Ruth, a positive model for the migrant youth


“Desert Flower” youth group of St. James Vicariate participates in biblical musical in Austria

In a small village in Northern Austria, a group of young Hebrew Speaking Catholics, mostly from a migrant background, are working on a biblical musical, based on the book of Ruth, together with other Christian youth from Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands. “Desert Flower”, the youth group of St. James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, participates in this unique summer program, under the auspices of KISI – God’s Singing Kids, an Austrian organization dedicated to connecting youth to the body of Christ and the bible through music and dance. The whole experience is kindly funded by the Erasmus+ Program of European Union.

 

The encounter serves three purposes, according to Fr. Piotr Zelasko, the leader of the youth group and the soon-to-be Vicar for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel. First, it grants the youth to experience faith in a different way. By working on the musical from a to z, costumes, songs, dances, acting and all, the youth see their faith becoming alive. Second, the encounter with youth from different countries fosters an atmosphere of diversity and embeds in the youth values of tolerance and multicultural awareness. Third, the story of Ruth, herself an immigrant and a real “woman of valour”, gives the youth a platform to wrestle with questions of identity, migration and belonging. The struggles of Ruth, and the resilience she had to manifest as a sole immigrant woman, allow her to be a positive role model for a youth, living as a Christian minority in the secular Jewish society.

 

The musical was presented by the group on Wednesday in Austria. Right now, plans are being made to present the musical in Israel as well, in English or in Hebrew. 


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