Jerusalem – On Thursday, June 13, 2019, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated in the Co-Cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem honoring the Community of the Teaching Sisters of St. Dorothy, Daughters of Sacred Heart, for their 90 years of service to and generous presence in the Patriarchate.

This Thursday, June 13, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa invited priests, religious and faithful to gather in the co-cathedral to celebrate with him a Thanksgiving Mass for the ninety years of service by the Sisters of Saint Dorothy, in the Patriarchal House. In the presence of Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, a large number of priests of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, religious communities and staff of the Latin Patriarchate, the Archbishop praised the delicacy and attention by each of the sisters who served the House for all these years.

The Sisters of the Sacred Hearts have been present in the Holy Land since 1927 and currently work in different schools and communities in Amman, Zerka, Jerusalem, Acre, and Bethlehem.

Starting this summer, the sisters who lived in the Latin Patriarchate will join communities in the Holy Land or in Italy and transfer service to the Patriarchate to another community, the Sisters disciples of the Divine Master (Pie Discepole del Divine Maestro) who were previously at service of the Armenian Catholic Exarchate. Sr. Cecilya Wilk, the Superior and her Sisters will therefore take up the torch in the coming days.

A warm reception was held following the celebration to thank the sisters for their service for the last few years.

Irénée Julien-Laferrière