Mass for Sudanese refugees in Tel Aviv

A few weeks ago, Father David met William, a young Sudanese man, a refugee who has been in Israel for more than two years. William explained to Father David that there were a number of Catholic Sudanese refugee families living in the area of the central bus station in Tel Aviv. Father David asked permission from the Filipino community, who rent a large hall on Levanda Street, Divine Mercy Chapel, to celebrate mass for the Sudanese. The Sudanese, who speak Dinka among themselves, asked that the mass be in Arabic, the language in which they know the mass and the songs that accompany it. Many of these Sudanese have lived in Egypt.

On Saturday, April 2, a small group of adults gathered together with some children for a first mass. Father David celebrated and preached in Arabic but it was clear that the children understood almost nothing. Thus, it was decided that at the next mass, a religion lesson would be organized for the children in Hebrew, as the children are fully integrated into the Hebrew language, Israeli schools in the area.

At the end of the mass, Father David, Benedetto and Jose-Enrique stayed on in order to teach the Filipino children catechismin Hebrew as they are preparing for first communion. This is a very Catholic church… Catholic meaning universal. Yet it is also a Hebrew speaking church in all its bewildering diversity.