recalling that "she sang a song of praise in the middle of so much mystery in her life." Christians, he said, are called to recognize that "everything is a gift from God" and to thank Him in all circumstances. Concluding his homily, Fr. Asakrieh entrusted the faithful to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, praying that they may follow her example and be filled with "joy and peace in this world."
Following Mass, the traditional Marian procession, led by His Beatitude Cardinal Pizzaballa carrying the icon of the Virgin Mary, set out from St. Saviour’s Monastery and proceeded through the Old City. The procession stopped at the Frères School, where the Patriarch blessed the sick with the Marian icon, before continuing to the Latin Patriarchate Pro-Cathedral amid hymns and Marian prayers. The procession then returned to the monastery courtyard, where the celebration concluded with the final blessing.
At the conclusion of the celebration, Cardinal Pizzaballa addressed the faithful of the Old City, expressing his joy at seeing them once again gathered in prayer and public witness to their faith in the streets of Jerusalem.
“It is beautiful to be together once again and to walk through the neighborhoods of the Old City carrying our prayers and our faith,” he said.
“You have shown today the living Christian spirit of this city. I encourage you to continue preserving the Christian character of Jerusalem and to remain witnesses of the Resurrection and of hope in this blessed land,” he added, highlighting the importance of the Christian community’s presence and mission in the Holy City.
At the end members of the Arab Catholic Scouts carried the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, accompanied by musical performances, though the Christian Quarter of the Old City, in a visible expression of devotion and gratitude for her constant intercession in the lives of Christians.
