First communion in Haifa

On Saturday, June 25, 2016, our kehilla celebrated the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, our patron. On this occasion, three girls from our community, Kathleen, Angelica and Rashaela received the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time. They began to come to catechism classes when they were still just little children, accompanying their four older friends: lexa, Mariel, Raeli and Joshua, who received first communion two years ago. Since that time, the three girls have waited with great anticipation for the day when they too could receive the sacrament.

Father Roman emphasized in his homily that the Feast of Saint John the Baptist was a good occasion to celebrate this ceremony. One day, John said to his disciples, pointing to Jesus: “Here is the Lamb of God who bears the sins of the world”. In the spirit of the call of John, and just like the people who came to be baptized by him as they confessed their sins, Kathleen, Angelica and Rashaela also came to their first confession the day before receiving the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. They prepared themselves by confessing their errors and sins, expressing the desire to improve their behavior. On the day of their celebration, they were like a sign and a prophecy for our kehilla and for the whole world, showing us all the way which we must walk in order to prepare the way so that Christ can come into the hearts of one and all.