Christmas in Beer Sheba

This year's Christmas started in Beer Sheba on December 23, 2016. The first celebration was for Catholics from Sri Lanka. Father Roshan Perera, here for Christmas from Sri Lanka, and Sister Clarice, coordinator of the Sri Lankan Catholics in Israel, came from Tel Aviv. About 30 of the faithful from Beer Sheba and the neighboring towns celebrated their mass and held a small reception afterwards.

Immediately afterwards, the Christmas vigil in English took place. Students from Ben Gurion University, who are not Hebrew speaking, migrant workers from various companies in the city and the Filipinos participated in this feast. There was a party afterwards with Filipino, Mexican, Italian and Indian food.

In the meantime, Father Piotr was together with Father Vargis, an Indian priest from Jerusalem at a big celebration in Malayalam language in the Old City. In one of the central parking places a huge Christmas tree and a manger had been placed. The Indian community celebrated with traditional dances and songs. A new coordinator for the Kerala residents of Beer Sheba was appointed and the priests, together with Santa Claus brought a figure of Baby Jesus to the manger in procession. Father Piotr was asked to address a few words in Hebrew. The central Christmas mass for Malayalam speaking Catholics from Beer Sheba was celebrated the next day in Bethlehem.

On December 24, both night masses, in English and in Hebrew, attracted quite a numerous crowd of faithful. Traditionally, after each Mass there was a small party. Traditionally also, the parties were not that small. As a nice Christmas gift, the participants received little ginger bread cookies made and decorated by the volunteers of the community. Traditionally, the guest at the Hebrew Mass was a rabbi friend from one of the synagogues in the city.

Christmas Mass during the day (December 25) was celebrated in Hebrew. Those who for various reasons were not able to come during the night had the possibility to celebrate at that time. The next day those of the parishioners who for legal reasons were allowed to enter Bethlehem participated in a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Nativity. A festive mass was celebrated in one of the grottos, followed by a common lunch and a visit to the Milk Grotto as well as shopping for Christian souvenirs.

A nice end to the celebrations was the inter-religious Jewish-Christian meeting and a common Prayer for Peace that took place in the church on the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord (January 1, 2017).