Palm Sunday for the Migrants

The Indian Chaplaincy, directed by Father Tojy OFM, reported:“On Saturday almost 1500 Indians and Sri Lankans marched the traditional Palm Sunday route in Jerusalem. The procession began from Bethpage at 9.00. Fr. Tojy Jose OFM, the chaplain for the Indians, welcomed everyone to the celebration. Palm leaves were blessed in 3 languages, Konkani, Malayalam and Sinhalese by Fr. Dominic Mendonsa OP, Fr. Anto Chakiyath, Fr. Roshan Wasentha TOR. After the procession Holy Masses were celebrated in those 3 languages at the Basilica of Gethsemane, Gethsemane Garden and Dominus Flevit.

Short processions and masses were also held from Friday night until Sunday morning in Our Lady Woman of Valor Church in Tel Aviv. On Saturday afternoon, a procession and mass were celebrated in Hebrew for the children that frequent the center for catechism.

On Sunday afternoon, April 9, 2017, thousands participated in the traditional Palm Sunday procession and received the blessing at Saint Anne’s Church from Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.