Mass for Filipino children: the joyful teaching of Father Piotr

About fifteen Filipino children attended a mass celebrated in Hebrew at the kehilla on Rabbi Kook Street, on Saturday afternoon. The Salesian students, with whom the children study catechism in English and Hebrew, felt the need for a liturgy celebrated in Hebrew, which is the language these children use in their day to day lives and at school. The children already knew the Creed in Hebrew and they could follow the mass without difficulty in the Hebrew language mass books. However, much work must yet be done in order that they might learn the different parts of the mass and their meaning as well as the melodies that accompany the Hebrew text. The work began this Saturday with Father Piotr, assisted by the three Salesian student teachers who accompanied the children.

Before mass, Magali and Jeremie taught the children an entrance song from the kehilla song book. Still a little timid, the children did however use the tambourines and other musical instruments provided. Then, Father Piotr began the mass in a very pedagogical and vibrant style, explaining what was happening step by step and how to enter into the different parts of the mass. During the homily, consecrated to the theme of love, he came up to the children and asked them to speak out by posing questions: where is love present in our lives? Where is it absent? The children responded with smart answers, encouraged by the fact that they could speak a language they know. They identified love in their families, among their friends and identified its absence in mockery, in disobedience and in jealousy.

After communion, Father Piotr, in his simple and impassioned style, exhorted them to feel the joy and the fire of Jesus' presence. The children got to their feet and sang a song that was familiar to them and danced. At the end of the mass, fear having evaporated, it was clear that they had encountered the Jesus who said to them in the mass: "you are my friends" and who spoke to their hearts!

Let us hope that the work will continue and that the children will come back regularly to the kehilla. Welcome to them and welcome to their faithful teachers.