Archbishop Pizzaballa blesses Saint Rachel Center


On Thursday, November 10, 2016 in the late afternoon, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa came to the Saint Rachel Center to bless it and the babies, children, youth and those who accompany them there.

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The Archbishop, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was joined by Bishop William Shomali, the Apostolic Nuncio in Israel, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, and the former Nuncio in Israel, Archbishop Antonio Franco together with many priests, men and women religious, members of the Hebrew speaking communities in Israel, friends and benefactors. At the beginning of the short prayer and blessing in Hebrew, Father David Neuhaus, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for the Hebrew speaking and migrant communities in Israel, welcomed the Archbishop and all those present.

In his word of thanks, Father David thanked the Capuchin monks, on whose property the Saint Rachel Center stands as well as Archbishop Pizzaballa, who as Custos made the suggestion that the Capuchins might indeed be able to accommodate the Center. In addition Father David thanked the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Lazzarotto who supported the project. In addition Father David thanked the following:

- the priests and faithful of the Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel, who have opened their hearts and communities to the migrants and their children,

- Elias and Robert Hosh, the managers of the renovation project that transformed the remains of the former mental hospital premises into the Saint Rachel Center for babies, children and youth,

- the benefactors who help fund the renovations and projects in the Center, especially the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, the Dear Foundation, World Vision and Pontifical Mission,

- the parents who trust the personnel of the Center to look after their children, who helped clean and move into the center, who helped decorate it and who themselves made a heartwarming financial contribution,

- the babies, the children and the youth who frequent the Center, making it a home away from home,

- the workers in the Center, Claudia, director of the day care center, Sister Claudia, director of the after-school project, Daniel, Amandine and Guillaume, Ainsley, Fadia, Sister Jandark, Sister Erika and Ronni,

- the many volunteers who come to help.

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The Archbishop then proceeded with the prayer. During his homily, he stressed that those gathered in the playground of the center represented the Church we are called to be in all its diversity, Jews and Arabs, religious and lay people, migrant workers and asylum seekers, coming together with one heart and one soul. He then proceeded to bless the icon of Saint Rachel and the matriarchs, hanging at the entrance to the Center. While Benedetto led the children in singing, the Archbishop went from room to room blessing the entire center. At the end of the prayer and after singing the Our Father and receiving the final blessing, those present sang the Magnficat.

The beautiful celebration concluded with a shared meal, prepared by the mothers of the children. We can indeed give thanks for the blessings the Lord showers upon us.

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