Lent and Easter in Rehovot

The Rehovot Catholic community is made up of Filipinos, the majority of the community, but also other migrants from India, Nigeria and elsewhere and a group of international students who are studying in the two academic institutions in the town, the Weizmann Institute and the Faculty of Agriculture.

Maribel, the coordinator of the community reports:

We had our Ash Wednesday service to begin Lent. On March 5, 2016, we had a penitential service that was celebrated by Father Eric, our chaplain, and two other Salesians, Father Andrew and Father Stephen. The three priests heard our confessions.

On March 19, 2016, we had our Palm Sunday service and entered Holy Week. The following day, some members were able to go to Jerusalem for the Palm Sunday procession. We also made a pilgrimage to the Holy Door of Mercy in the Basilica of Gethsemane in Jerusalem, a pilgrimage which began with a prayer service in the Cenacle, the Upper Room where Jesus had his last supper. We paid homage at the tomb of King David, visited the Church of the Resurrection (Holy Sepulcher) and the Western Wall and then walked through the Kidron Valley to the Holy Door of Mercy in the Basilica of all Nations.

On Saturday, March 26, we had our Easter Vigil Mass. Christ is indeed Risen! Halleluia!