Chronology E - 2015-2019
2015
On January 11, a new icon in the renovated chapel of the Beer Sheva kehilla was blessed.
On January 17, 2015, the Coordination of the Pastoral among Migrants celebrated World Day of Migrants and Refugees at Saint Anthony’s Church in Jaffa.
On January 24, the Russian speaking community in Haifa travelled to the Judean Desert and renewed there their baptism.
On February 5, Jerusalem kehilla inaugurated a joint study group together with Zion, a Jewish synagogue community, where they studied the first portion of the Torah, Bereshit (the Book of Genesis) and answered together the question: “When did I first encounter the Scriptures?”
On March 13, Pope Francis announced that next year would be a year of mercy. “Jubilee of Mercy” will extend from December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016.
On March 15, Father Rafic Nahra accompanied a small group from the Jerusalem kehilla on a visit to the Greek Catholics. This visit was part of a year long program in the Jerusalem kehilla during which the intention was to visit various communities in the Holy City in order to strengthen fraternal relations between us and the other Christians belonging to the one Church of Christ.
On March 28, a first Palm Sunday service was held in Hebrew for the children of the migrant community at Our Lady Woman of Valor in Tel Aviv. It was celebrated by Father Piotr Żelazko. The ceremony included a joyful procession into the church.
On March 28, the members of the Jerusalem and Jaffa kehillot gathered for a common day of retreat. The retreat day focused on Palm Sunday.
On April 5, the kehillot gathered at Our Lady Ark of the Covenant in Kiryat Yearim to celebrate Easter together.
From April 5 to 8, Desert Flower youth group and children participated in an Easter camp in Beit Jemal.
On April 11, the Our Lady Woman of Valor Pastoral Center in south Tel Aviv received the visit of His Eminence Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, Archbishop of Cologne in Germany.
On April 16, Father David, Father Rafic, seminarian Benny and Daniele participated in the wreath laying ceremony in Yad VaShem for Holocaust Memorial Day.
On May 3, the Jerusalem kehilla celebrated the Feast of Saint James, patron of the Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel. Father David, Patriarchal Vicar celebrated the mass but the special guest at this celebration was Greek Catholic Archbishop Yusuf Jules Zerey, Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem.
On May 9, Bishop Boulos-Giacinto Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel, celebrated for the first time the mass of the Feast of Our Lady Woman of Valor in south Tel Aviv.
On May 15 and May 16, the Hebrew speaking Catholic families met in Tiberias to discuss the religious formation of their children.The topics of the weekend were: sacrament of reconciliation, two new saints from the Holy Land (Carmelite Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified and the foundress of the Sisters of the Rosary, Marie-Alphonsine Ghattas) and Church’s work with the migrants and asylum seekers in Israel.
On May 17, Pope Francis canonized two Palestinian Arabs: Palestinian Carmelite Sister Mariam Bawardy, foundress of the Carmel in Mangalore and in Bethlehem and Palestinian Sister Marie-Alphonsine Ghattas, foundress of the Sisters of the Rosary.
On May 17, Father Rafic and seminarian Benny participated in a special prayer for peace with the Zion community to mark Jerusalem Day.
On May 23, ten young people from the English speaking African community in Saint Anthony’s Church in Jaffa received the sacrament of confirmation. Forty five children from the Filipino community received first communion in the Our Lady Woman of Valor Pastoral Center in Tel Aviv. And at the mass for Pentecost, four young people from the Hebrew speaking community in Jaffa received confirmation.
On June 5 and 6, a weekend for the kehillot musicians was held in Tiberias.
On June 18, the encyclical of Pope Francis on the environment "Laudato Si" was published.
On June 25, Reverend Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land, celebrated the evening mass at the Jerusalem kehilla.
On June 26, officials from the Holy See and from Palestine signed the Final Accords that conclude fifteen years of negotiations. With this agreement, the Vatican joins the United Nations and a list of about 130 countries that officially recognize Palestine as an independent state.
On June 29, our brother Alberto Pari OFM was ordained a priest by Patriarch Fouad Twal.
On June 30, the International Council of Christians and Jews held their annual meeting in Rome and the delegates were received in audience by Pope Francis.
From June 28 to July 2, Father David participated in the annual meeting of the Helsinki Consultation that met in Moscow. The conference was held under the title: “The purpose of Jewish followers of Yeshua in God’s providential design”.
From July 20 to 31, children’s summer camp was held at Deir Rafat.
On August 9, Feast of Edith Stein, Father David Neuhaus published a pastoral letter on the occasion of the 60th anniversary since the founding of the Work of Saint James.
On August 13, the Saint James Vicariate published a prayer book for the whole family.
From August 6 to 13, Italian youth group came to Israel and were hosted by Desert Flower.
From August 17 to 21, a summer camp for children took place at the Our Lady Woman of Valor Pastoral Center in Tel Aviv. The focus of the camp was “Being holy as God is holy”.
From August 17 to 27, a group of six youths from Desert Flower walked the Camino Santiago de Compostela.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Holy See Secretary of State, wrote a letter informing the Patriarchal Vicar, priests and faithful of the Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel that Pope Francis imparts his Apostolic Blessing for 60 years of Saint James.
On September 3, the President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, visited Pope Francis in the Vatican.
On September 26, Hebrew Speaking Catholics gathered at the Church of Our Lady Ark of the Covenant in Kiryat Yearim to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Work of Saint James. At the end of the mass, the entire assembly was invited to watch the premiere of the documentary film, produced by the Christian Media Center, “The Kehillot – 60 Years”. The film traces the story of the kehillot and describes the challenges today.
From September 29 until October 2, the priests of the Vicariate were on retreat on Mount Tabor. The theme of the retreat was the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on relations with non-Christian religions.
On October 18, the Mount Zion Award was awarded to the Coordination for the Pastoral Among Migrants of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem for its work with migrants in Israel .
On October 28, marked fifty years since the publication of Nostra aetate. One of the most significant revolutions in the twentieth century was the one that transformed Catholic-Jewish relations.
On November 5, Father Piotr from the Beer Sheba kehilla participated in an interreligious meeting for Jewish, Muslims and Christian leaders at Ben Gurion University. The meeting was organized by Rabbi Mauricio Balter from the "Eshel Avraham" Synagogue. It was meant to be the starting point of a peace dialogue initiative.
On November 21, the Holy Family Filipino Community in Nazareth had its first mass in Afula.
From December 8 to 10, children’s camp was held at Deir Rafat to prepare the children for Christmas and to teach them about the Year of Mercy, which was inaugurated on the day the camp began.
From December 11 to 12, the Hebrew speaking Catholic families met in Tiberias to continue their study and prayer together. The day was broken up into four sessions: Year of Mercy, a need for a Hebrew language Catholic school, new prayer book and meeting of the Central Committee in January and the question: “Who are we today?”
On December 14 and 15, a two day conference was held at Tel Aviv University to celebrate the 50 years since the publication of Nostra aetate. The conference also served as the occasion to launch a new book in Hebrew on Jewish-Catholic relations.
On December 19, Hebrew speaking faithful gathered for a retreat day in Ein Karem focusing on the jubilee of mercy announced by Pope Francis for the entire Church.
2016
On January 14, two brothers from the Taizé community in France visited the kehilla of Jerusalem. Taizé is seeking how to respond to the crisis in the Middle East that has affected the Christian communities dramatically.
On January 15, twenty four members of the central committee of the Vicariate gathered in the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem in order to discuss the situation of the kehillot in Israel. The discussion focused on the question of identity: Who are the Hebrew speaking Catholic communities in Israel today?
On January 16, the Coordination for the Pastoral Among Migrants celebrated World Migrants’ Day in Saint Anthony’s Church in Jaffa. Hundreds gathered in the church in Jaffa to celebrate the beauty of the Body of Christ in its diversity and multi culturalism.
On January 17, Pope Francis became the third Pope to pay a visit to the synagogue in Rome.
On January 22, all the priests of the Saint James Vicariate paid a visit to Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal.
From February 5 to 6, the musicians of the kehillot met together on Mount Tabor.
On February 7, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal paid a visit to the Jerusalem kehilla and celebrated the mass for the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
On February 8, a new initiative began when the Beer Sheba kehilla welcomed inmates from Holot, a mass was celebrated for Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers.
On February 12, Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill concluded a historic encounter in the Cuban capital with an urgent appeal for an end to conflict and the persecution of Christians across the Middle East.
On February 28, Haifa Kehila celebrated the first anniversary of her little group that began to meet in the kehilla in order to pray in Hebrew in the style of charismatic prayer.
On March 5, the Jerusalem kehilla together with the Jaffa kehilla set off for a retreat in Gethsemane. The aim of the day was not only to pray and to prepare for Easter, but also to go through the Gates of Mercy together.
On March 9, Fathers Piotr and Medhin (chaplain of the Geez rite communities) accompanied a group of asylum seekers from the Holot detention camp in the Negev on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
On March 15, Mesila (The Center for Assistance and Information for the Migrant Community), the Israeli NGO that works with migrants in south Tel Aviv, held an evening to commemorate the five infants who died a year ago because of neglect in the pirate nurseries in south Tel Aviv. Father David Neuhaus, Latin Patriarchal Vicar, was invited to deliver an opening reflection at the evening that drew predominantly African women who run the nurseries in south Tel Aviv.
On March 22, Benedetto, seminarian in the Saint James Vicariate, received the degrees of lector and acolyte.
On March 31, Cardinal Georges Marie Cottier OP passed away in Rome at the age of 93. He was a great friend of the Jewish people and of the Hebrew speaking kehillot in Israel. He participated as an expert in the Second Vatican Council. Cardinal Cottier sponsored the first dialogue between Catholics and Messianic Jews, with the support of Pope John Paul II.
On April 8, the Holy See published the exhortation Amoris Laetitia written by Pope Francis following the Synod on the Family.
From April 8 to 9, the Hebrew speaking Catholic families met in Tiberias to continue their study and prayer together.They focused on the question of how to bring our faith into the home in a more visible way and on the question of the relations between Jews and Christians after the Second Vatican Council.
On April 15, Father Jamal Khader, Rector of the Latin Patriarchate Seminary in Beit Jala and the diocesan seminarians visited Our Lady Woman of Valor Pastoral Center in south Tel Aviv.
On April 24, Hebrew speaking Catholic kehillot gathered at Deir Rafat for a community day.
From April 24 to 27, Hebrew speaking kehillot participated in a camp at Deir Rafat. The theme of the camp was Unity and the Holy Spirit.
On April 29, Father Gregor Pawlowski’s new book in Polish, “The Path to Sanctity” was launched in a special ceremony that took place in the Catholic Seminary in Lublin.
On April 30, Hebrew speaking Catholic kehillot gathered in Jaffa for a study day on Nostra Aetate.
On May 7, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal visited the Our Lady Woman of Valor Pastoral Center in south Tel Aviv on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady Woman of Valor.
On May 8, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal visited the parish of Beer Sheba .
On May 13, Father Piotr attended a celebration in the Eshel Avraham synagogue in Beer Sheba. The Friday evening prayer had a festive character because of the twenty fifth anniversary of the rabbinic ordination of Rabbi Mauricio Balter.
On May 20, it was announced that a new Custos for the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, had been elected.
On June 20, Shimon Peres, former President of the State of Israel, visited Pope Francis.
On June 24, Pope Francis named Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
On June 26, the Jerusalem kehilla bade farewell to Father Michel Remaud, who has been part of the kehilla for the past 37 years.
From June 26 to 30, Benedetto and Daniel Maman participated as the representatives of the Saint James Vicariate in a congress for young leaders on the subject of Jewish-Catholic dialogue, which took place in Jerusalem.
From July 4 to 8, Father Rafic directed the annual retreat of the bishops and priests focused on the theme “Walking together with Pope Francis".
From July 4 to 13, children’s summer camp was held at Deir Rafat. The theme of the summer camp was “Mary, Mother of Our Lord and Our Mother”.
On July 15, the Feast of the Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection, the transfer of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem from Patriarch Fouad Twal to Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa took place.
From July 16 to August 4, the youth of Desert Flower visited Poland and participated in the World Youth Day.
On July 29, Pope Francis became the third Pope to visit the death camp.
From August 15 to 19, summer camp at Our Lady Woman of Valor Pastoral Center took place in south Tel Aviv.
On September 5, activities were initiated at the new Saint Rachel Center in Jerusalem.
On September 10, in the Cathedral of Bergamo in Italy, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was ordained archbishop. The ordination was attended by a delegation from the Hebrew speaking kehillot in Israel.
From October 4 to 7,the priests of the Vicariate were on retreat on Mount Tabor. The theme was the thought of Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, Jewish Catholic theologian and Cardinal Archbishop of Paris, as contained in his writings in “The Promise”. His reflections revolved around the link between the Church and Israel.
On October 22, Hebrew speaking Catholics came together for a special celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and to welcome Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
On November 10, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa came to the Saint Rachel Center to bless it and the babies, children, youth and those who accompany them there.
On December 6, members of the Coordination of the Pastoral Among Migrants met at the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem to discuss the Church’s work with the migrants and asylum seekers. Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa joined the meeting for the first time.
From December 16 to 17, the Hebrew speaking Catholic families met in Tiberias to continue their study and prayer together focusing on how to make present the message of Advent and Christmas in their homes and especially for their children.
From December 27 to 29, children’s camp was held at Deir Rafat.
On December 29, some of the members of the Jerusalem kehilla participated in an inter-religious candle lighting ceremony which was held by Kehillat Zion in the old train station in Jerusalem.
2017
On January 12, a group of Filipino migrant worker care givers joined and participated in an inter-cultural dialogue with a group of MA students from the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.
On January 14, World Migrants’ Day was celebrated in Jaffa’s Saint Anthony Church. Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa went on to reflect on three important elements of the Church’s mission to migrants: affirming the dignity of migrants, promoting solidarity with and among migrants and speaking out prophetically on behalf of migrants.
On January 21, about 25 members of the Jerusalem kehilla visited the Messianic Jewish community of the Lamb on Mount Zion thus beginning the Week of Prayer for Unity.
On January 23, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited the Our Lady Woman of Valor Pastoral Center in south Tel Aviv.
At the beginning of February 2017 Father David Neuhaus has published a new book in French that deals with the Christians in the Holy Land, Jewish-Christian relations and the Bible.
On February 5, Latin Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali celebrated the festive mass at the Jerusalem kehilla.
On February 8 and 9, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, Archbishop of Cologne in Germany, visited the Catholic communities in Tel Aviv and Beer Sheba.
On March 2, the first batch of new song books of the Saint James Vicariate “I will praise the Lord as long as I live” arrived.
From April 4 to 6, Hebrew speaking kehillot participated in a camp at Deir Rafat. The theme of the camp was Pardon, Confession and Resurrection.
On April 16, Hebrew speaking Catholic kehillot gathered at Kiryat Yearim for a community day.
On April 20, the flag for Desert Flower was chosen. It was the work of Desert Flower youth's hands.
From April 28 to 29, the Hebrew speaking Catholic families met in Tiberias to continue their study and prayer together focusing on chapter 3 of the Epistle of Saint James, dealing with the evil that the human tongue is capable of.
On May 24, on the night of Jerusalem Day, the Zion Community organized “listening” circles and after that an evening of prayer for Jerusalem, with some words of meditation on the question of listening. Father Rafic had some words for this occasion.
On May 26, Asia News published an interview with Father Piotr Zelasko about ‘Interreligious Initiative of the Negev’.
On June 16, Asia News published a long interview with Father David Neuhaus about migrant workers and asylum seekers in Israel.
From June 23 to 25, the annual meeting of the members of the Helsinki Consultation on Jewish Continuity in the Body of the Messiah took place in Krakow. Father David participated.
On July 11, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila celebrated a mass for the Filipino migrant workers in Israel.
From July 5 to 14, children, youth and adults from the Hebrew speaking Catholic kehillot gathered at Deir Rafat for the children’s summer camps. The theme of the first summer camp, from July 5 to 9, was “Peace”.The theme of the second camp, from July 10 to 14, was “Respect”.
From August 14 to 18, summer camp at Our Lady Woman of Valor Pastoral Center took place in south Tel Aviv.
A new book of articles written by Father David was published in English by the Studium Theologicum Salesianum. The book is a collection of articles dealing with the life of Christians in the Holy Land and in the Middle East, dialogue between Jews and Christians and the interpretation of the Bible.
On August 14, Father David Neuhaus sent a letter to Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa in which he asked to be relieved of his charge as Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew speaking Catholics in Israel.
On September 2, while awaiting the approval of the Holy See, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa has appointed Father Rafic Nahra as interim responsible for the communities of Hebrew speaking communities and coordinator for the migrant worker and asylum seeker communities in Israel.
From September 25 to 28, the priests of the Vicariate were on retreat on Mount Tabor. For the first two days of the retreat Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa taught on three themes: to ask to see the face of God, the trials of Jesus and life in the Church.
On October 14, Hebrew speaking Catholic kehillot gathered at Deir Rafat to celebrate together the beginning of the Great Advent, to thank Father David for his years of service and to welcome Father Rafic as the new priest in charge of the Saint James Vicariate.
On November 6, Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Council for Christian Unity and the affiliated Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews received an award at Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheba.
On November 15, Father Rafic Nahra participated in a book launch of a new book on interfaith dialogue and the peace process.
On November 25, members of the kehillah of Jerusalem and that of Jaffa spent a day in prayer and reflection, in Ein Karem. Benny, a seminarian from the Saint James Vicariate, spoke about “kingship” in the Bible and especially about the “kingdom of Jesus”.
On November 27, the representatives of interfaith organizations from all over Israel met in the Tantur Ecumenical Institute talking about new possibilities in communication between organizations.
On November 27, the new Apostolic Nuncio in Israel, Arhbishop Leopoldo Girelli, arrived in Israel.
From December 8 to 9, the Hebrew speaking Catholic families met in Tiberias in order to continue the joint discussions and study. The focus of the discussions was on the relationship of the couple in light of the words of Pope Francis in the document "The Joy of Love".
From December 18 to 20, children’s camp was held at Deir Rafat.
2018
On February 2, one day workshop for the kehillot musicians was held in Even Sappir.
On March 3, Jerusalem and Jaffa Kehillah gathered together in a day of meditation and prayer in Ein Kerem. The theme was “intercession”, the prayer for the neighbor.
From March 5 to 10, Bishops of the Conference of Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions (CELRA) held their plenary meeting in Rome,which also coincided with the “ad limina visit”. The important moments of the visit were first of all the audience with Pope Francis.
From April 1 to 4, Kaytana (Children camp) of Pessah was held at Beit Gemal.
From April 11 to 12, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land met for its plenary meeting in Cyprus.
On May 20, The Apostolic Administrator creates a personal parish for migrants and refugees in Israel. Statement about the erection of a personal parish for migrants and refugees in Israel. The “Coordination for the pastoral care of migrants and refugees” becomes the “Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers – VMAS”, and the personal parish is under the protection of the “Holy Family”. The Vicar, in the person of Fr. Rafic Nahra, has the canonical responsibility for the migrants and asylum seekers. The moderator of the Holy Family parish is Fr. Michael Grospe, whose duty is to coordinate the work in the personal parish.
From June 15 to 16, St James’ Vicariate families met together in Ein Karem for a time of recollection on the theme of faithfulness.
On June 21, Benedetto di Bitonto was ordained Deacon by Archibishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, at the Church of All Nations, in Gethsemane.
From July 9 to 20, children’s summer camp was held at Deir Rafat. The subject around which the camp was organized was “Jesus and his friends”, a series of Gospel stories in which Jesus meets people and establishes with them friendly relationships.
From July 30 to August 3, a summer camp for children took place at the Our Lady Woman of Valor Pastoral Center
in Tel Aviv.
From August 5 to 15, Desert Flower traveled to France to spend a week in Taizé.
On August 26, the Jerusalem community of the Vicariate had the joy of welcoming Father Roman as her new pastor.
On September 8, youth group, aged 18 and over, travelled to Lourdes for 10 days, to serve the sick and have an ecclesiastical experience.
On September 28, The "Guardian Angel House" and Sts Martha and Mary’s house, was inaugurated and blessed by the Apostolic Administrator Mgr Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
On November 15, Pope Francis received President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, in the Vatican. According to the Vatican, their discussions–which took place around the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations–were cordial, and highlighted the positive relations between the Holy See and State of Israel.
From December 4 to 6, children’s camp was held at Deir Rafat.
From December 14 to 15, the Hebrew speaking Catholic families met in Tiberias. The topic was: “To live as a Christian at work, at home, and in raising children – what does it mean?”
2019
On January 27, Fr Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy land, visited the Saint James Vicariate and celebrated mass in the Kehilla of Jerusalem.
On April 20, the Communities Day in Kiryat Yearim.
From April 21 to 24, the Easter Camp was held and the theme was the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
From May 10 to11, the Hebrew speaking Catholic families met in Tiberias with the main topic "Prayer – How and why do we pray?"
On May 16, Benedetto Di Bitonto was ordained a priest, by Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in Kiryat Yearim.
On May 18, the members of the Jaffa community, together with the youth group, gathered for the first mass of Fr Benedetto in St. Peter's Church in Jaffa.
On May 26, Monsignore Leopoldo Girelli, the current Apostolic Nuncio to Israel, Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine and Apostolic Nuncio to Cyprus visited Beer Sheva.
On May 29, Jerusalem Kehillah with Father Roman joined some Jewish friends, in an inter-faith initiative aimed to promote in Jerusalem friendship and coexistence: the distribution of water and dates to Muslims at the end of a day of Ramadan fasting
On June 18, Fr. Giuseppe De Nardi, parish priest in Tiberias since 2010 and member of the Saint James Vicariate since 2006 was elected Superior General of the Koinonia John the Baptist.
On July 6, Fr. Charles Galichet, Abbot of Abu Gosh Abbey passed away.
From July 15 to 19, children’s summer camp was held at Deir Rafat.
From July 22 to 26, a second summer camp took place at Deir Rafat Monastery for children aged 9-11. The major theme of the camp was "cooperation": how to work together, create together and enjoy together!
Father David Neuhaus was appointed as Superior of the Holy Land Jesuit Community.
From August 1 to 11, Desert Flower went on a trip to Austria to meet a group of European youth and study the story of Ruth together.
This year, besides the regular summer camps for the children of our communities, the Vicariate of St. James held a special camp in Beit Gemal for our youth aged 12 - 16.
On September 21, World Migrants’ Day was celebrated at the Church of St. Anthony in Jaffa.
On September 28 and 29, the parish community of St. Peter's in Tiberias and the Koinonia John the Baptist welcomed H. E. Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel.
On October 3, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, came to visit the Saint James Vicariate in Jerusalem, and to meet the pastoral agents of the Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers.
From October 8 to 9, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL) met in plenary session in Jerusalem. The meeting agenda had three themes: to welcome and accept one another as brothers, to respect the dignity of the other, and to know how to live differently. Father Rafic Nahra presented the theme Migrant Training and Integration.
On October 19, Hebrew speaking Catholic Communities met for a day of prayer, sharing and common joy (Yom ha-Kehillot).
Father David Neuhaus SJ has published a short book in Arabic on the Jewish people and Judaism, oriented towards the Christian Arab reader.
From December 6 to 7, the Hebrew speaking Catholic families met in Tiberias in order to continue the joint discussions, focussing at that time on question "How to deal with conflicts in the family?"
From December 26 to 28, children’s camp was held at Deir Rafat.
