Nazareth Filipinos participate in celebration of Saint Mariam Bawardy

Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo, auxiliary to the Latin Patriarch, invited the Filipinos to attend the feast day of Saint Mariam Bawardy during our courtesy visit to him on August 17. Therefore, we cancelled our regular 17.00 Saturday mass on August 29. Instead, everyone in the Holy Family Filipino Community in Nazareth, who was free, was advised to attend the 10.00 mass in the Upper Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth on August 30. More than twenty from the community were able to come.

Sister Mariam Bawardy’s village, Ibellin, lies a short distance from Nazareth. Msgr. Marcuzzo presided at the concelebrated mass. Noteworthy was the presence of representative nuns of both Carmelite communities in Nazareth and Haifa, who occupied a set of pews close to the altar. A big portrait of the saint and her relics in a small reliquary were displayed in front of the main altar. At the very end of the Mass, the relics were offered for the veneration of the faithful.

A holy card with a picture of the Saint was distributed to everyone; it bore the short prayer composed by her:

O Holy Spirit, inspire me,
Love of God, consume me,
On the right path lead me.
Mary, my Mother, take care of me,
With Jesus, bless me.
From all evil, from all illusion,
From all danger, preserve me!

After the celebration, we had a simple agape at the Pilgrims Point of Casa Nova, while celebrating three of the birthday celebrants of the month, and at the same time conducting the meeting of the Council on sundry matters pertinent to the community.