World Day of Migrants and Refugees in Jaffa

In a wonderful gathering of migrants from the diversity of communities, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees was celebrated with a solemn mass and a cultural program. The mass was celebrated by Father Zaher Abboud, parish priest of Jaffa, and the homily was delivered by Father David Neuhaus, Latin Patriarchal Vicar and Coordinator of the Church’s Pastoral among Migrants in Israel (read the homily here). Participating in the celebration were the Filipino, Ge’ez rite, Indian, Lebanese, African, Sri Lankan and Rumanian communities as well as many other individuals from a great diversity of origins.

Just before the mass, three baptisms and a wedding were celebrated in the Ge’ez rite. Immediately after the mass, two baptisms were celebrated in the Latin rite of a Filipino baby and a Nigerian baby. Saint Anthony’s parish in Jaffa is indeed at the hub of the world of the migrants in Israel.

The mass began at 11.00 and the procession of priests included: Father Zaher, parish priest of Jaffa, the principal celebrant, Father David, Latin Patriarchal Vicar, Father Carlos, Vicar for the Migrants in the Jaffa parish, Father Apolinary, responsible for the Hebrew speaking community in Jaffa, Father Tojy, Indian chaplain, Father Medhin, Ge’ez rite chaplain, Father Cristian, Rumanian chaplain, Father Ric, responsible for the Divine Mercy Center, Father James, responsible for the Saint Lorenzo Ruiz Filipino community in Jerusalem, Father Arnie from the Haifa Filipino community and Father Dharma, from the Indian chaplaincy. The assembly included women religious who work with the migrants from a variety of religious congregations including the Filipina Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres, the Sri Lankan Sisters of Perpetual Help, the Comboni Sisters and others. The many faithful packed the pews of the church.

After a rousing entrance song, sung by the mixed choir of Saint Anthony’s, made up of Filipinos and Africans, Father Zaher, a local Palestinian from Israel, greeted the faithful in the name of the parish and the Franciscan brothers who animate it. The mass was animated by the variety of groups present, each singing in its own language and musical tradition. The diversity and beauty of the singing were stunning: the Kyrie was sung in the Maronite tradition by the Lebanese community, the Gloria was sung by the mixed choir, the Psalm was sung in Hebrew by the seminarian of the Saint James Vicariate, Benedetto, the Halleliua was sung in Maronite tradition by the Lebanese community, the Offertory was sung in Konkani by the Indian community, the Sanctus was sung by the mixed choir, the Memorial acclamation was sung in the Ge’ez rite, the Our Father was led by the DMC choir, the traditional Maronite song of peace was sung in Arabic, the Agnus Dei was led by the mixed choir and then there was a series of communion songs: from the Ge’ez rite, from the African community, in Tagalog and in Konkani. The recessional was led by the mixed choir.

The readings were specially chosen for their focus on the migrant experience: Exodus 22:21-23 (read in Tagalog), Psalm 23 (sung in Hebrew), Hebrews 13:1-3 (read in Konkani) and Matthew 2:13-15 (read in Arabic and English). The homily focused on the reasons for coming together: to celebrate, to pray and to proclaim our faith. Father David also included extensive parts of Pope Francis’s message for the World Day of Migrants in 2014.

Petitions were offered in eight languages: for the Church and the Pope in Tagalog, for the Local Church, the Patriarch and unity in Konkani, for justice and peace here and in the world in Arabic, for refugees and asylum seekers in Tigrinye, for migrant workers and just work conditions in Malayalam, for the elderly and the sick in Sinhalese, for migrant children and their faith in Hebrew, for families and those left behind in English and for social conditions in Rumanian.

The gifts were brought by pairs of faithful, each pair representing its community in dress and gift: Filipino, Indian, Ge’ez rite, Nigerian, Sri Lankan and Lebanese.

Immediately after the mass, four communities presented their cultural traditions in song and dance: the Ge’ez rite community, the Filipino community from Divine Mercy in south Tel Aviv, the Indian community and the Sri Lankan community.

In Father David’s concluding words, he noted how perfectly the Holy Spirit had brought the celebration together. This was a true experience of the beauty of a Church that moves as one Body in the diversity of its members. Let us give thanks to God for the Church and reaffirm our commitment to solidarity with those who are in the margins, are exploited and are suffering far from home.

View pictures from this wonderful day here