Feast of Saint James in the kehillot

Present at the celebration were representatives of all the kehillot in the country and most of the priests serving these kehillot. A particular source of joy was the presence of the kehillot’s benefactress, Mrs. Liz Moley, without whose generosity much of the work of the Vicariate would be impossible. In addition, many friends of the kehillot came not only as individuals but also representing religious communities who maintain close ties to the kehillot: the Benedictine monks of Abu Ghosh, the Sisters of Sion (active and contemplative), the Little Sisters of Jesus (both Hebrew and Arabic speaking), the Franciscan Fathers of the Custody of the Holy Land, the Lazarists, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition, the community of the Beatitudes, the community of the Emmanuel, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, the Protestant Sisters of Grandchamps and also sisters from Bethlehem, most notably the Greek Catholic Benedictine Sisters of the Emmanuel monastery and the sisters from Caritas Baby Hospital.

The mass, celebrated by the Vicar for Hebrew speaking Catholics, Father David, was accompanied by the songs and music of a group made up of members from the kehillot in Jerusalem, Tiberius and Haifa. Particular thanks are due to Carlos, who ably led the group.

The homily was a focal point during the mass as Father David invited Father Charles, Abbot of the Benedictines in Abu Ghosh to preach. In his homily, Father Charles reminded the kehillot of the foundational charism of the Work of Saint James: to support Catholics living at the heart of the Jewish people in Israel and particularly those who are Jewish. He made extended reference to the prophetic act of Blessed Pope John Paul II who named the then Vicar, Father Jean-Baptiste Gourion, his predecessor as Abbot in Abu Ghosh, as auxiliary bishop. Father Charles described the uniqueness of the kehillot within the Church of Jerusalem and held up Saint James as a model of this uniqueness while at the same time stressing the communion between the kehillot and the whole Church of Jerusalem, called to a universal mission. The homily can be read here.

The prayers of the faithful resounded with the special contours of the kehillot. Prayers for the universal Church and the needs of the world intertwined with prayers that remembered the founding fathers of the kehillot and asked for the grace to remain faithful to their vision. Brother Yohanan, one of the early pioneers, added a prayer in Arabic for the Palestinian people. A final prayer asked for the gift of joy, a joy to be transmitted to the next generation.

At the end of the mass, Father David presented the priests who work within the Vicariate present at the mass. Father Rastislav, priest for Russian speakers in the north, Father Wieslaw, priest for Russian speakers in the south, Father Apolinary, priest in the Jaffa kehilla, Father Roman, priest in the Haifa kehilla, Fathers Piotr and Melchior, who live in the Vicariate community, Benedictine Father Louis-Marie, who serves on the liturgical commission and Fathers Tobias and Gianni, who regularly pray with the community.

The joy of the celebration spilt over into an extended time of agape after the mass. Those present could enjoy the food and drink provided and continue to celebrate a very special Feast of Saint James.