Desert Flower in Jerusalem

On Friday and Saturday, the youth of the Desert Flower group met in Jerusalem. The weekend began in the kehilla where in a beautiful atmosphere each one contributed to working on some arts and crafts that will be sold at the Christmas market which will take place in order to raise a bit of money for the activities of the group. Colors, pastels, cut out, chatting, laughter… some new to the group, others renewing friendships after not having seen one another. Friends coming together again is always good for the heart.

After mass, in which many guests from Europe participated too, the young people went off with their backpacks and supplies for dinner, walking together to the Old City, where they would spend the night as guests of the Franciscans in a house that accommodates groups of youth and young pilgrims. The space is simple but functional, a spacious kitchen, chapel and a beautiful terrace with a magnificent view of the Old City. Before dinner, in the chapel, Father Apolinary held a meeting with the young people in which he explained the prayer known as “lectio divina”. Many wanted to know what this was all about, intrigued by the use of the term in the invitation that had been sent by the animators. After dinner, everyone gathered together on mattresses, on the floor and around the table to listen to Brother Alberto who shared his story. The young people wanted to know more about him and what had led him to say yes to God in his final profession as a religious. The youth listened attentively, clearly happy to understand better what it means to be called by God, and what it means to be a religious in today’s world. The many questions helped to better perceive the choice of the celibate state, something not so easy to understand.

In the morning sun light, on the terrace, they prayed morning prayer and after having eaten breakfast, they set off for the Convent of Saint Vincent de Paul for a morning of volunteering with the handicapped who are welcomed at the convent. For many it was the first time to have such an experience and it was not easy for everyone to accept this newly discovered reality: sickness, disabilities and taking care of someone so different. This was a very different Saturday morning, new and unnerving, but each one succeeded in giving love and affection, no barrier interfered, not language nor the motor difficulties of some or the fear of difference. They received more than they gave. After having helped feed the disabled who needed help, they returned to the Old City for lunch.

In the afternoon, they set off again on a trip to go to the Jerusalem kehilla, where Father David was waiting for them for a Biblical encounter on the meaning of the Scriptures and their composition.

Before taking leave of one another, they celebrated mass together with Father Apolinary and then had dinner. Thank you to the animators: Father Apolinary, Claudia, Benny and Brother Alberto for the organization and the new elements in the program… The next meeting will be in the desert.