On Saturday, 29 November 2025, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over the annual Mass honoring the commitment and charitable work of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Jerusalem. Concelebrating with him were Msgr. William Shomali, Vicar General, Msgr. Boulos Marcuzzo, and Fr. Rami Assakrieh, Parish Priest of Jerusalem.
Among those in attendance were Archbishop Atallah Hanna, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, Mr. Elias Tams, President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, the Society’s members, Mr. Joseph Hazboun, Director of the Pontifical Mission in Jerusalem, as well as many faithful and the Arab Catholic Scouts group.
In his homily, His Beatitude reflected on the long and deeply rooted presence of the Saint Vincent Society within the Christian community of the Holy Land, especially in Jerusalem. He emphasized that while Christians profess belief in Christ’s return, daily concerns, work, family, income, and the demands of life, often distract from the greater spiritual truth that one day we will stand before Jesus. On that day, he noted, the truth of how we lived our earthly life will be revealed. For this reason, Christians are called to live in a posture of expectation so that His coming does not go unnoticed.
Speaking about Christian vigilance, the Patriarch described it not as fearful anticipation but as the eager waiting of a lover for the beloved: “Vigilance is the ability to see the sun rising,” he said, “not like a soldier standing guard in fear. This Gospel reading does not speak of frightening apocalyptic signs, but of Christ coming to us in the simplicity of daily life. When you are waiting for someone you love, your whole being is alert to every sign of their arrival.” He invited the faithful to cultivate moments of pause and interior silence, to recognize Christ’s presence in everyday life rather than being consumed by routine and life demands.
This time of waiting, he stressed, is not passive. Drawing on the Gospel, he recalled Jesus’ words about serving Him in the “little ones”: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me…” (Mt 25:35). This, he said, is precisely the mission of the Saint Vincent Society: “It is not merely philanthropy. Many organizations do charitable work, but your service is rooted in a Christian spirit, recognizing in each person the presence of Jesus. Doing good to those around us is how we fill our time of waiting for the Lord’s coming. We eat, we drink, we rejoice, but we also share these joys with others. This is our way of preparing for Christ’s return.”
Founded in 1833 in France, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul extended its mission to Jerusalem in 1851, serving those in need with a distinctly Christian and Vincentian spirit. Supported by the Latin Patriarchate, the Society assists three primary groups: young people who have not completed their education, elderly persons without income, and marginalized Christians. Through social, educational, and training programs, it provides better opportunities for young people seeking employment in Jerusalem and helps reduce the burdens faced by families. Its mission remains firmly grounded in living the Gospel, continuing four centuries of Vincentian spirituality in service to the poor and the vulnerable.
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Click here to read the Meditation of H.B. Card. Pizzaballa, I Sunday of Advent
