(Agenda)

Meeting of Bishops' Conference Presidents
With Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land
Bethlehem University and Knights' Palace, Jerusalem : January 12-15, 2004

THEME: THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHURCH OFF THE HOLY LAND

NB: Those arriving in advance will be welcome to stay at the Knights' Palace, Old City, Jerusalem

Monday, January 12^th

Participants to travel by bus to Bethlehem University 12.30: Lunch at the University

13.45: Sung Vespers: Welcome by Patriarch Michel Sabbah and the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi

14.15: First Session: Chair to be arranged

• The Social Situation of the Palestinian People

Speaker: Dr Bernard Sabella, and discussion. Fr Robert Fortin may also speak about the problems of visas affecting the Patriarchate

15.45: Break

16.15: Second Session: Chair to be arranged

• Review of the 2003 Propositions, and brief reports from participants on activities in their countries since January 2003
• Determination of the delegations to visit President Katsav and President Arafat on Wednesday, and of the panel for the closing Press Conference on Thursday

17.30: Break

18.00: Mass in the chapel of the University

19.00: Dinner at the University

20.15: 'Dobkeh' (traditional dance) of welcome by students of the University

20.30: 'How the current crisis has affected the University': a panel of four members of the faculty will speak briefly about their experience, followed by a short informal conversation, to end by 21.30.

Tuesday, January 13^tb

Breakfast at the hotel

9.00: Third Session, with the theme of “The Church in service of the people ”: Chair to be arranged

• Introduction to the Catholic Church's Pastoral Plan:

  Speaker: Fr Maroun Lahham

• Panel presentation by persons working in selected projects seeking to implement the Pastoral Plan.

  Details to be confirmed, but might include Catholic Relief Services; Caritas Jerusalem, or the Caritas Baby Hospital, Bethlehem; Knights of the Holy Sepulchre; Pontifical Mission Society;

10.30: Break

11.00: Open discussion with the panel, and with invited members of the local Catholic community

13.00: Lunch

15.00: Participants to divide into two or three groups, to visit projects such as a housing project and a handicrafts project: the groups could be guided by Fr Majdi Siryani and, for example, Mr Maher Turjman, Associate Director of PMS. (Fr Guido Gockel will be in Europe .)

17.00: Invitation to Rev Mitri Raheb to address the group, since he may be unable to reach Jerusalem for Wednesday's theological discussion

17.40: Break

18.00: Mass in the Basilica of the Nativity: Patriarch Sabbah to preside, a visiting bishop to give the homily

19.30: Dinner at the University

[Evening: drafting group may begin work on the two Messages: to the people of the Holy Land and to the Episcopal Conferences of the Collaboration

Wednesday January 14^th

Breakfast at the hotel, then final departure from the hotel

8.45 - 9.30: 'Student life at the University': a panel of students - women and men, Muslim and Christian.

9.45: Delegation of bishops leaves to visit President Arafat in Ramallah (journey time, approx 1 hour) (Other members of drafting group to continue work on the Messages)

10.45: Meet President Arafat, then travel directly to Knights' Palace, Jerusalem . Meanwhile, other participants travel to Jerusalem .

12.45: Lunch at the Knights' Palace

14.00: Delegation of bishops leaves to visit President Katsav of Israel

14.30: Meet President Katsav

16.00: Fourth Session, with the theme of Theological Reflection': Chair to be arranged

Inter-religious colloquium: One Jewish, one Muslim, one Christian theologian to speak for fifteen minutes each to the theme, 'How can your theological vision help in the search for peace?', followed by open discussion.

We hope for the following speakers:-

Jewish (suggested by Fr David Neuhaus):

Rabbi Donniel Hartman (invited September 03, response awaited) OR : Professor Menachem Fisch

Muslim (suggested by Patriarch Sabbah and by Fr Maroun):

Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi (invitation accepted)

Christian:

Fr Frans Bouwen PB (invitation accepted)

18.00 Break

18.30: Mass at the Co-Cathedral

19.15: Meeting with the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, one of whom will address participants 20.15 Dinner at the Knights' Palace, with the Heads of Churches as guests

Thursday January 15^th

7.30: Mass in the Co-Cathedral 8.00: Breakfast at the Knights' Palace

9.00: Fifth session: Chair to be arranged

• Final Discussion and Summary: how to support the Church in the Holy
• Land Decision about the next meeting of the Co-ordination

11.00: Press Conference

12.00: Lunch, and conclusion of meeting