In 1965 we returned back home and on the 25th of July we were ordained priests. That was a huge event and a large celebration as we were the first priests to be ordained since the creation of the State of Israel. Right after ordination Faraj was sent to his native village Ramah as their parish priest and Elias was sent to Ibillin. That was the first time that we were separated from each other after fourteen years of togetherness.

Abuna Faraj was very active in his parish where his family was most influential. He moved to Nazareth after several years.  He started visiting doctors, hospitals, in and outside Israel. Soon he discovered that he had the multiple sclerosis. Practically it was the beginning of his 'Via Dolorosa'.

Slowly, slowly we saw him becoming debilitated but we never saw him complaining or grudging. The beautiful smile he had never left his face. He confided to me his desire to build a special place for inter-confessional encounters but he did not have the needed money. We joined our efforts and he started building the 'House of Encounter' while his health was constantly deteriorating.

He was given the gift to finish the construction and he soon became completely debilitated. He was practically corned to give up all pastoral activities as he became even unable to eat by himself. He travelled to Australia mainly for health care and came back to Nazareth and I, Elias, had the honor of accompanying him to the Black Forest in Germany for medical treatment as well.

Once again he came back to Nazareth.  His open mind and heart and his spirit, love and kindness are the reasons why many people came to visit him. 

In Nazareth he was  surrounded with few young boys and girls seriously devoted to the Church and influenced with Abuna Faraj's spirituality. They formed the 'New Life Group'. They surrounded Abuna Faraj in his hardest life turmoil. The illness became too strong for him to bear, his lungs became too weak to breath. His companions needed to press his chest to inhale and to breath. Finally the moment came for Abuna Faraj to be translated into glory and he died suffocated.

His house was there, sad and almost abandoned until years later the late Abuna Majid took control of the house which remained closed until the death of Abuna Majid four years ago. Meanwhile Abuna Elias Chacour unreservedly became the Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Galilee. One of his main concerns was to renovate the abandoned house of Abuna Faraj and to bring new life into this house.

With the help of Sr. Martha Bertsch who providentially was introduced to Archbishop Chacour, we started the renovation. The house is now open for everyone to come and stay in that house especially for Christians and pilgrims.  Also, we have in our House a very active movement of Sunday School which embraces over 100 young boys and girls.