Meeting of Desert Flower in Haifa

The members of the youth group “Desert Flower” gathered on Friday afternoon in the house of the Haifa kehila in order to hold their monthly meeting. Father Roman, responsible for the Haifa kehilla, warmly welcomed them. As soon as most the members had arrived we began a discussion with Father Piotr on the theme of the summer meeting with the Pope in Poland, “Year of Mercy for those who will be shown mercy”.

We had dinner together and after that gathered for prayer with Benedetto, the seminarian, who animated a Taizé style prayer. At the end of the prayer we went out to walk around town and see the Christmas trees and decorations in the lower part of the city, near the house of the kehilla.

On Saturday, after morning prayer and breakfast, we broke into two groups, the younger ones (from 14 to 16) with Father Piotr and the older ones (17 and above) with Father Apolinary. One group gathered for a lessons while the other went out to visit the Feasts of Feasts market in Haifa (a Christmas market). We then switched places.

After lunch and a short time for rest, we met with Stella (a Holocaust survivor who is 90 years old), a pillar of the Haifa kehilla, who told us her life story. She described life in the ghetto during the Shoah and how she managed to escape. Her story was very moving and contained much joy too.

At the end of the meeting, we departed, saying farewell to one and all. Only a few were able to stay for the mass in the Haifa kehilla. The group of youth from Desert Flower wish you all a Merry Christmas!