Reception for Bishop William Shomali which was attended by tens of clerics and lay people, both Christians and Muslims, was preceded by chants from the New Testament by Mr. Lawrance Sammour and invocations by the Mufti of the Bethlehem Governorate, Sheikh ‘Abd Al-Majeed ‘Ata. Professor Thiab Ayyoush then spoke on behalf of Al-Liqa’ Center welcoming Bishop Shomali and wishing him well in his new capacity. Mrs Shehrazade ‘Awwad followed by delivering a poem for this solemn occasion. Several gifts were presented to Bishop Shomali from Bishop Atallah Hanna, Mrs Maha Sacca and from the Director of Education in the Bethlehem Governorate. The gathering preceding the reception was concluded with a speech by Bishop Shomali who thanked Al-Liqa’ for honoring him. In addition, he spoke briefly of the October 2010 Synod of Catholic Bishops in Rome and in the process stressing the importance of national unity and shared living. The last word was for Dr. Geries S. Khoury who thanked Bishop Shomali and the friends of Al-Liqa’ and the audience and then he welcomed everyone to attend the reception in honor of Bishop Shomali.
