March 31, 2022.  7:00 PM
Sharing the Light Speaker Series

Mr. Sami El-Yousef, General Administrator of the Latin Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem, is our featured speaker in the St. Jude Parish Sharing the Light Speaker Series on Thursday evening, March 31, 2022.

As General Administrator, Sami reports directly to the Patriarch, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and manages the overall operations and finances of this Patriarchate. Sami is the first layman to assume this leadership role. 

Before accepting this nomination as General Administrator, Sami worked directly under Msgr John Kozar (retired Pittsburgh priest living in residence at our parish) as his regional director of CNEWA/PMP (Catholic Near East Welfare Association/Pontifical Mission for Palestine, based in the Old City of Jerusalem. Sami oversaw a multitude of outreach programs and projects funded by this papal agency., of which Msgr. Kozar was the International President. Sami is very well known and esteemed as the most knowledgeable and dedicated servant in the Church.

Before serving with Msgr. Kozar, Mr. El-Yousef worked for 24 years at Bethlehem University in many capacities: faculty member, dean, and administrator. As such he became well known in religious, civil, and cultural affairs as a dynamic and compassionate ambassador for the Church in her outreach to the poor, the oppressed, and the disenfranchised.

Sami has a Pittsburgh connection, as he received his MBA from Pitt. He is a proud Palestinian and a life-long citizen of Jerusalem.

His presentation will center on how the Church in the Holy Land reaches out to all: Catholics and other Christians, Muslims to all in sharing the Good News of Jesus, that God’s love encompasses everyone. No one is alone, no one is abandoned because Christ came to give hope to all peoples. His presentation is intended to uplift each of us in being reassured of how blessed are we in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Msgr. Kozar will guide Sami in a discussion following his presentation, interjecting some of his treasury of missionary experience from the Holy Land and beyond. The program will end with an opportunity to engage with the virtual audience in a question and answer segment.