Filipino Tribute to Mary in Nazareth


Father Bienvenido, new chaplain of the Holy Family Filipino community in Nazareth sent this report about a special celebration on March 21, 2015, in preparation for the Feast of the Annunciation.

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On the cool Sabbath day of March 21, 2015, all roads for some migrant workers and the animators of the Filipino communities in Israel (Nazareth/Afula, Tabgha, Jerusalem/Ain Karem, Haifa, Tel Aviv/Jaffa, and even Beersheva) led to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Annunciation at Nazareth. The Holy Family Filipino Community in Nazareth sponsored the “2015 Tribute to Mary of Nazareth”. 

Around 70 persons participated in a 16:00 Tagalog mass in the Upper Basilica of Our Lady of the Annunciation, presided by the new Chaplain of the Nazareth Community, Br. Bienvenido Q. Baisas OFM and concelebrated by Br. Peter MC, with a choir from Tel Aviv and Nazareth, conducted by Sr. Aurelia Narag SPC.

Then the “Tribute to Mary,” consisting of prayer, songs, light, and flowers, took place in the Lower Basilica at 18:00, presided by Fr. David Neuhaus SJ, the Coordinator for Migrants in Israel. Some more people, including guests from Nazareth, came to this event, around 85 participants altogether.

Then, a simple Agape, prepared by the HFFCN members at the Pilgrims’ Point of Casa Nova, brought everyone together.

Capping the day was the participation of around twenty Filipinos in the Rosary Procession, which started at the Upper Basilica at 20:30 and ended in the Lower Basilica an hour later after a short procession from one place to another.

We are grateful to the Holy Family community, under the leadership of Mr. Christopher Garcia of Afula and the animation of Sr. Ma. Elena Balsomo SMC, for this successful event and look forward to a similar annual celebration in the Marian Basilica of Nazareth, with even greater participation of Filipino migrants from all over the Holy Land.

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