Decisions of the Holy Land Franciscans and our kehillot

The Hebrew speaking, Catholic communities in Israel are strongly linked to the Franciscans in the Holy Land. Three of the communities pray in chapels that belong to the Franciscans: in Jerusalem, in Jaffa and in Tiberius. In addition, Franciscans are among the priests who have served and continue to serve the Vicariate. We must thank the Franciscans, who for centuries have been preserving the Holy Places and serving the Local Church.

In the Custodial Chapter of the Franciscans of the Holy Land, the friars chose a new team to direct the order in the country for the next three years together with the Custodian of the Holy Land who is the Superior General in the country, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa. Among the many decisions on changes in the appointment of friars and the future of convents in the Holy Land, there are decisions that affect directly the Hebrew speaking Catholic Vicariate in Israel.

The most important decision for us is the transfer of the House of Saints Simeon and Anne (the actual home of the Jerusalem kehilla at 10 Rabbi Kook Street) to the Hebrew speaking Catholic Vicariate for a period of six years. The meaning of this decision for us is that the Hebrew speaking Catholic Vicariate in Israel finally has a home of its own. The official transfer will take place in October, when the present superior, Father Apolinary, returns from his holidays in Poland.

Another important decision is the appointment of Father Apolinary as superior of the Franciscan convent alongside Saint Peter's Church in Jaffa. We wish him mazal tov on this appointment and every success in all his activities. With his departure from Jerusalem and his appointment in Jaffa, he will be named responsible for the Hebrew speaking community in Jaffa when he returns. Father David, the Vicar and actual responsible in Jaffa, will take up the responsibility for the Jerusalem community and will discuss the future reorganization of the spiritual leadership of the community at the next meeting of the presbyteral council.

Another decision taken by the Franciscans concerns the convent in Tiberias. This decision will not change the present reality of the Russian speaking community that prays at Saint Peter's Church in Tiberias. The Russian speaking community will continue to come together in the church. The convent will be handed over to Koinonia Giovanni Battista, a community linked to our Vicariate. We hope that the relationship will be deepened and that we will collaborate together in order to advance the life the community in Tiberias and in the surrounding region.