On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Msgr. William Shomali, General Vicar, presided over the solemn Mass for the Feast of Saint Joseph and the institution of three new lectors—Salameh Hanna Azar, Jeries Abu Khalil, and Malek Azmi Al-Qalanze—at the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Beit Jala. The Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Bernard Poggi, Rector of the Seminary of Beit Jala, along with several priests, seminarians, religious sisters, and the faithful.
The Lector Ministry is a significant milestone in the seminarians' journey toward the priesthood. It is conferred upon those entrusted with the proclamation of God's Word during liturgical celebrations and authorizes them to share the Word with the faithful. The three seminarians expressed their deep joy at receiving this grace and renewed their commitment to spiritual and pastoral dedication in service to the Church.
In his homily, Msgr. Shomali underscored the central role of God's Word in the life of the lector and their responsibility to communicate it to others. He said, "You three beloved ones are called to devote yourselves daily, for the rest of your lives, to reading and meditating on God’s Word. It is our source of nourishment, light, joy, peace, and healing." He emphasized that obedience to God, as exemplified by Saint Joseph, enhances one’s dignity, affirming that it is "the path to joy and the way to holiness." Msgr. Shomali also encouraged the seminarians to persevere on their spiritual journey toward the priesthood, bolstered by God’s grace and the intercession of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph.
Saint Joseph is a model of obedience and trust in God’s providence. As the patron of the universal Church and protector of religious vocations, he embodies spiritual fatherhood and selfless service. On the occasion of his feast, prayers were offered for the seminarians, that they may follow his example in their commitment to their vocation and mission, serving the Church with joy and faith.
Salameh Hanna Azar, a seminarian from Beit Jala, joined the seminary in 2020. With a passion for theological studies and spirituality, he completed the preparatory year and two years of philosophy before entering his second year of theology. He is deeply convinced that his life is a divine project of love, stating, "My spiritual journey is a response to a divine calling that has accompanied me from the start. The moment I heard God's voice calling me, I realized that my life is not just for me but is also a project of love that God intended for me."
Jeries Abu Khalil, a seminarian from the Saint Joseph Parish in Jifna, began his priestly journey in 2014. After completing his high school studies, he entered the seminary and is currently in his third year of theological studies. He views the conferral of the Lector Ministry as a crucial step toward the priesthood, as it carries the responsibility of regularly reading and reflecting on the Word of God, so that he may be a model in living and sharing it with others. He says, "The Word of God nourishes me and brings me closer to God, and enables me to reflect the character of Jesus who called me to follow him."
Malek Azmi Al-Qalanze, a seminarian from Ader Parish, joined the seminary in 2019. Through this new step, he seeks to "deepen his understanding of God’s Word, not only by reading and meditating on it, but by living it and faithfully sharing it with the faithful."
At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr. Bernard Poggi congratulated the new lectors and their families on receiving this ministry, encouraging them to continue their journey toward the sacred priesthood. The celebration ended in an atmosphere of joy and mutual congratulations, marking this blessed occasion.
