Jerusalem - Under the patronage of his Bishop William Shomali, the Assistant Bishop to the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem, the General Secretariat for Christian Educational Institutions organized a spiritual exercise for teachers. The event took place in Ramallah and included the participation of several Christian schools, such as the Annunciation School for Roman Catholics, St. Joseph School, Evangelical School, Lutheran Hope School, Friends School, and Al-Ahliyyah College.
During the session, Bishop Shomali reflected on the character and events of the repentance of Zacchaeus the tax collector. He explained how this could be applied to living the spirituality of the forty days in our schools. Bishop Shomali focused on three main points: fasting, prayer, and charity, emphasizing that they are a unified and inseparable unit. He highlighted that living fasting without prayer and charity, or charity without fasting and prayer, is not possible. He stressed the importance of communal prayer in the church, which does not replace individual prayer at home. Bishop Shomali explained the laws of fasting and called for adherence to them. He also emphasized that charity goes beyond material assistance to reach physical and spiritual acts of mercy, focusing on caring for others in all aspects—material, spiritual, psychological, social, and ethical.
Teachers provided practical suggestions through discussion sessions. The meeting concluded with a divine liturgy presided over by Bishop Shomali and the Secretary-General of the Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem, Father Dr. Faisal Hajazin, who blessed everyone. Participants then enjoyed lunch and visited historical sites in Jericho.
