Vows in the Koinonia John the Baptist community in Tiberias


On Saturday December 10 2016, the parish community of Tiberias had the joy of participating in the celebration of the commitment to consecrated life of four young members of the Koinonia John the Baptist.

koinonia vows

Two brothers and one sister made their final commitment and one sister made her first commitment for a period of three years. Claudia and Alessandro from Rome, Daniel from Poland and Rola born in Lebanon but living in Tiberias for 16 years gave joyful witness to the call of the Lord in their lives. Family members and friends flew in for the occasion from Italy and Poland with a large group of Maronite faithful from Galilee gathering for the liturgical celebration.

The ceremony was presided by Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchiate of Jerusalem, accompanied by Fr. Ricardo Argañaraz, Fr. Alvaro Grammatica, Fr. Giuseppe De Nardi (Founder, Superior General and local Superior of the Koinonia respectively), Fr. George Ayoub, Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate and Fr. Charbel Zgheib, representing the Maronite community in Galilee along with Fr. Paweł Badena from Poland, Fr. Giacomo Bergamin and Fr. Siarhei Vasilyeu from the Koinonia in Tiberias. The encouraging homily, given by the Archbishop, exhorted the assembly (and in a special way the members of the Koinonia John the Baptist) to enter deeply into the ministry and calling of John the Baptist as he teaches us in this time of Advent to prepare for the coming of the Lord. We are called to be open, as John, and to allow Christ to reveal His true self and so not to allow our expectations to blind us when the Lord appears. Doubts and questions should never discourage believers but rather, again learning from John, we should go directly to the Lord and in humility and simplicity ask "Is this You, Lord?".

The atmosphere was full of joy and festivity as these brothers and sisters committed themselves to the Lord with all their heart. Many members of the parish offered their service in preparing flowers, decorations, food, help in the kitchen and welcoming of guests. A maxi screen was fitted in the courtyard for those who were outside as the small Church was filled to overflowing. The celebration concluded with a festive gathering in the courtyard with cake and good wine and a time for photos and well wishes for the newly consecrated brothers and sisters.

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