Chronology C - 2000-2008
2000
On January 19, Sophy Grunberg dies and her ashes are consigned to the cemetery of the Sisters of Sion in Ein Karem.
In February, Father Jean-Baptiste Gourion and Jean-Marie Allafort represent the Hebrew speaking community at the conclusion of the Diocesan synod of the Catholic Churches in the Holy Land that had lasted five years.
From March 21 until 26, Pope John Paul II was in the Holy Land. He visited not only traditional pilgrimage sites but also the Western Wall, Yad VaShem, the President’s House and the seat of the Chief Rabbis at Heichal Shlomo. On Mount Corazim he also greeted the Hebrew speaking community in Israel. Present at that place was a group of members of the community.
Pope John Paul II at the Kotel
On September 8, David Neuhaus, an Israeli from a Jewish family (from the Jesuit order) was ordained to the priesthood by Patriarch Michel Sabbah. The ordination took place at Kiryat Yearim in Hebrew and Arabic.
David Neuhaus is ordained a priest
On December 16, the Jerusalem community transferred from the temporary premises at Terra Santa College to its new center at the Franciscan House of Saints Simeon and Anne on Rabbi Kook Street in the center of Jerusalem.
The chapel of the Jerusalem community
2001
On January 21, Sister Maroussia died in France.
On October 15, Rina Geftman died in Jerusalem. Her funeral was conducted by Father Marcel Dubois and she was buried in the cemetery of the Sisters of Sion in Ein Karem.
Rina's funeral celebrated by Father Marcel Dubois
2002
Father Slawomir Abramovsky (a Polish priest) arrives in Israel to work with Catholic Russian speakers who immigrated to Israel in the 1990s. He establishes a first center at the Latroun monastery. He will be replaced in 2003 by Father Jan Hlavka who also comes from the diocese of Warsaw (although he is a Slovak). Father Slawomir will transfer his residence to Haifa to work with the Russian speakers in the north of the country. The two priests belong to the Neo-Catechumenal Way.
On October 29, Father Jean-Baptiste Gourion, Vicar of the Hebrew speaking community and abbot of the Benedictine monastery in Abu Ghosh is awarded the prize of the “Jewish-Christian friendship association” of France. The prize is conferred on him at a ceremony in the Israeli Knesset.
2003
On August 14, Father Jean-Baptiste Gourion is named Bishop of Lod and auxiliary of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem by Pope John Paul II. He will name Jean-Marie Allafort and Sister Miriam Selz as his team of assistants for the Hebrew speaking community.
On November 9, Father Jean-Baptiste Gourion is ordained bishop by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, assisted by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and the Papal Nuncio, Bishop Pietro Sambi. The ordination takes place at Kiryat Yearim in the presence of large crowds of faithful from Israel and from around the world.
Jean-Baptiste Gourion with his brother bishops
2004
Easter 2004, the priests around their new bishop
On April 18, the old Carmelite church in Haifa (in Paris Square) is reopened. The Hebrew speaking community meets their under the direction of Carmelite Father Vincent Naud.
On June 6, a final mass is celebrated by Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, responsible for the community in Jerusalem who has been named Father Custodian of the Holy Land, superior of the Franciscans.
Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custodian of the Holy Land
In June, Father Apolinary Szwed (a Polish Franciscan) is named responsible for the Hebrew speaking community in Jerusalem.
2005
On June 23, Bishop Jean-Baptiste Gourion, Vicar of the Hebrew speaking community in Israel, dies. The funeral is celebrated by the Patriarch, Michel Sabbah on June 28 at Abu Ghosh and he is buried in the cemetery of the monastery.
On September 1, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa is named Vicar of the Hebrew speaking community and remains Custodian of the Holy Land. He will appoint Father David Neuhaus as Secretary General to assist him.
On October 15, the community celebrates 50 years of its existence. About 200 people gather at Saint Peter’s Church in Jaffa to spend a day of prayer, study and celebration together. At the end of the day a thanksgiving mass is celebrated by Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Vicar of the community.
Mass of thanksgiving for 50 years
On December 25, the first edition of the review “Kol Rina” is published. The review will be published three times a year – at Rosh HaShana, Christmas and Easter. The editor is Father David Neuhaus and the members of a communications committee with representatives in each of the communities.
2006
On January 14, a group of bishops from different countries (England, Sweden, France, Canada and Austria) come to the community in Jerusalem to learn about the life of the Hebrew speaking community in Israel.
On April 4, Sister Ora of the Little Sisters of Jesus dies in Jerusalem. A pillar of the Jerusalem community, she contributed much to the music of the community.
On Easter Sunday, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger of Paris comes to greet the community at its Easter gathering in Ein Karem.
Cardinal Lustiger presented by Father Pierbattista
In September, the priests of the community together with the Vicar, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, participate in retreat days in Galilee, directed by the Abbot of the Latroun Monastery, Father Paul Saouma.
The priests on retreat in Galilee, 2006
In September, Father Jan Hlavka is named responsible of the community in Tel Aviv – Jaffa, replacing Father Gregor Pawlowski who has reached retirement age. Father Gregor remains responsible for the Polish speaking community in Jaffa.
2007
On February 25, Bishop Fouad Twal, coadjutor bishop and successor of the Patriarch, pays a first visit to the Jerusalem community. He preaches on the Lenten fast.
Bishop Fouad Twal visits the Jerusalem community
At the end of April, Father Vincent Naud resigns from his responsibilities in the Haifa community and closes the doors of the old church. He is replaced by Father David Neuhaus SJ (Secretary General of the community) and the community transfers to the community house in the German Colony in Haifa.
On June 14, Father Marcel Dubois dies in Jerusalem.
On July 1, Sister Gemma Del Ducca, a member of the Jerusalem community, receives a prize for her educational work with Catholic teachers from Yad VaShem.
On August 5, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger dies in Paris.
On August 14, Father Joseph Stiassny dies in Germany.
From August 19 to 23, a children’s summer camp is held at the Rafat shrine of Our Lady of Palestine (near Beit Shemesh), directed by Father Jan Hlavka. Ten children from the different communities take part.
On September 3, the new archbishop of Paris, Msgr. Vingt-Trois celebrates mass in the Jerusalem community.
In September, the priests once again go on retreat together on Mount Carmel. This time they are directed by Father Francesco from the Neo Catechumenal Way.
On November 17, the Jerusalem community holds a study day to commemorate 50 years of the mass in Hebrew.
On December 1, the Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, accompanied by Bishop Marcuzzo from Nazareth, celebrates mass in the Beer Sheba community.
Patriarch Michel Sabbah celebrates mass in the Beer Sheba community
On December 22, the website of the Hebrew speaking Catholic community in Israel is inaugurated.
2008
On June 1, Patriarch Michel Sabbah celebrates his final mass in Hebrew for the Vicariate in the Jerusalem community as Patriarch of Jerusalem.
On June 4, Father Yohanan Elihai, pioneer of the Hebrew speaking communities in Israel, receives an honorary PhD from Haifa University in recognition of his linguistic research on the Arabic language and his contribution to coexistence between Arabs and Jews.
On June 22, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah retires and is succeeded by Fouad Twal.
On June 28, Father Gregor Pawlowski celebrates his golden jubilee, 50 years, of priesthood in Jaffa.
From September 23 to September 27, the priests of the Vicariate go on their annual retreat at the center of the Jesusbruderschaft at Latroun. The preacher of the retreat is Father Rafic Nahra.
On September 27, the priests of the Hebrew speaking Vicariate meet new Patriarch Fouad Twal for the first time since his becoming Patriarch. He thanks Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM for his three years of service and Father Pizzaballa resigns from the post of Vicar, which he has filled since September 2005.
On December 27, Roman Kaminski was ordained deacon for the Vicariate by Patriarch Fouad Twal in Saint Savior's Church in Jerusalem.
Chronology E - 2015-2019