Religion classes for Filipino children begin again

Saint James Vicariate continues its collaboration with the team of Filipino priests and lay women who run the Divine Mercy Chapel, near the Tel Aviv central bus station. Father David, the Vicar, began classes again on September 10, 2011, assisted by Vladimir, from the Jaffa kehilla.

About 25 children, mostly Filipino, who are Hebrew speakers, divided into two groups, the older children preparing for confirmation and the younger ones preparing for first communion. The older children had celebrated their first communion last May in a Hebrew language mass. Most of the children study in the Bialik-Rogozin school in south Tel Aviv. The children are perfectly integrated into Israeli society, have a good knowledge of the Old Testament, the Jewish tradition, the Jewish feasts and customs but know very little about their own Catholic faith.

This year, classes began with the start of the new school year. The Chapel has shifted location, still on Levanda Street, where there are a good number of other small, ethnic based churches, mostly Protestant and Evangelical.

Father David continues to look for others who are willing and able to help with this important mission of religion classes for Hebrew speaking Catholic children.